Fantasy Venice !
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This dreamlike building,
rising from the waters of Venezia/Venice
is the Punta Della Dogana.
Built by Giuseppe Benoni
between 1676 and 1682.
It is very old, and appears in many
classic paintings. Here on a Monaco
postal stamp is reproduced a famous
work by Guardi that has been
copied many times
Back when Venice was a proud City State
her ships traded far and wide.
Great wealth flowed in to her
with the tides of history.
The Punta
was for many centuries
The old Customs House
( locals called it 'Dogana di Mare' )
where ships laden
with the world's goods
paid their tolls to the
masters of the City.
Originally in the 14th century
a watch tower was built here
in order to prevent tax evasion.
Incidentally,
the actual Punta della Dogana itself,
is the wedge-shaped peninsular
that the building sits on.
It is at the very entrance
to the Grand Canal.
Above we approach it from the water
as countless mariners have.
That is the goddess
FORTUNA
serving as a weather vane
atop a gilded globe
upheld by two Atlases.
( Atlas- i ? )
There is much hard work
to bear about this globe of ours,
we all ride on the backs
or farmers, mechanics,
all workers.
But dame fortune
rides at the top of all.
With her weather vane
in the shape of a ship's sail
she knows
which way the winds of luck,
and of change
are going
before any of us below.
Venice
was indeed crowned by fortune
for centuries.
Now
she is sinking.
Shopping malls
and Starbucks
are threatening to finally
push her
cherubic
[ Fra Lippo Lippi and Fra Angelico ]
curls
below the lagoon's
surface entirely.
Here's our playful gal,
or is she a cruel mistress?
Evening's descent
makes even this place
look somehow more magical!
One of those numerous pictures of the pile.
Today the Punta is owned
by French billionaire
and serves as
The Center for Contemporary Art
" . . . As a center for contemporary art,
the former customs house of the city
presents a permanent exhibition of works
from the François Pinault Collection,
the institution who wanted and sponsered (sic)
the transition of this
masterpiece of architecture,
so emblematic to the city,
from its
eminently commercial function
to port of contemporary art
and ideal
venue to share it with the world. "
> < } } ( ° >
In science fiction
often there was a 'Magic Box'
that could tell,
or show the protagonist,
anything they needed
to know.
Today we have that Magic Box,
it is called:
The World Wide Web.
Every day, YOU
my magical friends
show me wonders:
New York,
England's farm country,
a horse farm,
Kuala Lumpur, Ipoh,
Jerusalem, Perth,
Vancouver,
and Mumbai.
Vancouver,
and Mumbai.
And yes,
your families,
your lives.
It is all magical
and wonderful!
Occasionally
we see something
that 'sticks'
in our mind's eye.
We dream about it.
Somewhere, on a blog,
I saw this building;
And journeyed there
in my dreams.
This is my fantasy Summer
Road Trip,
across distance &
time.
Thanks for being my Virgil.
Thanks for riding along.
Magic Indeed!
Comment?
Warmly, cloudia
