Venice City Guide
Venice has become notorious as a mystical and romantic which has people flocking to visit the gondoliers and monuments dotted around the city. This culturally rich area takes tourists into the ideal Italian world through its activities, sights and food.
Things To Do
Venice has a variety of festivals and carnivals which are fun for both the tourists and the locals. The Carnival is the biggest of Venice’s celebrations which sees St. Mark’s Square completely transformed. Many people dress in either glamorous or sinister costumes as there are masked balls and public parades taking place. This happens during the ten days leading up to Shrove Tuesday in February. Another great festival is the Festa della Sensa which celebrates Venice’s relationship with the sea. There are lines of boats being led by the mayor who throws wreaths into the water to symbolise the marriage between the city and its water.
Sightseeing
A popular tourist destination is the church Santa Maria della Salute which is a Venetian pride to its locals. In the Grand Central, overlooking St. Mark’s waters, the unusual curved shape with its a white octagon exterior placed under a gigantic circular dome is striking even at the present day. The interior of the church is also an amazing feature as there are many intricate and striking paintings which retell religious events. A relatively new attraction on offer to tourists and locals alike is the Clock Tower, Torre dell’Orologio, placed in St. Mark’ s Square which has just finished being renovated from the 15th Century design. This restoration piece has been widely anticipated due to being under scaffolding for 8 years. The tower’s interiors can be visited by guided tours; however it is worth booking in advance due to the small amount of the tours and the number of people who wish to visit.
Travelling Around
The Vaporetti is a useful tool to jump quickly from sides of canals as well as enabling you to enjoy the whole of the Grand Central from the water. These vehicles can get very busy with tourists so it always important to listen to the crew’s instructions. There are different services taking you to diverse areas around Venice so it is best to purchase a routemap so you can get on the right vehicle. Away from the water, it is also possible to travel places on foot. This also enables you to explore little street and walkways away from the tourist path. However unlike a land bound city, it is tricky to get to places directly and quickly due to the obstruction of water and the heavy traffic of boats and water taxis. All boats have to follow the S like system which can make a journey take longer than expected. However there are many sights to enjoy from the water so you should never get bored.
Venice truly lives up to its romantically Italian expectation. Travelling across the water provides tourists with excitement as well as offering you the experience to see some of the architecture and monuments within the city. Travelling by foot also means you can observe Venice’s attractions such as the churches, buildings and bridges.
Map of Venice
5 Day Weather Forecast for Venice
