Venice, Italy has many names including: the City of Islands, the City of Masks, the Floating City and Queen of the Adriatic.
For my family, Venice is the world’s most magical city.
Its landscape is like no other place in the world. 118 small islands are separated by canals and linked together by over 400 bridges. Walking, water taxis and vaporettos are the mode of transportation here. No worries about finding a parking spot or traffic in this city. After all, there are no cars on Venice! No cars, buses, mopeds AND no horns honking! Coming from New York, this was a welcome change!
My family spent five memorable days here while touring Italy. We explored all it had to offer while getting happily “lost” wandering its never ending alleys. My son especially enjoyed leading the way in our adventures. Venice is certainly a place for all ages to enjoy and savor!
Before any traveler arrives in Venice or any destination for that matter, I suggest reading up a bit on its history and possibly learning some fun facts about it. You will learn even more once you arrive but this research helps provide a perspective about your destination.
So here’s just a sampling of its amazing history and fun facts:
A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY…
- Venice is a city in northeastern Italy and the capital of the Veneto region.
- The islands are in the shallow Venetian Lagoon, an enclosed bay that lies between the mouths of Po and the Piave rivers.
- The construction of Venice started in the 5th century AD after the fall of the Roman Empire when refugees from the mainland fled to the islands in the lagoon.
- “Venice is considered to have been the first real international financial center, emerging in the 9th century and reaching its greatest prominence in the 14th century. This made Venice a wealthy city throughout most of its history.”https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venice
- Venice is basically built on logs! Since more “living” space was needed for all its people, poles were driven into the ground,and then wooden platforms were place on top. Buildings were then constructed on top this.
SOME FUN FACTS..
- The actress, Katherine Hepburn had an eye infection that lasted her entire life after falling into the Grand Canal while filming the 1955 movie, “Summertime.” This was due to the very contaminated canal water.
- Venice is known for its mask-making which is believed to have its start in the 12th century when Venetians wore them in their daily lives so that upper and lower classes could mingle
- Venetians are unhappy about the unsustainable tourism. Over the past month, some good news! The city has decided to finally ban cruise ships from its lagoon. I can’t tell you how happy this made me feel ! I’m not a Venetian, but as an American tourist I saw first hand what cruising was doing to this beautiful city. Read more by clicking here:.https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/venice-cruise-ship-ban/index.html
- Ernest Hemingway spent some time here in 1948, writing parts of Across the River and Into the Trees.
STARTING YOUR JOURNEY IN VENICE
Your Venetian experience will start at Piazzale Roma where the main train station, car parking and cruise terminals are found. This is a major hub for the vaporettos (water buses) and water taxis. First things first, get your bearings. There are no cars in Venice so you must get around the city by foot or by boat. Getting to your accommodations will either require walking OR taking a water taxi.
Hotel Caprera was our choice — a budget, family friendly hotel within walking distance to the train station. Perfecto!
Every tourist to Venice has their must see list of things to see and do. I’m here to help you organize what you see, make sure you see all the highlights and help you delve a bit deeper into this magical city.
So let’s start sightseeing. First stop..
ST MARK’S SQUARE…
is where all tourists want to come to first. This is the iconic square that we’ve seen in many movies and pictures and one of the world’s most beautiful spaces. You can spend hours just soaking up the atmosphere and admiring the architecture of other famous sites in the area — the Basilica, Bell Tower and Palace. If you plan it right, you can see them in one day. Be smart with your time.
Street performers entertain the masses and plenty of pigeons fill the square with tourists from around the world. Grab a cup of espresso and watch the world go by.
ST. MARK’S BASILICA…
is on the top of the list of places to see in Venice. It was once the chapel of the Doge. It is free to enter and extremely hard to get into in high season unless you want to wait on a very long line. Book a “skip the line” entry ticket through their website. You will thank me later.
Remember to dress appropriately . No beachwear, shorts and sleeveless shirts allowed. If you forget, for one euro, you can buy a pareo.
