Venice, Veneto, Italy UNESCO world heritage site.
*All work including photos, video and writing on this page is my own, except the link to the Expedia video, freely available on Youtube.
When thinking of the most romantic city, Venice has to be one of the most amorous cities in the world. It's different, with an airport boat transfer to your hotel, water taxis and of course the romantic gondolas. Combine that with magnificent architecture, culture and food, it's a must see city! It is made up of over 100 islands connected by canals. There are no roads in the city centre. It was an important trading port and financial power. Now it mainly relies on tourism.
What to see in Venice.
1) Basilica di San Marco. Don't eat there though before checking the prices. However do take a look at Cafe Florian, the oldest cafe in the world.
2) Doge's Palace, a Gothic Masterpiece my son recognised from computer games!
3) The Grand Canal, this is Venice's high street on water, full of life all day and into the night. 4) Teatro La Fenice 5) Peggy Guggenheim Collection 6) Museo Leonardo da Vinci 7) Rialto Bridge 8) San Giorgio Maggiore 9) take a boat trip to Murano, home of Murano glass. |
This is a video I took in Venice a while ago.
Food
Italian food is very regional and in Venice it is as delicious as ever. Polenta is the staple for most Venetian families and you will find it in many restaurants cooked in different ways. Bigoli in salsa is an anchovy pasta dish, with fish being a major part of the diet here. Asiago cheese is the most famous cheese here, asparagus the most popular vegetable along with the borlotto bean. Venice has it's own salami too Sopressa Vicentina. Try to avoid eating in St Mark's square as it will be very expensive. Harry's Bar ( Home of the Bellini) is a rip off too. The famous Cafe Florian ( The oldest cafe in the world! ), was pretty though, but we ate just away from the square.
When to visit
Summer is way too busy and can be smelly. We went in April and had good weather, but it can be very wet in the spring. The Autumn is probably the best time of year. It can be cold in winter, but rarely snows. Crime Like most cities pick pockets are common so wear a money belt. On the whole though Venice is actually a very safe city and crime is rare. It certainly is a city where you SHOULD explore the side streets and alleys, unlike most cities. |
Where to stay
There isn't a bad place to stay in Venice, it's a safe city, so it will depend on your budget, however we chose the Hilton, which is situated on an island opposite the city centre with a free shuttle boat which regularly runs across the canal. This gives you a quieter location to relax and some cheaper restaurants nearby!
|