Venice: A City that Permeates Romance
Introduction
A city built on a lagoon by refugees, fishermen, and salt workers. It would later grow into one of the world's most dominant trading powers. It is a city known for its winding waterways and the romance that permeates its atmosphere. It is a city like no other.
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Getting into Venice & Around Venice
If you arrive via the Venice Treviso Airport, then be warned, you are about thirty minutes outside of the city. The cheapest way to get to Venice is to purchase a bus ticket outside of the main entrance. The bus comes with frequency so you will not have to wait too terribly long. The ticket costs ten euros per person and takes around fifty minutes to arrive at the Mestre bus stop, or about seventy minutes to arrive at Venice’s Piazzale Roma bus stop. You have the option of hiring a taxi or Uber, but be warned that it will cost you a small fortune.
We stayed in Mestre, which is the city just outside of Venice. If you stay in Mestre, then the easiest way to get into Venice is either the train or the bus. You can purchase tickets for both at the Mestre Train Station. It is important to note that Italians go on rail strike with frequency so your train might be delayed or not running at all. Make sure to check ahead of time before purchasing a train ticket. On that note, we were never checked to see if we actually possessed a ticket during our entire time in Venice, in the train or in the bus. I am not encouraging you to not buy a ticket, but you can do what you want with that information. Both the bus and train will drop you off near the Piazzale Roma on the outskirts of Venice.
One of the best ways to get around Venice is by water taxi. If you have a long distance to travel you can take the vaporetto, essentially a water bus, from one section of the city to another. You can purchase tickets on the boat when you board or at the kiosk. A single ticket costs a few euros. Additionally, you can purchase day passes for the vaporetto for around thirty euros, and is also valid for journeying to the surrounding islands of Venice. Other than the vaporetto, you can hire a water taxi or a gondola to transport you throughout the city, but those options can be pricey.
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San Maurizio Flea Market
Arriving in Venice, we found ourselves getting lost among the numerous snaking alleyways and stumbled upon a pleasant surprise, the San Maurizio Flea Market. If you are lucky enough to find yourself in Venice while this market is open, then you are in for a real treat. It is perhaps the best flea market I have ever been to. You can find pieces for sale that date back to the 1600s. It is a distinctly Italian flea market, and an excellent place to buy a souvenir. If you are a collector, then you can easily spend hours here being absorbed by the countless curiosities and fine goods.
Gondola Ride
Your standard gondola ride will cost your eighty euros for a thirty minute ride. If you are tight on money then consider going with a group to divide the overall cost. It does not matter if one person goes or five, the cost will still be eighty euros total. You can do a private gondola ride with accompanying music and singing, but it will cost you much more. The longer the ride and the more additions means more money. But hey, you are only in Venice once! Go big or go home. The gondola ride was one of the highlights of Venice for me. I know it is a touristy thing to do, but it is totally worth it. If you are going to spend money on anything in Venice, then it should be on a gondola ride.
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Venice at Night
Venice at night is a dream. After all of the cruise ship tourists leave, the city is remarkably quiet. Wandering the city at night was an absolute delight. People tend to stay up late in Italy, so if you feel unsafe just stick to where the people are. Venice at night has a different and distinct vibe. Make sure to wander the city a bit at night, just be careful to not get lost.Venice can be difficult to navigate during the day and even more difficult to navigate at night.
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St. Mark’s Basilica
Admittance to St. Mark's Basilica is free but you will be charged if you want to see certain areas including: the museum, the pala d’oro, and the treasury. I opted to not spend any additional money because I am a cheap person. I would advise you to get there early or you will be waiting in a line. The line moved fairly quickly when I was there but I can see it being a drag during peak tourist season. The basilica is almost entirely adorned with pure gold, has beautiful mosaics, and is the supposed burial place of Saint Mark. The Basilica is iconic and a necessary stop during your visit to Venice.
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Libraire Acqua Alta
If you are a fan of second hand, vintage books then you will love Libraire Acqua Alta. This book store is famous for having a gondola in the middle of the shop in order to protect the books when the tides rise and the waters flood the shop. There is also an area in the back where books have been used as bricks to make stairs and a ledge that you can actually walk on. It is a good place to visit and snap some pictures and videos for your instagram. It can get quite crowded so make sure to arrive early to beat the crowds.
Bridges of Venice
There are scores of bridges in Venice. Here are a few of the prominent bridges that are worth appreciating: Rialto Bridge, Bridge of Sighs, Academy Bridge, and Scalzi Bridge. The Rialto is perhaps the most famous of the bridges in Venice. It spans the Grand Canal and is littered with shops on either side. The Bridge of Sighs is famous for offering prisoners a fleeting glimpse of the city before they were led to their death. The Academy and Scalzi bridges are both architectural achievements that are beautiful to behold. The bridges are beautiful in Venice and each one offers spectacular views.
Public Parks of Venice
There are some green spaces in Venice that are worth checking out, especially if you find yourself there during the summer months. The Royal Gardens are a nice section of greenery to relax and escape from the concrete jungle that is Venice. The Giardini Della Biennale is an excellent place to have a picnic, and perhaps even take a nap if you are like me and get exhausted from constantly walking in the heat. Both of these parks are an oasis and a respite from the city.
Eating by the Canals
Eating by the canals is a must when visiting Venice. I do not remember the names of any of the places we ate at, but I do remember the memories we shared over delicious Italian food whilst looking out over the canals. There are so many good places to eat at in Venice, just make sure to look at the reviews before you go somewhere. I spent my first night in Venice with food poisoning from the beef ragu I had eaten that night.
Conclusion
Overall, Venice is my favorite city without a doubt. In my mind, a city like this should not exist. Built on lagoon by fishermen and still in existence to this very day. You will find no cars, as it is a pedestrian only city. Instead you will see gondolas being stirred by gondoliers performing the chorus of spectacular Italian music whilst making their way down narrow canals. You will see people smiling and enjoying delicious Italian food. You will see architectural feats of achievement. Venice is romantic to its very core. It is a city to behold.
