Our weather apps have proved to be mostly unreliable. Both of the ones we’ve been using predicted rain by noon.  So, by all rights we should have been hurrying to get out, but I just couldn’t do it.  I really needed to take my time.  It only made a little difference; I think we were out the door by 10:30 instead of 10:00. And it only rained and gently at that, for about 2 minutes the whole day.  I would call it a balmy day.

After coffee at Bar Tiziano, we headed for the Fortuny museum.  This classic Venetian Gothic palazzo was constructed in the late 15th century and has gone through many iterations before the multi talented Mariano Fortuny moved his home and studio there in the early 1900’s.

The museum is stuffed with his own personal art collections as well as his own work.  Here is a table representing his studio:

I loved all the pillows covered in Fortuny fabrics on beds and couches (DO NOT SIT).  I was surprised to find only a few examples of fashion but this classic finely pleated silver silk gown thrilled me.

Downstairs, the show is an interesting juxtaposition.  Eva Jospin is totally inspired by forms in nature.  Her work is made from paper, cardboard, wood, brass embroidery and drawing. Here is the installation wall:

It is amazing. And there were many other pieces like this one:

She even made the frames and the doorways—here’s a close up:

We both found it both beautiful and mind-blowing!

Wandering around that area of San Marco was fun.  We got our 2 minutes of rain, and headed home.  I really wanted some broccoli Romanesco and bought a small head the the corner place.  We couldn’t believe they charged us €5.60 for it.  

We rested for a little while but hunger got the best of us.  Sulla Luna is a small vegetarian spot on the Fondamenta Misercordia.  Ken had a great artichoke tomato sandwich and I had this wonderful plate of four different cheese crostini. And, we each had a glass of wine.

We came back for a short rest to go back over there to buy some gnocchi for dinner, after a long hallway chat with Elisa and Pietro.

The gnocchi turned out to be less than wonderful, but the cookies we got from her were great!

Fare finta (make fake) is how to say pretend in Italian.  That’s us pretending we live here, and loving it!