You are planning travel to Venice? If so, you have been assaulted by many doubts of the last (or not so last) minute. For us Venice is the most beautiful city in Italy along with Roma, for that reason and to help you with your trip, we have created this venice guide.
Venice is a set of 120 islands united through bridges. Venice can be reached from Mestre using the Liberty Bridge, which leads to Piazzale Roma. As you can imagine the city has suffered periodic floods since its inception and, to this day, the city continues to suffer threats from the repeated floods that cause the phenomenon known as Acqua Alta.
In spring and autumn the water level usually rises, so it is frequent that San Marcos Square is flooded to such an extent that the authorities have to put footbridges for pedestrians to walk.
For us Venice is a magical destination and we can think of hundreds of reasons to visit it. If we were to give only one, it would be that it is a unique city in the world y completely different from the rest, a place with a unique spirit that makes everyone fall in love with it.
Do you encourage yourself to know a little more of the Italian city of Venice?
San Marco, comfortable and expensive at the same time
There is nothing more comfortable than being able to sleep right in the center of Venice. Although you think it can be heavy due to the large influx of tourists, it is the best option. It will make it easier for you to meet her at night, which is when Venice is prettier.
In San Marco, one of the six sestrieri from Venice, it's where most of the city's attractions come together. As in most cases, comfort comes at a price. That is why San Marco is a very expensive area to stay in Venice.
The main advantage is the comfort of sleeping in the heart of the city, being able to visit the main attractions a few meters away, in addition to participate to most events They are held during the year.
If you want to book a hotel in this area, do it with time. Finding hotels with vacancies is very complicated, and more complicated is still to find some good offer. The most interesting area is where the Grand Canal ends and that allows you to have a view of the Basilica of San Giorgio Maggiore.
Without a doubt it is the area with more academic environment, This is where most of the university buildings in Venice are concentrated, you will also find two of the most important museums in the city: the Galleria della Accademia and the Peggy Guggenheim Collection.
Both Dorsoduro and the area near Rialto are ideal for those who seek restaurants, bars and a bit of night life. It's one of the best neighborhoods for dinner or going out for a drink, especially around Campo Santa Margherita. The hotels This sestieri usually something cheaper than the rest of Venice.
Dorsoduro is a strategic zone where to stay in Venice. Although it may seem far from the center, just by crossing the Grand Canal by Puente della Accademia you will be very little from reaching the city center. The most positive thing is that prices are much cheaper than in San Marco.
When Venice hotels They are filled or their prices are already prohibitive. This is the first place where you usually look for a hotel. It is a population belonging to the municipality of Venice, connected to it by bus and train. Depending on the traffic, it won't take you more than 15 minutes to get to the main train station.
Mestre is usually the place of Alternative accommodation to Venice thanks to its rich hotel offer, also presenting the great advantage of a much faster and more fluid communication with the island.
The variety of hotels in Mestre they are quite more affordable so if you want save you some money In hotels this is the best option. You can usually stay near the station or in the city center.
To get to Venice from Mestre you have to take a bus that will leave us in the Piazzale de Roma (10-15 minutes) and from there take a ferry or move on foot (although this square is a bit far from interesting things).
It is located to the north, separated by the grand canal and It is the most populous district in Venice. Cannaregio is the best area to sleep in Venice if you like the contact with local life. It is one of the neighborhoods with more residents of the city and a good base camp to explore Venice.
If you want visit more places than VeniceSuch as Padua or Verona, it is a great option to stay in Venice. You will be very close to the station Main train, which communicates with other cities in the region.
In addition, the northern area of Cannaregio communicates by vaporeto with Murano, Burano and Torcello, other advisable visits during your stay in the city.
The variety of Accommodation prices They are better than in the rest of Venice and it has many hostels, B & Bs and apartments with prices Affordable.
El Venice main airport It is the Marco Polo and is located in Mestre, 8 km north of Venice. It can take about 30 minutes to travel this distance if you go by bus. Yes you do not know how to get from the airport to the city, in the same airport there are bus and vaporetto counters where you can be informed. They are located outside the luggage pick-up door next to a Kiosk (the only one in the existing one on the floor below).
The Treviso airport
This airport is located at 40km from the city of the city, and is the one used by low cost companies (vueling, ryanair or easyjet) to fly to Venice. It can take to travel this distance one hour if you go by bus.
Our recommendation is that use a good flight comparator to locate the flight that best suits your needs.