CAMPANILE DI SAN MARCO… is the bell tower of St. Mark’s Basilica and it dominates the skyline of Venice. At 323 feet tall, it is the tallest building in Venice. Take a elevator to the top for the most amazing views of this city.It houses five bells, each with its own significance:
- “Marangona”, ringing at the start and end of each work day,
- Malefico” which rang with every execution,
- “Nona” would ring at midday,
- “Trottiera” would summon the members of the Maggior Consiglio ,
- “Mezza terza” would announce a Senate session.
THE DOGES PALACE…
was used as the residence of the Doge for centuries as well as the seat of government.
The symbol of one of the most enduring icons of Venice – the winged lion – sits on top of a granite column outside the Doge’s Palace. The famous lion was adapted for Christianity with the addition of the bible to become the symbol of St Mark.
BRIDGE OF SIGHS…
was built to connect the old prison in the Doges Palace with the new prison across the river. Supposedly, prisoners would sigh as they passed the view for the last time before they were locked up!
SAN GIORGIO MAGGIORE…
is located on the opposite side of the lagoon so you need to take a water taxi or vaporetto to get to it. Its Palladian church is an important landmark. It you arrive, take in the amazing views by taking an elevator to the top of the tower for a much less crowded view of the city and San Marco. This is one of the most recognized sites in pictures of Venice.
EXPLORE SOME OF VENICE’S MANY ISLANDS…
which offer so much history and beauty. Too many tourists don’t leave the “main island” of Venice to explore. Plan a half day or more to visit some of the islands that make up this beautiful place. My top picks include:
Murano is what I like to call The Island of Glass. Why? If you love glass making and are interested in the famed Murano glass, this is a must see stop. You can view the craftsman creating their art and maybe buy a Venetian glass souvenir or two.
Murano is actually a collection of 7 individual islands, all linked together by bridges. This is a quieter island but it comes complete with its own Grand Canal, fascinating glass shops, and romantic sidewalk cafes. So don’t miss it!
BURANO is a photographers’ dream. The houses are painted vibrant colors that pop in the sunshine. It is also where the famous Burano lace is from. Visit the lace museum, browse the shops and just take it all in.
Torcello is a sparsely populated island. It is famous for the very old Cathedral of Santa Maria Dell’Assunta built in 639. First settled in the year 452, it has been referred to as the parent island from which Venice was populated.
After the decline of the Roman Empire, Torcello was populated by the Venetians escaping the barbarian invasions taking place on the mainland.
TASTE SOME VENETIAN CUISINE…
including cicchetti, a traditional Venetian fare. Similar to Spanish tapas, these delicious small bites or side dishes are meant to be eaten with a drink. Head to the local bacaro (bar) and try whatever is offered on the daily menu. You won’t be disappointed.
While out exploring the many alleys, you many come upon some cooks preparing an amazing lunch like we did!
Visiting local food markets are always something I recommend on any trip. It is one of the best ways to get to the heart of any city.
At the famous Rialto market there is an incredible blend of sights and smells from the sea and the nearby Veneto region. A variety of seafood caught straight from the lagoon to vegetables and cheese, you can learn all about what Venetians cook.
VISIT THE FAMOUS RIALTO BRIDGE…
the most famous of all 400 bridges in Venice. Tourists clamor to get the perfect shot from this bridge. Go early in the morning or late day for some space.
Photo by Son Tung Tran on Pexels.com 
Along the way, you will cross many smaller bridges that will offer views of all the intricate canals within this city.
ENJOY A GONDOLA RIDE…
Cheesy and touristy? Yes.! But go for it. It will probably be a once in a lifetime experience.
And the best tip on what to do in this magical city is..
JUST WANDER, TAKE IT ALL IN AND MAKE NEW FRIENDS!
The beauty of Venice is around every corner, across every bridge, along every canal.
Explore knowing that you can never get lost in this city from a traveling standpoint. There will always be sign to point you in the right direction. But you will definitely get lost in its beauty and the magic that takes hold of you. And along the way, you just may come upon some surprises and meet a few furry Venetian friends.
