Ciao
‘If you read a lot, nothing is as great as you’ve imagined. Venice is — Venice is better.’
– Fran Lebowitz
Nearly 14 million people visit Venice every year. It is one of the most revered and celebrated places on the planet. The beautiful ancient buildings float on the water the way you’d think of a city in the clouds. There’s just no other place like it!
The main artery of the city is a Grand Canal. It divides the two sides of the city and provides a thoroughfare for larger boats. Having lunch in one of the many wonderful restaurants lining the canal, is a must for any wannabe jet setter. Oh, so continental!
The city of canals
Of course, Venice is all about the canals. They serpentine around the buildings, creating the paths on which the many gondolas can glide.
It doesn’t get more romantic than the image of the gondolier guiding the slender boat through the caverns formed by the waterways, while an affectionate couple embraces in the front.
The savvy gondoliers will invoke a few thrills as they take tourists under low bridges, making them duck down to fit. They’ll also put on a show, often leaping out of the gondola, running over a bridge then dropping back into the boat again.
One thing that many don’t realize initially is that because of the canals, there are an uncountable number of bridges. It feels like you can’t walk more than a few meters before you’re scaling another set of stairs. They’re adorable and luckily most aren’t too high. You’ll definitely get a workout though.
Murano
Since the 1300s, Murano has been a world leader in artistic glass. This series of islands is just a short boat ride away from the heart of Venice. You’ll definitely want to visit it and pick up some handmade and truly beautiful glass items.
In addition to the glass, there is a truly amazing hotel. I really enjoyed staying at the Hyatt Centric Murano Venice. It was one of the most stylish hotels I had ever seen. We showed up late and they put together a truly fabulous lasagne dinner for us, despite the hour. Dinner with a nice Chianti under the stars in their beautiful courtyard – unforgettable! Can’t recommend it enough!
A beautiful maze
I’m not sure if there is a straight road in Venice that lasts for more than 100 meters. For someone like me who gets lost easy, it’s quite the labyrinth. After every twist and turn lies another bridge or splendid ancient building to marvel at.
Luckily, even if you get lost, you’ll never go hungry. it is Italy after all, so you’ll be able to feast on as many carbs as your waistband can tolerate. So grab a slice of pizza and refuel when you need boost to keep you going.
Like much of Europe, the churches are ornate beyond words. The frescos and intricately crafted sculpture and carvings really make an impression as to how much different life once was.
Arrivederci
What can I say? It’s Venice! Trust me, this has to be on your bucket list. You won’t regret it and with climate change, you might not want to wait too long.
When you eventually have to leave, I’d highly recommend taking the high speed train. We took it all the way from Venice to Rome. It was amazing! It gave us a chance to see basically the entire country and we didn’t have to hassle with the airport.
