Venice
From Imakoopedia
Venice, Italy is a magical city of canals and bridges, built originally to avoid invading barbarians, but today a near perfect preservation of art and architecture. This sanctuary on the lagoon is virtually the same as it was five hundred years ago, which adds to the fascinating character of the city.
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Understand
Get in
Because Venice is on a lagoon, the water plays a crucial role in transportation. The most popular way to approach Venice is by boat or train.
By plane
The closest airport is the one near Mestre on the mainland, an industrial city without much charm in itself, called Marco Polo (http://www.veniceairport.it/?lan=en). There is another one in Treviso, its very small and at 40 Km of Venice. Both airports have bus connections with Venice (Piazzale Roma).
By train
Trains from the mainland run through Mestre and to the Santa Lucia train station on the west side of Venice. From here, vaporettos or private boats can take you to hotels or other locations on the island.
By car
Is not a good option. Cars can arrive in Venice, but are left on the parking at the entrance to the City.
By bus
See above
By boat
Get around
Boats are the "cars" of Venice, which gives it much of its charm. There are vaporettos which are the public water taxis, and they run along the banks of the Grand Canal. They offer a bit of excitement as they don't truly "dock" as much as pull up along the platform, requiring passengers to leap precariously across the gap. There are also private water taxis that work the same way as automobile taxis.
There are 1 day and 3 day vaporetto bonus (maybe 7 days also?). The single ticket is very expensive.
Otherwise, take a walk! The city is not that big, and you can walk from one end to the other in a few hours, and along the way discover the marvelous art and architecture around every corner.
Don't miss the Rialto Bridge, the Piazza San Marco, and one or both of the Campaniles; San Marco and San Giorgio.
Check the monuments timetables, are very strict.
See
- The Peggy Guggenheim Museum located on the Dorsoduro region of Venice, to the east of the Accademia bridge, on the southern side of the Grand Canal, offers a personal collection of modern art, collected by Peggy Guggenheim. 10am-6pm We-Mo. Peggy was married to modern artist Max Ernst, and funded a number of his contemporaries. The gallery includes works by Kandinsky, Tanguy, Duchamp, Pollock and Mondrian. €10 http://www.guggenheim-venice.it/
Do
Take a Gondola if you can afford, it's expensive, but the Gondolero maybe can decrease the price if you ask (but they can also decrease the time...). Pact the conditions (price and time) before start !
Parks
Learn
Many times a week, there are musical concerts featuring music of the composers who called Venice home. Especially popular are performances of Vivaldi's The Four Seasons. What better experience than listening to the music in the same halls where Vivaldi himself visited.
Work
Venice still has some residents who work in non-tourism industries, but these are quite few today.
Buy
The city is well known for its artisans and artwork. Visitors are drawn to its glasswork and its decorative Venetian masks. Watch out also for the hand-made paper and the exquisite miniature buildings made by Moro (watch out for fakes !! Moro "signs" his on the back.
Eat
Venice is packed with wonderful restaurants, featuring cuisine of the Veneto. Specialties include polenta, made of corn meal; risotto with cuttlefish ink sauce; . Be careful when the prices are in a weight basis (typically 100g). One dish can easily contains 400g of fish, meat,... 4 times the indicated price !
For fresh fruit (including chilled coconut!) watch out for the street market stalls.
Budget
Mid-range
Splurges
Da Fiore is michellin starred restaurant that serves fish only.
Drink
Give a try on Spritz al Aperol, "La botte" close to Rialto is a good choice.
If you try the famous Grappa, be careful... it's almost pure alcohol!
The Bellini was invented in Harry's bar in Venice. It is a mix of white peach juice and Champagne.
Sleep
Budget
Mid-range
Nice vacation rental with a view, timewise rental of one room only as well (budget) http://mitglied.lycos.de/serenissima/index_en.htm
Splurge
San Clemente Palace is located on its own island. It is a peaceful and quiet respite from the hoards of tourists in venice. They provide a shuttle boat between the hotel and San Marco square.
Contact
Phone
Internet
Stay safe
It's considered a safe city. You have to take the habitual travellers precautions.
Get out
Around the Venetian lagoon are other smaller islands, which have since been deserted but are worth a visit. There is also the Lido, which is a long narrow island with more modern buildings, hosting a youth hostel and a hotel.
- The Lido - Typical for his beachs
- Murano - Near Island with typical glass
- Burano - Near Island with typical textiles and painted houses.
External links
- Venice FAQ (http://www.comune.venezia.it/turismo/faq_eng.asp)
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