There are two buses that go from the Marco Polo airport to Piazzale Roma. Buses depart from outside the airport terminal. Remember to always validate the ticket by drilling it in the machines that are there for this purpose.
Blue Bus: 30 minutes, tickets are bought from the driver
N º 5: 50 minutes, tickets are bought in the terminal's newspaper shop. Buses depart from outside the airport terminal. Always validate the ticket by drilling it on the machines you will find for this purpose.
You can also go to the city with the Alilaguna public transport boat. There is a free bus that takes you to the pier, although you can walk because it is well signposted leaving the airport on the left.
El boat makes trips from the airport pier to St. Mark's Square hourly, the ticket is purchased at the airport in the booth that is to the left of the customs. It takes approximately one hour to get to St. Mark's Square, passing before by Burano, Murano and Lido.
How to move from Treviso airport
En bus two ways:
ATVO Company: he makes several stops, two in Mestre, one in the train station, and another in Venice, in Piazzale Roma.
Barzi Service: these buses have the same schedules and prices as the previous ones, but they take 40 minutes instead of 70, since they go by the highway. The ticket can be purchased directly from the driver.
How to get to Venice by train
Venice can be reached by train to Santa Lucia station, known as railway. It is located on the west side of the Grand Canal, it is a modern station with good facilities (it has a shower and left luggage service). The station is quite large, so we advise in general to arrive with time to quietly search for the train we have to catch.
We remind you that in Venice, as in all of Italy, you have to validate the ticket before going up in the train, for this it is necessary to introduce it in the yellow machines that are for it in the station.
Fair-Poor in front of the train station is the stop of vaporettos from Ferrovía, which is where you can take the boats of the main lines that run through Venice and the nearby islands.
In a city that is totally invaded by the waters, it is clear that his main transport was not going to be the usual buses. To fulfill this function of public transport are the vaporettos, that cross the great channel.
Vaporetto in Venice
Act quickly. Take into account certain information when taking these boats:
You can travel with the single ticket (valid for one hour) or using a voucher according to the time you want.
The variety of simple tickets are expensive, take a transportation voucher, they come out a lot best price.
The company that operates through the center of Venice which is Actv: http://www.actv.it/
The main line is 82, but taking it from the train station. From there you get to the Plaza de San Marcos.
Vaporetto No. 1 travels the Grand Canal making many stops and going very slowly, so you have time to photograph all the palaces. This is recommended for the first visit to the city.
To go to the islands you have to Fondamenta Nuova, from there the vaporettos leave.
At each stop he puts you on a bright sign to know what time the next one is going and where it is going. To guide you, they also put on a poster all the time. Vaporettos pass every 20 minutes during the day and at night once every hour.
Gondola
It is the means of transport that was used in the past, although today it has become quite obsolete. Virtually all gondolas that you see in Venice are dedicated to private transport of tourism more than public transport.
Few are left, it is estimated that a hundred or so, and its price is a bit exorbitant. 80 euros for a walk of 40 minutes, yes, it is not the same to take a ride in these artisanal boats than to use public transport. A treat for those who want to pay.
Ferry
It is the transport that it is used to cross from one side to the other Great channel. Keep in mind that along the Grand Canal there are only 4 bridges to cross it, and it can be quite heavy to look for a bridge to cross.
The variety of bridges that there are: the controversial Calatrava in Piazzale Roma, which after 11 years of construction stands gleaming, that of Santa Lucia in front of the train station, that of Rialto with shops on the sides and that of the Wooden Academy.
To cross are these little gondolas called traghettos, which for € 0.5 cross from one side of the channel to the other to any passenger who wants to ride.
Motoscafi
Motoscafi are the smallest and fastest boats. Usually they make longer journeys than traghettos so to visit the Giardini, something far from the center, they are useful.
There are maps of all the lines at any of the stops, and there is an information and sales office for Activ (the company that runs it) in Piazzale Roma.
The best what you can see and do during your stay in Venice
The Grand Canal
It is the largest and most important of all the channels that they travel Venice dividing it in two with their four kilometers in length. The 1 vaporetto runs through the great channel making many stops and going very slowly, so that gives you time to photograph all the palaces and bridges, this is highly recommended for the first vision of the city. It is ideal to take it on the 22: 00 since there are hardly any people (beware that the last one is at 23: 25).
