In the city of Venice, where so much is hidden behind doors and glimpses at life inside a window seem a stolen pleasure, I caught this woman enjoying her view of the neighborhood Piazza.
Other photos simply capture the peeling plaster, streaked paint and rusting metal caused by centuries of rising and falling water. Doorways in Venice can be Moorish, modern, Baroque, Renaissance, Victorian or any style man has dreamed up–but somehow they form a coherent whole that is unmistakably Venice. I end with perhaps the most famous doorway in Venice.
These photos are my contribution to Travel Photo Thursday. To see more travel photos from around the world, go to Budget Traveler’s Sandbox.
For Christmas, I received a digital slide converter, which means that I have access to many of my photos that previously were hidden in boxes. Are you tired of windows? Want a change of subject? or do you want some more doors and windows?
All photos are my property. Please respect my copyright and do not copy without express permission.
So lovely the shades of red and rose in the first photo (even the woman somehow blends in). Really like the weather-beaten doors, too. Graceful decay… such an apt description.
Sophie: I think you’re right. Probably the reason I love that picture–besides the woman caught in every day life–was the happy accident of colors. And I’m a sucker for graceful decay. See my disintegrating farm building–which by the way was sold to a Greek punk band for an album cover!!
Weather-beaten or not, they have their own special charm. Looking forward to see them in April when I’m there 🙂 (Dropping by from the Budget Travelers Sandbox Travel Photo Thursday)
Thank you, Aleah. And do drop in again.
Love the photos!! Brings back memories of Venice…didn’t even realize there was a ghetto there. Thx for sharing!!
Angela, this was a Jewish ghetto, historically and there are commemorative plaques to the Holocaust. The buildings are taller than in other parts of Venice, because so many people had to be crowded into the area. Now, you can still find kosher stores and a synagogue, but it is an ordinary neighborhood.
Great photos. I love Venice too…
These photos are such a wonderful set and capture the classic Venice. I love the variety of doors and windows here and Venice certainly doesn’t disappoint.
In a word — wonderful! The little girl watching her friends from the window is a treasure.
Venice never ceases to impress! Great pix!!
These photos are beautiful and so evocative. There’s a book of photos of doors from Guanajuato, Mexico that these remind me of.
Thanks everyone. I am gratified by the emotions these photos have stirred. So glad they touched your hearts.
I have a series of doors from Italy taken by a local photographer! Thanks for sharing. -r
When I toured Venice in 2001 with American ex-pat, Samantha Durell, I asked her why the facades of some many buildings were decidedly shabby. She said that the “locals” like the way their city looks and have a motto: “Venice Never Changes.”
By the way, for a cinematic view of this town-without-cars, watch “The Tourist” (often playing on Comcast cable TV; available on DVD).
Saw The Tourist. Great scenery, flimsy movie.
I love the flowers spilling off the balconies that you see all over Europe – so I really like your first photo.
I can’t get enough doors and windows – especially ones with some history so keep them coming.
THanks Leigh, and others who are interested in more doors and windows. I’ll see what I can dig up.
Oh Venice seems to be popular today and I love it! Beautiful pictures and a great way to share the city.
Oh, my! I rented an apartment for six weeks in Italy this last Sept/October and these photos made me long to go back already…for an even longer time. The photos are exquisite. Windows and doors are some of my favorite photo subjects, too, and especially those in Venice. Simply beautiful!!
Please give me an extra chance as a loyal subscriber. 🙂
How fun! Some of these are really beautiful and some really show the damage the water has done. Love the pics with the lady and the girl looking out.
Sabrina: Those ones where I’m a peeping tom looking at people who are looking out their windows are my favorites, too.
Two Venice posts already on Travel Photo Thursday this week. It’s like a sign calling me back there….
Oh, and please don’t stop with the window and door photos. They’re great! Thanks for sharing.
You have intensified my desire to reutrn to Venice. We’ve been pondering a trip that leaves from there and would take us through Croatia by ferry, perhaps ending up in Greece. Thanks for further stimulation!
Well, Jackie and Ryan, Ironically, I really don’t like Venice all that much. But gotta admit it is a photographer’s dream. (even an amateur like me).
Windows, doors and roads are universal themes in travel. It’s a subject that you can’t “over do”, in my humble opinion. I am also a bit partial to Italy. Venice is on my must see list.
I absolutely love these windows and doors- keep them coming. You capture them so well…believe me, if I were to take a picture of a window or door it would not look beautiful. These were particularly haunting- I wanted to linger on each and every one and it made me feel as though they had a story to tell.
I like the doors and windows, especially when you get people in the picture. It gives a very natural feel to the area. I like that you include the ghetto areas as well. Including both sides of the coin makes it feel more real.
Even though you don’t even need to aim your camera to get gorgeous shots in Venice, these are stellar.
Please give me my extra chance as a loyal subscriber. Thanks!
Ah, Susan—you caught me! Absolutely right. It is one of those places that you cannot get bad pictures without trying really, really hard.
Ah yes. Well done. Great to have these memories with the one I love.
Oh I love windows and doors. My photos of them are never as nice as these!
The book sounds lovely. I am an email subscriber and would love the extra entries!
Thanks so much for your posts. They inspire!
Lorri
They are all beautiful, Vera, even the weather beaten ones.