Venice
Venice in Brief
Rising from the waters of Venice Lagoon, is the Italian city of Venice. With its incredible rich history and wealth, this city of Venice has been long hailed has one of the most breath taking city on earth, there is no deny that sometimes Venice can be overwhelming by admirers but if you take your time and treat it gently, this city will reward you with moments of profound beauty and place.
Come, join me and find out why Venice is a popular and most breathtaking tourist destination in the world. Many travel enthusiasts visit this city every year for number of reasons. There are abundance of must-see and do attractions in Venice which can mesmerise people. Whether you’re going there for romantic destination or simply travelling with your best friends, there is always something for everyone. Many think that Venice is a congested cruise destination and a city of sorts but after visiting Venice, you will be enthralled by the charm and passion of the city. If you cross the Grand Canal in Venice and walk lazily through the Dorsoduoro and the San Polo neighbourhoods, you will be able to see the real Venice. The stress free, slow, Venetian lifestyle will entrance you completely and you will fall in love with Venice. The authentic beauty of the city lives in its intricate alleys, bridges, canals and its elegant architecture.
Why Go?
Venice is a special place and a place that a lot of people want to explore. It is one of the most beautiful and romantic cities on the planet. I am privileged to be returning to this city again. Venice is my favourite place in Europe and my passion for this city is contagious. I cannot say, it is the most beautiful but something about it is just absolutely breathtaking. They say Paris is the city of love but to me, Venice is the most romantic. The fact is that, the city is built on water makes it the most unique and admiral city in the world. I have never seen anything like this in the world. Coming back from my second trip to Venice, I would say I am now more than charmed; I may be in love with this city. Yes, if you only stop for few hours in the city while on a coach tour or on a cruise, chances are you will only see the bad sides of Venice: the suffocating crowds, the cheap souvenir carts, the pushy vendors, the bad restaurants and you won’t meet the locals who stay away from Venice’s main sights to avoid these nuisances. I have returned to explore and enjoy more of the city and the surrounding areas.
My Highlights
With its gondolas, canals, amazing restaurants and unforgettable romantic ambiance, Venice is definitely a city for one’s bucket list. To really experience, I ventured off on my own with challenge and a thrilling adventure in mind. Most of the activities begins in the centre of the business district of San Marco, where you will find one of the world’s greatest squares – St Marks.
St Marks Square
I tried to keep away from the central and over crowded tourist spots and found myself places in Venice where I really enjoyed. Despite that, just within 5 minutes walk from the hotel where I was the Piazza San Marco or St. Mark’s Square. This is the principal public square of Venice. The square is a tourist favourite, mostly because it is enclosed by famous Venetian landmarks, such as St. Mark’s Basilica and the tall Campanile tower. On the smaller Piazetta extension, you can find the beautiful Doge Palace. I was quite intrigued by the fascinating history of the place and discover what it is like to live in this unique city. Walking around in this open air museum took me to the external sights of St. Mark’s Square, the Doge’s Palace, the Sansovino Library, the Bell tower, the incredible legends of the Clock tower and the Bridge of sighs and its adjoining prisons.
Trying something new away from tourists:
Venice, like much of Italy has become very popular with tourists and as a result, many of the restaurants cater for foreigners. To have a feel of real part of the traditional culture and way of life, I ventured into the areas of the city with less tourist attractions where I discover some very interesting restaurants which are very popular among the locals. I tried to order the same dishes the locals order and try something that is a bit different. This was an amazing way of trying some local food.
Markets:
Few people who visit Venice intend to visit the markets and they are a great way to explore some of the culture of the city. I found the markets to be very bright and vibrant place to visit. The smells, sounds and colours make the city come to life. I must say, it is amazing to see how many different things are grown in Venice and the surrounding areas.
