The Living in Venice is like being on board a vast Ship; out of which you go now and then for Airing in the Long-boat. All their Diversions of taking the Air are upon the Water (where else indeed must they have them?) there they take the Fresco, as they call it, (for 'tisin the Cool of the Evening,) where the Gondola's wheel about, pass and re-pass on the great Canal, just as the Coaches do in Hyde-Park. This they do every Holiday Evening, of which they have there in good store.[…]

We were at a Diversion of this sort one day upon the Lagune, near the Church of la Gratia, occasion'd by a Benediction that was there of a Ship-load of Pilgrims, who were setting out upon their Holy Voyage. They have sometimes Serenades upon the Water, of instrumental and vocal Musick, Song and Recitativo, after the Manner of the Opera's.