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Venice

The City

There is no doubt that Venice is one of the prettiest, most photogenic cities in the world and home to some of the most beautiful architecture to exist. It really is like no other place on earth, it’s the city that time forgot but in the best way possible.

The Veneto Region capital city is built on more than 100 small islands along the Adriatic Sea which are separated by canals and linked together by bridges. It is built on a foundation of wooden pilings and sadly there is a fear that one day this beautiful place will eventually sink.

So there really is no time like the present to spend a few days in the stunning surroundings of this little Italian treasure.

As soon as you arrive in Venice (which will most likely be by water taxi due to the very apparent lack of roads and any form of vehicle other than those which can float), you are greeted by jaw-dropping scenery. Although full of tourists stopping to take photos every two minutes, you can’t complain as everywhere you turn there is something beautiful to see, whether it be St Mark’s Square or the Grand Canal. Venice is a busy place over summer time and the hustle and bustle of tourists make what would normally be a sleepy city, a place full of life.

The sights/Piazza San Marco (St Mark’s Square)

Three days is generally enough time in Venice to see all the main sights. Piazza San Marco, known in English as St Mark’s Square, is one of the best known locations in Venice and is home to not only some lovely little restaurants and ice cream shops but to some of the most gorgeous architecture and culture such as the ‘Patriarchal Cathedral Basilica of Saint Mark’ and ‘Doge’s Palace’. This was the home of the Doge of Venice, the supreme authority of the former Republic of Venice, before it opened as a museum in 1923.

It is a beautiful building and at around 25 euros per person to get in, this may sound a little steep, but the spectacular decor inside the palace makes it worth the money. As well as being allowed to visit and photograph some of the grandest rooms you will ever see, you can also visit the cellars which were used to imprison misbehaving servants.

Shopping in Venice

In Venice the backstreets are full of lovely little shops selling locally made goods including fancy Venetian masks and the most intricate Murano glass ornaments made on the Venetian Island of Murano. As well as local shops, Venice is also home to a number of high end designer stores such as Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Dolce and Gabbana and Chanel. Even if you can’t afford to make a purchase in any of these shops, they are worth a look in anyway, even just to stare at and dream about owning a beautiful designer handbag or perfume.

Burano Island

Burano is another Island in the Venetian Lagoon around 4 miles from Venice and is about an hour’s journey via water bus. It is definitely one of the most colourful and charming places you could visit. On arrival at the island you are greeted by a spectacle of bright colours and quaint little houses and shops. The island is much bigger than it first appears and the rainbow maze of beautiful buildings is a great place to explore; there are definitely worse places to get lost! It is definitely worth taking a boat across to Burano Island if you feel you want to explore somewhere else as well as Venice.

The food and drink in Venice

As well as being one of the prettiest places on earth, Venice also provides some of tastiest food and drink. It is home to some fairly posh (and pricey!) restaurants, but is also a great place to eat delicious traditional Italian food such as pizza and pasta. The best places to find more traditional (and cheaper) restaurants are the back streets as surprisingly many of the more high end places around the centre and St Mark’s Square don’t actually make pizza. Explore a little further in to the more hidden streets though and you will be spoilt for choice over which little pizzeria to stop at. The ice cream in Venice, or traditional Italian gelato, is also delicious and the ice cream shops sell a wide range of yummy flavours from cookie crumble to cherry.

When it comes to Venice you can’t go and not have a Bellini or 12. The island is where the refreshing drink originated from. It is a mix of Prosecco and peach puree, a perfect light drink in the afternoon or evening.

The settings of the restaurants are also beautiful. The backstreets have a homely traditional vibe and the more expensive places allow you to sit in the bustling centre of St Mark’s Square listening to a live band, or along the edge of a canal with gondolas floating past and the odd outburst of Italian song as passengers are serenaded on their journeys.

Gondola Rides are a must!

Without a doubt you can’t go to Venice and not go on a Gondola ride. It really is one of the most special things you will ever do, anywhere!

The drivers are lovely and make you feel very welcome and although it can be a bit pricey (around 100 euros for two people) this can be made cheaper if you are willing to share a boat and split the price with other tourists. It is such an exciting experience and allows you to sit and take in the beautiful surroundings. Every gondola is beautifully made and it’s a brilliant way to spend half an hour of your day.

The gondolas run at any time of day from morning to midnight, however the dusky hours, as the sun sets on the Grand Canal create some of the most stunning sights.

The drivers only get to work for about 4 months of the year as the winter time can be quiet for them, but despite being at work for such long days to make their living they are still very welcoming and polite to all their customers, and as they explain some of the city’s history and culture while you sail around the canals, they add to the experience.

Five top tips for visiting Venice

Here are five tips to make a brilliant visit to Venice, even better!

· Take a water bus from the airport once you arrive, these don’t have to be pre booked as tickets can be bought just before your journey, and the route allows you to see other islands in the Venetian Lagoon.

· If you want to visit some of the cultural sites such as Doge’s Palace, an early start may be needed as queues build up fast and no one wants to spend two hours just waiting to get in to somewhere when you could be exploring.

· If you don’t mind sharing a gondola with other tourists you don’t know, this will make the ride cheaper as the price can be split. This may not suit everyone as it’s a very special experience that you may only want to share with loved ones, but if you don’t mind then it is a good way to save some euros (that can then be used for more ice cream…).

· Talking about the delicious food, to ensure you are buying genuine Italian gelato, make sure the ice cream has been churned as whipped ice cream is fake!

· Explore the backstreets for traditional Italian food! The hidden restaurants are often cheaper and serve the most delicious pizza and pasta.

You will not regret booking a visit to Venice and it really will be some of the best days of your life there!

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