The tour of the Grand Canal will take you to discover palaces such as Ca d'Oro, Ca 'Foscari or the Palazzo Dario, for Say a few names. But equally the number of different boats will attract attention that plow their waters.
Saint Marcus Plaza
Considered the showcase of Venice and its beauties buildings around the world, St. Mark's Square is the result of the combination of Byzantine art, Gothic and Renaissance cast in a spectacular sight.
The Plaza as we see it today is the result of several interventions between the ninth century and the nineteenth century, in consequence is characterized by the presence of zones different: the area in front of the basilica, the square in front of the Ducal Palace and the dock that is in the Dársena.
In front of the basilica you will find the Bell Tower, built in the same place where in the ninth century there was a tower albarrana. From above (there is an elevator to go up) You can admire all of Venice.
The Basilica of San Marcos
In the impressive St. Mark's Square appears throughout its splendor the Basilica of San Marcos. The Chapel of the Doge It was built between 1063 and 1094 to house the remains of San Marcos. It seems that the mortal remains of evangelist were subtracted from Alexandria, upon reaching Venice, the following year, received a welcome extraordinary That is why the Doge in charge ordered the construction of a temple in his honor.
The high altar keeps the urn of San Marcos, although the most venerated image is undoubtedly the Nicopeia Virgin (operator of victory), part of the booty taken out Constantinople in 1204 as well as the rest of the nucleus originating from the treasure of San Marcos that deserves a visit.
The Doge's Palace
The Ducal Palace, located in the Plaza de San Marcos, it started as a fortified castle in the ninth century although, after a fire, it had to be rebuilt and it was used as a fortress and prison. In the visit to its interior You can visit their rooms and visit the prison with its cells and walk on the bridge of sighs.
The entrance, which is quite expensive, gives you the right to visit the Palace, the Correr museum (which is in San Marcos Square in front of the Basilica), the Archaeological and the Library.
The bridge of sighs is the only thing that communicates palace with the dungeons and the jail. Hence the name "of the sighs ", because the condemned man sighed when he saw Venice.
The Rialto Bridge
Built towards the end of the 16th century, it may be the most famous monument in the city. Really the first bridge built on the Grand Canal was one built in wood. There were several reconstructions of the bridge original until getting the current one, since there were two landslides and a fire that were ending with the constructions of the bridge.
It is possible to see the second reconstruction in the Galleries of the Academy in a famous painting by Carpaccio. As it threatened to collapse, towards the second half From the 15th century the Senate decided to build a new one. The The result was the bridge in its current form, with a unique arcade and three staircases.
The acqua alta of Venice
The acqua alta de Venecia @https: //pixabay.com/en/venecia-plaza-de-san-marcos-italia-972306/
Part of the daily life of Venice and its residents, the acqua alta, which literally translated would be "high water", is actually a high tide what happens when certain weather conditions specific.
When the tide goes up, many parts of Venice are flooded, especially those that are at a lower height, such as the area of St. Mark's square, completely changing the landscape of the city. Is important to keep in mind that boats During the acqua alta, they have to use alternative channels.
Unless the acqua alta reaches an extremely high level, the phenomenon is totally harmless and it doesn't harm anyone. The high tide is forecast in advance and shop and restaurant owners have time to avoid any problem that causes water.
Many see the acqua alta as proof that Venice is sinking, but nothing could be further from the truth. Venice sinks, but at a speed of approximately 0,5 millimeters per year, but mainly due to the compression of the land under the city.
The islands of the Venice lagoon
Burano
Burano, Venice
The island of Burano is northeast of the central part of Venice, near the island of Torcello, about 40 minutes by boat from Fondamente Nuove.
Burano is famous for its colorful houses. Interestingly, the neighbors are obliged to paint their facades every so often. There is legend that the houses are colored because the sailors painted them that way to be able to reach them on foggy days.
The island does not have many tourist attractions apart from its Lace Museum and its colorful constructions. However, Burano has a very different atmosphere to that perceived in Murano or in the historic center of Venice. The island, with more than 4.000 inhabitants, has a inclined bell tower that is seen from the distance.
You can get to Burano on vaporetto 12 or 14 from the Fondamenta Nuove stop.
Murano
Murano, Venice
In its moment of maximum prosperity the island was designated as the headquarters of the glass art industry Due to two reasons: the island is positioned in favor of the wind with respect to Venice, therefore, the furnaces do not pollute the city air and secondly, to avoid the danger of fire in the central area of Venice.
