ITALY
Exploring Venice
f you're thinking about travelling to Venice, do it. The third stop in our Italy tour (after Milan and Como) was the city many consider ''one of the most beautiful in the world'' and I could easily see why.
You must definitely ride a gondola. You try hard not to hold on the edges even though you feel like you are going to fall on the water.
Did you know? Venice is made up of 118 islands united together by more than 400 bridges, separated by canals. Our train arrived at Santa Lucia and we were, inevitably, a bit confused as to how things work.
There are no cars, only boats, taxi boats, small boats, big boats, gondolas, everything. You get a bus-boat to get to your destination and it pretty much works like a regular bus. The only thing that can be a bit tiring is the bridges so get your trainers on but other than that, Venice is an enchanting place with beautiful alleys.
Venice is one of the few cities where you need to get lost in it, to explore it properly. Start walking without a map or a GPS and just observe, relax and breathe, every neighborhood and every balcony has something to give you.
First I have to talk about our flat. We discovered VIP Venice Apartments through Booking for €264 (for one night, but for five people) and it was a nice one indeed; spacious, comfortable beds and a great balcony overseeing the roofs, the alleys and a hint of St Mark’s Square.
The catch here was that the reception was on the other side of the city, so far away from the flat we had to drag our bags around up and down the bridges until we found it, and then back again to leave our stuff. Just keep in mind to check everything before you book, finding a good place in this city is easy, every corner has something to see.
St Mark’s Square which is basically the central square, where you can find St. Mark’s church, the Clocktower, the Procuratie, various cafes and restaurants and thousands of tourists. One more tip: Go have lunch or dinner at a more local restaurant rather than one in St Mark’s Square. We ate at Ristorante dell’Osmarin of Hotel Ai Due Principi. and we had the most delicious Italian dinner. Pizzas and pastas at reasonable prices, amazing service and right next to a canal with gondolas coming and going.
Then we got lost in Venice and then we ended up in St. Mark’s Square at night. It’s a magical sight with the Procuratie covered in lights. I say just sit at the base of the Clocktower and enjoy an ice cream.
Next day found us wandering around the city. The streets – again, without specific destination – brought us to Rialto Market where we strolled between locals and fresh fruit and vegetables. The heart of the city, with mostly locals doing their daily grocery shopping, without many tourists, is a special place to be, especially in a popular destination like this.
As our time in Venice was running out, we could not leave without taking a ride in a gondola. It cost us €80, but we were five people so it worked nicely. You must definitely ride a gondola around the canals of the city. You try hard not to hold on the edges even though you feel like you are going to fall on the water. But seriously, you have to do it.
Passing by the bridges, look out for the famous Bridge of Sighs. The enclosed bridge is made of white limestone and has windows with stone bars. According to legend, the bridge takes its name from the sighs of prisoners who were passing below the bridge, heading to their punishment. And while we’re talking bridges, you can’t miss Rialto Bridge. It’s the oldest of the four bridges spanning the Grand Canal, connecting San Marco and San Polo. It has been rebuilt several times since its first construction in 1173 and has become a popular tourist attraction with small shops all over it.
To conclude, Venice was pure magic. We could do with a couple more days just to take a better look around the city but I strongly recommend it for couples, friends or families. It’s worth it even just for the gondoliers who sing as they propel the gondolas.
I have one more bucket list goal for Venice, and that is to experience the Carnival. So it’s safe to say that I will be back, at some point.