Getting Lost:
Venice is a city rich with lots of history and abundance of attractions to visit. Before I went to Venice, I was told that “When in Venice, you have to get lost”. I have found out that, one of the best way to explore the city was just simply walking around until I got lost. Unfortunately, I didn’t even have to get lost on purpose, it all happened by itself. Yes, getting lost in Venice is fun because you just walk around like you are in a big big maze and it is nice to see different areas of the not-too-big city. At first, lots of different parts of Venice looked the same, every bridge over the canal looked identical and confusing when I first started to notice them. The longer I stayed and explored more, I soon started to realise that each has its own unique charm. In getting lost, I can enjoy the city at its best. What’s more, it was a cheap way to view the city since there is no need to purchase any tickets or hail a taxi.
Venice Traditions:
Most of Venice is awash with millions of tourists. I wanted to experience the real genuine Venice, so I decided to take a bit of walk. I visited the Ghetto, which is a small area of the town which is more traditional than the rest of the city. Here, I saw the locals going about their daily routine as they always have done. What a thrill it was and a great way to see more than most tourist ever see.
Canals
Venice, also known as the “Floating City” has no road accessible by car. It has lots of narrow alleys and walkways for pedestrians but lacks wider streets, so cars are a rarity in the city. This city relies almost solely on boat transportation through the many canals. It is an archipelago of 118 islands connected by numerous canals and bridges. Therefore, ferries and boats are the means of transport around the city. The main artery of Venice – The Grand Canal is the major waterway of Venice. It is 3.8 kilometres long and sweeps through the while city. The canals are beautiful and the single best thing about this city. I really loved strolling through the canals of Venice and I couldn’t stop taking pictures. I totally mesmerised by looking at the canals and they’re one of the best reasons why I went back to Venice and experience it more it by myself.
Venice by Night
Alone, sitting by the way at night, looking over Venice at night was just magical and it just felt very special and a great feeling to it. It was beautiful and feel the sense of calming. I just found myself to a lines of cafe close to the water, sipping my coffee and enjoying the sunset.
Gondolas
Gondolas are major attractions for the tourists. Although, they’re for touristy experience, taking a ride in one of these long, slim boats was a memory one never forgets; especially if the gondolier sings a song or two. Yes, I don’t think there is any reasons to pay big bucks to go on your own sailing trip in one. Though they are fun to look at and just the essence of Venice but if your in Venice, you must take a ride on one.. I jumped on one, with leisurely pace, the gondolier maneuvers through the quaint canals of Venice, gliding by historical sights and buildins.
Arts and Architecture
There are lots of things to do in Venice, besides just walking. After taking a visit to Piazza San Marco, Basillica Di San Marco, Guggenheim Museum and Palazzo Ducale, I seen that there are multitudes of cultural treasures and pieces of evidence of city’s glorious history. No wonder, Venice is one of the most important tourist destinations in the world for its celebrated art and architecture. The sites are beautiful, colourful and breathtaking.
Where to stay?
There are various types of accommodations in the Venice, so there is something to suit every budget. Venice, has a whopping 2,000 hotels, so it shouldn’t be too difficult to find one that suits your budget. Like any other destinations in the world, the closer you want to stay to the centre, the more expensive it gets.
However, my personal recommendation would be Hotel Do Pozzi, a romantic and comfortable 3-star hotel located in the heart of the old town centre. Few hotels in Venice can boast such an ideal location. Just 5-minutes walking from St. Mark’s Square and 2-minutes walking from La Fenice Theatre.
Exploring the area
Venice is home to many iconic buildings. Walking around in this area is possible if you have the time and want to see more of the area on your visit. To fully enjoy your stay in this area and to make the most of the region’s attractions, I’d recommend just walk around and get lost and meet the locals. Undoubtedly, this is where the true heart of the area shines.
It is entirely possible to get around and visit many attractions and places in this area by foot. However, I highly recommend to go on a guided tour to avoid headaches and with less stress, when it comes to knowing your places, where to go and what you want to see and do. Venice is really a magical city where one loses track of time.
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Categories: EUROPE
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