City of water, canals, bridges and festival masks. Birthplace of Marco Polo and Antonio Vivaldi. Last August I arrived in Venice (Venezia) ready to see what the floating city had to offer…
Situated over more than a hundred islands -118 to be exact- and sliced by ribbons of canals, Venice is certainly unlike any other city in the world. It’s small and compact, and the traffic-free streets (no vehicles or even bicycles allowed) are great for walking and sight-seeing. There are many magnificent churches and palaces, lively piazzas and interesting shops. The canals serve as the main arteries of the city and tourists can use any of three types of water transport during their visit: Venice Gondolas, water taxis or Vaporettos (the public transport boats).
Yes, Venice has a lot to offer and it’s one of these cities you can never get enough of…
The Gondola is a traditional rowing boat in Venice and one of the most charming and romantic ways of spending time in the city.
Ponte dei Sospiri – The Bridge of Sighs passes over the Rio di Palazzo and a local legend reports that the view from the bridge was the last view of Venice that convicts saw before their imprisonment. The name “sighs” indicates the last breath of the prisoners in the free world – once convicted in the kingdom of Dogi, they never could go back.
Campo San Vidal – the landing zone on the other side of the Ponte dell’Accademia in San Marco.
Italy is well known for its dolce in form of gelato (ice cream). Among the various gelaterias around Venice, some serve outstanding gelato which is really worth trying, such as Gelateria il Doge. I’d definitely recommend it if you’re in the Campo Santa Margherita area of Venice.
Gondoliers working their craft on a canal in Venice.
Campo San Fantin – a charming little square in San Marco
Venetian masks are a centuries-old tradition. The masks are typically worn during the Carnival (Carnival of Venice), but have been used on many other occasions in the past, usually as a device for hiding the wearer’s identity and social status.
Gondolas with Basilica di San Giorgio Maggiore in the background.
Ponte dell‘Accademia offers two of the best views in Venice, looking along the Grand Canal in each direction. On one side lies the dome of Santa Maria della Salute, and on the other is the quieter bend which eventually takes the canal towards the Rialto Bridge.
Canal Grande – The Grand Canal is perhaps one of the first things you will see, as this is the biggest and most famous canal in Venice that runs through the city in the form of the letter ‘S’.
Since the bridge (Ponte dell‘Accademia) is made of steel, lovers tend to attach padlocks to its handrails to declare their love…
Piazza San Marco (St. Mark’s Square) is filled with centuries of history and is still the symbolic heart of Venice. In the background are the Campanile and the Basilica di San Marco.
Gondoliers are usually good singers and frequently sing while the gondola glides along the canal…
Basilica di San Giorgio Maggiore
Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute in the background.
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