Popularly known as the city of canals, Venice is one of those cities that you have to see to believe… it is of the most romantic cities of the world. Let yourself be seduced by the magic of Venice and indulge in its history by strolling through St. Mark’s Square, taking a ride in a gondola to get to know the canals, admiring the famous Bridge of Sighs or marvelling at any of the numerous palaces that reflect the city in its heyday.
And if you have time, visit some of the islands that stretch around the city centre. One of the most famous islands is Murano Island, famous for its authentic glassware craftsmen who continue to manufacture products in the most traditional way.
Venice is a MUST in Italy, with the good weather starting it could be the perfect destination for a romantic weekend. Book your hotel in Hotelopia
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St. Mark’s Square
Without a doubt, St. Mark’s Square (Piazza San Marco), with its distinctive trapezoidal shape, is one of the symbols of Venice. Walking around this beautiful square is like travelling back in time, home to the magnificent St. Mark’s Basilica and the Ducal Palace, two places that you cannot afford to miss in Venice. Under its arches there are several cafes here and there where you can enjoy a delicious cappuccino or one of the famous Italian ice creams.
Ducal palace
At one end of the St. Mark’s Square is the Ducal Palace, Palazzo Ducale, or Palace of “the Doge”. For lovers of Gothic architecture, this is a must-see, and although the structure is eminently Gothic you can still see Renaissance touches, such as the Giant’s Staircase, a work of Antonio Rizzo. Throughout history the palace has had different uses: the Duke’s Palace, the seat of government… it was even used as a prison. Today you can visit several rooms within the palace.
Where: St. Mark’s Square, 1, 31024 Venice
Tel: (+39) 041 2715911
Opening hours: 1 November – 31 March: 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. / 1 April – 31 October: 9:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Price: normal: €12 / reduced: €6.50
St. Mark’s Basilica
Without going much further, in the very St. Mark’s square the St. Mark’s Basilica is to be found a spectacular building, both in the beauty of its facade and the richness of its interior. The original church was built to house the remains of St Mark but had to be rebuilt due to a fire at the end of the 10th century. The building as we know it today, predominantly of Byzantine style, dates to the year 1603 when rebuilding started. The entrance to the basilica is free of charge but you must pay an entrance fee to visit the Museum, the Treasury and the Golden Pall. It is important to take note that you are not allowed to enter with backpacks (there is a place to keep them securely) and clothing should be adequate.
Where: St. Mark’s Square, 31024 Venice
Tel: (+39) 041 2708311
Opening hours: November – Easter: 9:45 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. / Sunday and holidays: 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm; Easter – November: Sundays and public holidays: 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Price: free admission
Venice in a gondola
If there is one romantic and fun thing to do in Venice, it is to go for a ride in a gondola. You can really discover a new Venice by cruising around the canals and it is a good way to enjoy and experience this unique city. All gondolas leave from the berth of the Santa Maria del Giglio Square. The price of the ride can vary between 60 and 100 Euros, it is best to compare between several gondoliers to find the best price.
Venice Bridges
Another attraction of Venice are its bridges, some are more famous or more ‘historical’ than others, but all have a very special charm.
Rialto Bridge, the oldest of the ones which cross the Grand Canal, is one of the most popular. The Bridge of Sighs, which can be visited as part of the visit to the Ducal Palace, is said to have received its name from the sighs of the prisoners when they were crossing to be taken to the dungeons. Other bridges are the Accademia Bridge or the controversial Calatrava Bridge named after the Spanish architect who designed it.
Eating out
Ristorante La Zucca
The restaurant “La Zucca” was named after pumpkins (zucca means pumpkin in Italian), and that is why it is decorated with bright pumpkin themed motifs. It is a likeable place whose management have the good taste and dedication to offer original dishes cooked from fresh, top quality ingredients. They are famous for their vegetable based dishes, although it is not, strictly speaking, a vegetarian restaurant. When the weather is nice you can also eat outside, although tables are limited.
Where: Campo San Giacomo dell’Orio, Santa Croce, 1762, Venice
Tel: (+39) 041 5241570
Cantina Do Mori, Spanish style tapas
One of the best places to mix with the locals is the Cantina do Mori, it is a surprising place near the market where the inquisitive drop by for a glass of wine and a taste of Venetian ‘tapas’. It is the perfect place to stop for a break and try some local food before continuing to wander around the city.
Where: San Polo, 429, Venice
Tel: (+39) 041 5225401
Pizzeria All’Anfora
The Pizzeria Trattoria All-Anfora is the place to try an authentic crunchy and tasty Italian pizza, something everybody should do during a ‘proper stay’ in Venice. The owners, Claudio and Mariano, make sure ‘real pizza’ lovers enjoy a great time in their restaurant… they are widely famous and genuine pizzas as you can top them with a huge number of ingredients and toppings.
Where: Lista Vecchia dei Bari, 1223, 30135 Venice
Tel: (+39) 041 5225401
Further information: www.pizzeriaallanfora.com (Italian language website)
Ristorante Paradiso Perduto
The Paradiso Perduto restaurant is one of those that always finds its way into most food guides and never fails to impress diners. While it offers traditional pasta-based Venetian cooking, you can also find truly original ideas in their menu. It is just the place to relax while having some great food, after a day of sightseeing. Many evenings live music accompanies the punters, ensuring an enjoyable dining experience.
