And how quiet and peaceful it was.
I first went there in September '06 and it was just a passing through visit - a walk up a path to the old medieval buildings, with no one there but us. We looked at the old stone chair, the Church of Santa Fosca, and the mosaics of the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta. The well was unusual, with interesting carvings of amphorae around it. There are supposed to be sixty people living there, but apart from the people who served me my coke at the bar, I didn't see, or notice anyone else actually.
It was a warm, still and serene afternoon. As we walked back along the canal to the ferry, there were wild flowers waist high in the grass along side the path. The only sounds I could hear were crickets and a few small birds.
Sipping my ice cold coke on a seat outside the bar, I thought about how important Torcello had been in the past, and how small and secluded it had now become. Do you know, I think that afternoon was actually one of the highlights of my trip. I am never bothered or concerned by large numbers of tourists, who are enjoying Italy just like me.
That's because I can always find somewhere just like Torcello, that's far from the madding crowd.
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