Venice Italy
Travel Excursion
By Patrice Raplee
Gondolier conveying tourists along Venice canal
Photo by Patrice
Raplee
Venice, Italy: The city rises out of the lagoon
mists and appears suspended between dream and reality. Byzantine,
Romanesque, Gothic and Renaissance style architecture loom over the
canals filled with small boats and gondolas ferrying tourists into
the heart of its inner sanctum. For centuries, Venice has captured
the essence of artistry and mystique on an improbable position of
islets on the Adriatic Sea.
A veritable tourist Mecca for hundreds of years,
Venice continues to draw visitors from around the world, even though
her crowded streets and canals exceed spatial capacity limits during
summer season. Why should visitors avail themselves of the harried
task of getting to and navigating Venice’s causeways? It is simply
because there is no other city quite like Venice in the world. The
churches, museums, palaces and galleries are a repository for some
of the finest artistry and architecture in the world. The restaurants
compete for irresistible cuisine and nightfall casts a dimension
of dramatic fantasy as gondoliers glide their way past illuminated
canals.
There are so many things to see and do in Venice,
it would require a book just to cover the significant highlights.
One of the more important aspects for visitors to pay attention to
before their visit is to understand a few important travel tips and
get an idea of the city’s layout. This will save important vacation
time and avoid often frustrating and unexpected situations and money!
Most tourists drive; take either a train or bus
to the mainland towns adjacent to the city. All vehicles must park
in the Piazzale Roma, which is a huge parking lot and bus terminal.
If you have a vehicle and plan to stay in a Venice Hotel, the parking
costs are exorbitant! If you take a bus, you have to haul your luggage
to the Grand Canal and take a vaporetto (water bus) to Venice.
Bridge and residence area in Venice
Photo
by Patrice Raplee
There is an alternative to staying in Venice and
that is to stay 11 miles north up the coast in Lido Di Jesolo. From
out front of almost any hotel in Jesolo, visitors are able to take
a large, comfortable tourist bus to the ferry terminal. The bus is
only a few Euros and the ferry costs about ten Euros per person round
trip. The ferry takes about 45 minutes to arrive in front of St.
Mark’s Square, or Murano if you want to visit the glass factories.
Moreover, the ride is relaxed and the view beautiful; it’s also a
great opportunity to photograph Venice from a different perspective.
It is a hassle-free way to enjoy Venice during the day and evening,
but also have the benefit of staying at an airy and comfortable beach
hotel at night. The hotels in Venice tend to be costly and, due to
the nature of the narrow streets and distance between buildings,
it is seldom that visitors have a view or large room.
Keep in mind that Venice has been a tourist site
for hundreds of years and will be so for as long as it is above water.
Everything from dining and accommodations to gondola rides and to
goods are expensive. Plan on this and you won’t be unpleasantly surprised.
In general, lunch for two people with tip at a moderately priced
restaurant can run close to 70 Euros.
There are plenty of small bistros and bakeries
that sell excellent espresso, drinks, delicious Italian desserts
and deli-type food for much less than most restaurants.
The shops, located around the more popular tourist
areas, tend to sell the same items, such as Murano glass jewelry
and elaborate carnival masks. Take your time and don’t decide on
your purchases until you have looked around. There are always better
prices afoot, as well as wonderful treasures and unique shops that
date back almost to the city’s inception.
Gondola rides are naturally a must, but it is
advisable and acceptable to haggle a bit on price. For two people,
(a gondola seats several couples) prices range from 70 to 100 Euros
for a about a 45-minute ride. Make sure you establish how long and
where your gondolier will row you. If you don’t mind waiting until
evening, the gondolas are more expensive, but the experience is magical
and romantic!
The best time to visit Venice is in spring. Although
the city is crowded most of the year, it is a little easier to get
around in May. After you have visited the sites on your list, just
wind your way through the streets and get lost. These are often the
most interesting experiences in a visitor’s holiday, as unexpected
and wonderful quiet little side streets yield surprising architecture,
boutiques and small quaint restaurants that are not listed in most
tourist guides. Besides, you’re on an island, how lost can you get?
Private Venetian garden along canal
Photo
by Patrice Raplee
For first time visitors, Venice might seem overwhelming
on arrival. The miles and miles of narrow streets and canals are
often confusing and reminiscent of a labyrinth. Take the time to
understand the layout of the city and your time spent navigating
will be kept to a minimum and so will lost tempers. If you don’t
have time to get a layout before you get to Venice, upon arrival,
go to any tourist booth selling books and there are several books
with easy-to-read and use maps of the city. These books contain easy-to-follow
walking maps and current water connection services in the city, their
routes and numbers.
Venice has many walking bridges such as the famous
Bridge of Sighs and the Rialto Bridge. Since there are no vehicles
on Venice, visitors must cross a small bridge or use a vaporetto
(water bus) to get to different districts.
There are three types of vessels used, the vaporetto,
which is slow and makes numerous stops along the Grand Canal; the
Motoscafo, that is faster and makes fewer stops and the Motonave,
which is a big ferry that covers longer routes. There are private
services from locals, who will offer to transport visitors without
all of the water bus stops, but they generally cost significantly
more and their fares are not controlled.
Whether you want to head straight to St. Mark’s
Square, visit St. Mark’s Basilica or lose yourself in the opulence
of the Ca’ Pesaro, which houses the International Gallery of Modern
Art, Venice is a unique city where art and romance are only the beginning!
For additional information on Venice go to: http://europeforvisitors.com/venice and
http://www.veniceword.com/vetourinfo.html
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