“It is always assumed that Venice is the ideal place for a honeymoon. This is a grave error. To live in Venice or even to visit it means that you fall in love with the city itself. There is nothing left over in your heart for anyone else” is said by Peggy Guggenheim. Think about you are staying 6 months or 1 year in Venice. Could you imagine that? Probably, you will die because of love 🙂
Firstly, it is guarantee that you will come across a full historical and lovely city. Bridges (417), colourful houses, water, masks, gondolas, Veneto wine and acqua alta… If you hear a weird siren, yes it is high tide signal saying you that water will high. Don’t be panic, just take your friend and watch outside. Or, you can tour the city with wet socks. But, don’t forget to visit Aqua Alta Library with their amazing cats.
Venice is a lagoon enclosed bay of the Adriatic Sea and spread over 118 small islands. It looks like a fish from birds eye view. You can find extraordinary architectural masterpieces and works by Giorgione, Titan, Tintoretto, Veronese and others. There are 177 canals in Venice. The S-shaped Grand Canal is the biggest and splits the city in two parts. One of these parts is Jewish Ghetto and first home to Jewish people. Maybe, this region will be more reasonable for your shopping experience. Now, let’s get explore the city:
Things to do in Venice
Although Venice is not big city, there is always something to do for everybody. Supposing that you cannot find anything, you can sit aside canal and listen gondola riders’ singing.
If you are art or museum lover, don’t forget that first sunday of every month is free for visitors. In that case, I suggest you to visit Accademia, Archaeological Museum, Giorgio Franchetti Gallery at the Ca’ d’Oro and Grimani Palace Museum.
It is impossible to return without living the atmosphere of Piazza San Marco. Here, you can find Palazzo Ducale, Campanile di San Marco, Basilica di San Marco and National Archaeological Museum. Next to square, there are famous shopping streets. This square witness Carnevale di Venezia, university graduations and many events. If you visit Carnevale di Venezia in February, you should try frittelle (favorite: chocolate) that is only made in carnival period.
After San Marco Square, one of the most instagrammed place is Bridge of Sighs. This pretty bridge has horrible story. It was the last time a prisoner sees sunlight, then no locked cell and no sun. And, the only red (still) column is where people were got hanged. If you like to wake up early, you can watch the sunrise with your love opposite of that bridge.
The Venice lagoon has many islands. You can visit them by using vaporetto. Murano is famous for glass making, Burano is famous for its colourful houses, Torcello is first settled island in the lagoon, and San’t Erasmo is largest island and vegetable garden of Venice.
Entering to Venice canals is prohibited. But if you want to swim in Adriatic Sea, Lido Island will be perfect place for you. In return, you can visit Venice International University in S. Servelo that is green island.
In order to see Venice from bird eye view, best rooftop of Venice can be experienced from Fondaco Dei Tedeschi and best general view of Venice and Piazza di San Marco can be seen from tower of San Giorgio Maggiore.
According to my experience, the best place watching stars and drinking your wine in silence with your love is mini wood seaports of Giudecca Island.
Campo Santo Margharita is Venice’s popular square that students get together and socialise. After the night, you should exactly try Pizza Al Volo’s slice pizza. Or, if you want to partying in Venice, there are not many choices but Ai Biliardi, The Irish Pub, Margaret Duchamp, wine bar 5000.
For theatre, Le Fenice is great place to even visit and it has great architecture. You can find theatre in other languages like German or English.
Another hidden in the city, unknown by tourists, is a historic palazzo Scala Contarini del Bovolo. It was built at very end of the 15th century and it has an interesting myth. A person living here was living with his horse and as he is living in last floor, he left his horse on the garden every night. To carry his horse to upstairs, he built a tower having spiral stairs. Yes, it’s all because of love.
Lastly, I don’t have a video about Venice, but I know a good story of my friend. Have a look at it: