Firstly, apologies for any typos in the previous posts. I have just been back and corrected some of them. This is the trouble with writing this thing late at night full of wine.

Firstly, visits to two palazzi, one of which is still family owned but divided into flats and the second one of which is a museum of the 18thC.

The Palazzo Pisani Moretta was built in the 15thC and updated in the 18th. It has ceilings by Tiepolo and wonderful Murano chandeliers. It, like several of the houses, swayed whilst we were visiting. Venetians must have permanently felt as if they were on board ship and found it difficult to walk on land.

The Ca’Rezzonico is the state museum of the 18thC. It has ceiling frescos, furniture and a nice collection of china. It also has a set of frescos taken from a country villa walls, by Tiepolo’s son who was also a painter.

From there, we had free time so, after lunch, I accompanied another tripper to the Accademia. This is a formidable art gallery (https://www.gallerieaccademia.it) with Bellinis, Tintorettos and other, mainly Venetian, art. I’m afraid I didn’t take any photos.

Unfortunately I missed the optional visit in the late afternoon to a palazzo just behind the hotel which has an early – and newly restored – Tiepolo ceiling painting. All the wall and ceiling paintings here are on canvas, not fresco attached directly to the wall. This is partly because of the weight but also because of the humidity and salt air.

This evening we have been out to dinner – in their lovely home – with the Count and Countess Alvera. They were very welcoming and kind, we were served dinner by servants in white gloves and the Count told us all about the history of the Palazzo – the Palazzo Corner Gheltoff Alvera. Started in the 12th century by the Corner family and mainly completed in the 15th. Interestingly, it was only two stories high at that time but the extremely rich Mocenigo family who lived next door decided they needed more space so agreed to build another floor on top with access from next door. When that was closed up, the family bought the extra storey but had to build a new staircase all the way down to the ground. This meant that, to get from the top floor to the first floor you had to go down to the ground, outside and up again. The top floor is now a separate flat which belongs to the Count’s brother. It appears to be divided into two flats which can be rented as holiday lets!

The meal was very nice – but of course I have no photos! There is a photo of the outside here. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palazzo_Corner_Gheltof