Murano really does made up of 6 islands linked by bridges and has about 6.000 inhabitants. Many stores organize free visits demonstration on how glass is made, but be careful because you will end up taking something. There is even a crystal museum.
Among the diverse variety of elements to visit during the visit to the island, os We mainly recommend the following visits:
You can get to Murano on vaporetto 41 or 42 from the Fondamenta Nuove stop.
Torcello
Torcello, Venice
The island of Torcello is located almost totally uninhabitedIt is not frequented by many public transport services and is really a desolate place when compared to the historic center of Venice.
When you put your feet in Torcello, you can breathe an atmosphere of great silence and a certain tranquility. But this island has not always been this way.
Torcello was the most populated island in the Venetian Republic, with more than 20.000 inhabitants, when the mainland population was forced to take refuge on the island due to foreign invasions. An outbreak of malaria crushed the population and the power moved to Venice.
Here you have a summary of what That you can see on the island:
El Attila's throne: located in the town square, the legend tells that this marble armchair was the throne of the king of the Huns.
La Basilica from Santa María dell'Assunta: it is worth going up to the belfry to enjoy the views.
La Church of Santa Fosca, next to the basilica.
You can reach Torcello in the vaporetto of the T line.
Lido
Lido, Venice
The island of Lido is one of the Italy's main summer destinations. The island is the place where the Venetians have their summer houses and where the film Festival once a year, at which time the island is full of people and parties and amazing places.
Still having 12km of beach, today is very crowded, but perfectly complements a trip to Venice in summer. The high season is from July to September.
At the bottom of the island there are some areas with campsites and beach clubs. To get there, you can rent bikes in one of the establishments that are just on the vaporetto path to the beach. I also know can take a bus (travels the island in about 20 minutes).
You can get to Lido by vaporetto 1, 2, 51,52, 62, XNUMX, N and LN from the Fondamenta Nuove stop.
Carnival of Venice 2023 and its history
The carnival of Venice is very well known all over the world, which makes it one of the carnivals most important in Europe. It lasts more than two weeks around the streets and canals of this well-known city, where we can see parades, shows and a lot of activities.It is very typical of the Carnival of Venice to see people in the street wearing masks and costumes typical of the festivities seventeenth century.
masques_carnaval_venecia
The origin of this carnival is due to the Bacchanalia and Saturnalia celebrations of the Roman Empire, where the masks were used to enjoy this party with greater freedom. In addition, with the mask, all people were equal, without distinction of social class. Since then, the mask became the most important object of the carnival.
During the XNUMXth century many aristocrats and powerful people from all parts of the world attended this carnival. However, due to Napoleon's occupation of Venice, Carnival was banned in 1797. Thanks to the neighbors and artisans of the city, in 1979 the carnival was celebrated again to become what we know today as the most famous carnival in all of Italy, which attracts a lot of tourists every year.
By this time, both the Venetians themselves and all the visitors who come here, everyone dresses in masks and costumes to dance all over the city.
The most typical costumes correspond to characters from the Comedy of Art, corresponding to the sixteenth century. The characters in these costumes oppose the noble theater and they tend to ridicule Italian society. For example, we can find Harlequin, Pantalone, Polichinela, Colombina, Pierrot or Brighella.
We can also see a lot of costumes and masks that people wear during these days. The costumes and the masks correspond to the seventeenth century, the best known being the mascheranobile, a white mask with black silk clothes and a three-pointed hat.
In addition, the masks we see today in the city are the ones worn during the centuries this tradition has. For example, it is worth mentioning La Bauta, La Morenita, Dominó, Cendal Mask, Spectrum or Dottore Peste. To organize our visit to the Carnival of Venice it is possible to say that begins 12 days before the celebration of Lent, ending on Shrove Tuesday. During these days we organize a lot of parades and parties that we can attend.
During these days it is not mandatory to attend disguised carnival, although we are interested we can rent a costume In one of the many shops in the city to feel like a Venetian.
In addition, in the craft shops we can also see the magnificent handmade masks that are inside. We can buy these masks to use at the carnival and then we will take them home as a pleasant memory of our visit to the city. In the Campo San square Mauricio We can see the tent where artisans make the masks.
Most of the carnival events are held in the Plaza de San Marcos, although it is also worth knowing that the party is distributed throughout the city. We can also enjoy this lively party since the vaporettos or even from gondolas. It is also worth knowing that during the carnival different costume dances are held, although with character private.
