Amazing post! Thank you for sharing.

Thanks Mat and George!

George, you should take a trip to Los Heredias Mansion in Andalucia if you are still located in Spain. That's another place I'd love to visit!

Thanks, I will look it up and see if I can organise something.

Wow, a fascinating story really enjoyed the read,many thanks for sharing.

Lovely. Venice is dear to my heart. 36 visits and over a seven year period, 35 days a year there....it is simply magical....

Going to Lake Garda soon. Might head over to Venice. Enjoyed your stories.

I am envious DrTodd. I've only been there once and hope to go back. It was indeed magical. We went in late November, after tourist season. The streets were busy, but not crowded. Upon arrival our first trip on the Grand Canal was on a "bus" with school kids. We didn't feel like tourists, but rather witnesses to another way of life that hasn't really changed for centuries. And the architecture, and food, and beautiful people...don't even get me started.

It was all topped off by our final night, St. Martin's Day. A cool, cloudless evening, Venetian children run through the city, from shop to shop, and home to home, banging pots and pans. You give them a few coins and they're off. It didn't matter that we didn't know the history of the tradition, it was pure wonder none the less.

After re-reading my post, I realized I may have taken the edge off of Poveglia's original intent. So, on the creepier side of Venice, at a family picnic over Memorial Day, the subject of "Don't Look Know" came up. Most of us felt it was one of the most terrifying movies we've ever seen. And Venice, the "City of Love," never looked so dark.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AUWB-Kw4FiM

If you haven't seen this, see it. Don't Google it (or look at any other YouTube trailers), because you'll learn too much. Just see it.