My Horses

I love the horses in St. Mark's Basilica.  You can see the whole quadriga in extras.  They are at least 2,000 years old and possibly older.  The craftsmanship and expertise in their construction is simply amazing.   You'd swear they could jump off their plinths, and gallop away, manes a-flying.

Extras is a bit of a mixed bag.  You might wonder why St, Mark's Square is bustling one minute and virtually deserted the next.  The rain came belting down just as we left the Basilica.

And ... we heard that the Square was flooded last night with the high tide.  And possibly again tonight.  Ever so slightly scary considering it's May and Aqua Alta is usually a winter thing.  

The bee is from a superb flowering pittosporum which lined the garden entry just alongside St. Mark's Square.  I believe they are called the Royal Gardens (commissioned by Napoleon); the Basilica from above; and to round it out, the sarcophagus holding the mortal remains of St. Mark himself.

PS Just in case you hadn't guessed - I LOVE those horses.  I get all emotional when I see them.