Where: Fondamenta de la Misericordia, 2540, 30121 Venice
Tel: (+39) 041 720581
Shopping
In Venice you will find the whole spectrum of shopping experiences, from the humble souvenir shops to the most exclusive of boutiques. Dotted all over the city you can come across shops selling the world famous Venetian ‘carnevale’ masks, as well as traditional leather and glass craft. Indeed, many of the stores are owned and run by craftsmen who manufacture their wares using traditional methods. Shops will normally open at around nine to nine thirty in the morning, often closing for lunch at about twelve thirty or one. In the afternoons they open between three thirty and seven o’clock in winter, and from four to eight during the summer. Still, you will find that many other shops do stay open all day long.
The Mercerie
The Mercerie area may be the most famous and busiest shopping spot in Venice. It is made up by a network of small streets that work their way from St. Mark’s Square to the Rialto Bridge. Here you will be able to buy products crafted from the famous Murano glass, as well as paper items, shoes, books and pretty much anything else you could think of.
Murano glass
If you want to pick purchase items or souvenirs made of Murano glass, the best thing to do is to hop on the ‘vaporetto’ ferry and make the crossing to the nearby island that the Murano glass is named after. The Murano workshops have been producing this type of glass for over 700 years. Manufacturers exhibit their products and you can purchase items directly from them.
The Rialto market
The best thing to do when going to the Rialto market is to get up a little bit earlier than normal, as being a highly popular tourism spot means that it can get pretty busy. It is primarily a fruit & veg and fish market, and the bright colours in the stalls, as well as the liveliness around them, can be pretty surprising. After paying a visit it is worth stopping by the various establishments around the bridge, where you can have wine & tapas, ombre con cichetti, a very typically Venetian combination.
Cavalier
There is no doubting that one of the biggest attractions in Venice is its carnival. To take a small piece of the carnival home with them, visitors often get their hands on one of the famous masks. One of the most traditional places, and a place where you can get the authentic masks, is a shop known as Cavalier. Masks are still made by hand as they were made back in the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries.
It is worth dropping by, even if it is just to admire the product of their craft, which is not just limited to masks.
Where: San Marco 2863/a, Venice
Tel: (+39) 041 5238621
Nightlife
The Venetian nightlife is not big on bars and nightclubs. Most bars close at some point between 1 and 2 a.m. The best way to enjoy it may be to have a wander about, have a couple of drinks in some of the bars hosting live music or just enjoy the excellent street musicians.
Campo Santa Margherita
If you are going to go out in Venice, the Campo Santa Margherita area is one of the most popular due to the large number of night spots about. In the summer the atmosphere is fantastic, and there are lots of open-air places that let you enjoy the Venetian night. It is a very popular area both with the locals and tourists.
Harry’s Bar in Venice
Harry’s Bar is one of the most popular bars amongst tourists, and that’s because it has an unquestionable pulling factor: it is said to be a place where Hemingway spent many an afternoon. Drinks are a bit expensive but it’s worth paying the place a visit. Their star beverage is the so called “Bellini”, a mixture of peach juice and sparkling wine.
Where: Via Vallaresso, 1323, 30100 Venice
Tel: (+39) 041 5285777
Piazza San Marco at night
Visiting St. Mark’s Square at nigh-time is a unique experience. The whole place takes on a magical feel when the whole square is lit up by the many lights, and the excellent street music abounds, making for a unique vibe. If you want to have an easy going night and soak up the magical quality of this romantic city, just take a seat in any of the cafes in the piazza, and bear in mind that if there’s music you’ll have to pay a little extra along with your normal bill.
Venetian Nightclubs
Most nightclubs are to be found on the city outskirts, in Mestre. It is the only place in Venice where you’ll be able to stay out until the early hours of the morning. To get there you have to take a ride on a bus or on the ‘vaporetto’.
Casanova Music Cafe
The Casanova Music Cafe is a very popular club where you’ll find people of all nationalities, particularly students; in fact, Thursday is ‘Erasmus night’. It is the only club in Venice that remains open until four in the morning.
Where: Lista di Spagna, Cannaregio, 158A Venice
Events
Festa del Redentore in Venice
The Festa del Redentore celebration is held on an annual basis and has been running for over 400 years. It is one of the most popular amongst Venetians because of the large number of acts that are associated with it. It celebrates the end of a large Bubonic plague which took place in 1577. Traditionally, Venetians row out on their decorated boats to enjoy the impressive fireworks show.
When: the third weekend of July.
Biennale di Venezia
The Venice Biennale is a prestigious international institution which has been hosting distinguished cultural events for over a century. In the last few years, around 300,000 visitors were drawn by the avant-garde, innovative and ever present character of its art exhibition. Within the events list to be found is the renowned Venice International Film Festival: an unquestionable trend setter in the cinema world, which attracts the most elite film actors, producers and directors. Likewise, there are theatre, music and dance festivals, as well as an architecture exhibition.
When: 1st of August – 30th of September 2010
Festa della Madonna della Salute
The origins of the Venice ‘Our Lady of Good Health” festival (Festa della Madonna della Salute) go back to the years 1630-1631. The festival is a sign of gratitude to the Virgin who is believed to have protected the people during a terrible Bubonic plague. As part of the events, the faithful take part in a procession which finishes in the Santa Maria della Salute Basilica, which was built out of gratitude to the virgin. Nowadays in the celebration prayers are said in gratitude for the good health of families and loved ones.
When: 21st of November 2010
Carnevale di Venezia
The Venice Carnival is one of those popular festivities whose symbols, bright colours and festive spirit have succeedeed in creating perception which ignores the boundaries of space and time. Proof of the ancient origins of this celebration is its oldest documentation, which makes reference to the traditional masks back in 1268. These masks, as well as being the clasical symbol of the carnival, also symbolise the mistery and magic that have always been part of Venice.
When: February or March
Thursday 15 April 2010 0:01 | Published by Blogtelopia-krds2 | Categoriy: Hotelopia Travel Guides,Interesting Stuff,events
