Venice
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Venice is the extraordinary city of bridges and canals, and known for its beautiful architecture. City is located in the marshy Venetian Lagoon stretching along the shoreline, in northeastern Italy. It is the administrative center of the Veneto region, and it houses appr. 265,000 residents.
With the network of 177 canals and 409 bridges, the city, build on a lagoon and an archipelago of 117 islands, is uniquely labyrinthine and the largest car-free area in Europe.
Shopping
Rialto market in San Polo district is a splendid place for finding cheap-priced second-hand treasures. Calle Larga XXII Marzo has boutiques selling classy clothing. Local Murano glasswear is popular and high-quality.
Recreation
La Biennale di Venezia offers annually exhibitions of art and architecture. Here world’s top designer and artists depict their works.
Carnival of Venice is annually one of the most well-known masquerade and carnival event. The Carnival ends with the Christian celebration of Lent. Interesting costumes, fireworks and champagne – this is the time of celebrating.
Galleon Dinner Cruise is a good way to get acquainted with the city while enjoying good food.
Caffè Florian (Piazza San Marco 57) is a famous and cozy café offering the collection of contemporary art to see, as well as the live concerts.
Something to explore
Doge’s Palace
This Gothic palace was the residence of the Doge, the supreme authority of the former Republic of Venice. It was established in 1340, and opened as a museum in 1923. Palace area depicts e.g. The Scarlet Chamber with remarkably carved ceiling in Doge’s apartements, Byzantine St Mark’s Basilica adjacent and connected to the palace, and The Square Atrium with the ceiling painted by Tintoretto.
Ca’ Pesaro
This Baroque marble palace is facing the Grand Canal, and built for noble Pesaro family in the second half of the 17th century. Today it houses a art museum depicting in 10 rooms 19th and 20th century collections of paintings and sculptures, and a section on graphic art.
Piazza San Marco
This square is only piazza in Venice, other squares being known as campo. It is the social centre of the city, and vivid through the day and week. Very good place for sitting and sipping a cup of macchiato. Nearby is the lagoon and the St. Mark’s Basilica.
San Giacomo di Rialto
Allegedly this church is the oldest in the city, built supposedly in 421. Church is located in the San Polo district. It has a large 15th-century clock above the entrance, and its Veneto-Byzantine capitals on the six columns of ancient Greek marble date from the 11th century.
How to get around in Venice
Transportation within the city is still on mainly on water or on foot. Traffic with vaporetti waterbuses and water taxes offer to a visitor very extraordinary chance to feel the Italian urban pulse by waterway. City center Mestre-Carpenedo is the heart of mainland Venice and there are several bus routes and one tramway line. ACTV and ATVO buses leave from Piazzale Roma for the Mainland, Mestre and its city centre. Timetables and ticket prices of the ACTV are here.
How to get in Venice
The nearest international airport is Marco Polo Airport near Mestre. List of its airlines is here, its destinations here.
Trains from the mainland run through Mestre to the Venezia Santa Lucia train station on the west side of the city. Timetables and ticket prices of the national train operator Trenitalia are here.
Cars arrive on the far western edge of Venice, but remain parked at the entrance to the city (Piazzale Roma or Tronchetto, Europe’s largest car park.) There are no roads past this point.
Top 5 in Venice
- Caffè Florian
- Doge’s Palace
- The Carnival
- Shopping at Rialto market
- Piazza San Marco
Text: Timo Hellman
Photos: With the CC licence / Nicor, MarkusMark, Joanbanjo, Leandro Neumann Ciuffo, Didier Descouens[/fusion_text]
