The 10 best things to do in Venice according to Idressitalian
The 10 best things to do in Venice – Foreword: Venice isn’t for everyone.
This place is more than beautiful , I texted my friend Pietro Geremia – who proudly replied that Venice is a unique city. And there’s no need to say that what makes special things special is that not everyone has the sensibility to appreciate their essence. And what’s the essence of Venice? Just one word: love. Here’s a list of ten things to do in Venice that will make you fall in love with the city and forever cherish its memories in your heart. Discover it clicking the below button Next >
10. GO YOUR OWN WAY
Thousands of tourists. Tourists in Piazza San Marco, tourists on the Rialto Bridge. Here’s my first piece of advice: don’t follow them, don’t go straight to visit these places – they are indeed beautiful and you must see them, but not now, just get to know the city first. Get lost through the alleyways and little squares – if you don’t speak Italian you may not notice it, but the streets in Venice aren’t called what the rest of Italy would call them, instead Venetian dialect is very reminiscent of Spanish; only bridges are properly called ponti. But then again, Venice is a unique city and it must distinguish itself, so there are 435 bridges in all!
Focus on the details, listen to the echoes and maybe you’ll hear Vivaldi’s violin playing as you enter a portico (sotoportego in Venetian) and find yourself in a courtyard.
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9. DA RAFFAELE RESTAURANT
When in Venice, it’s impossible not to wonder where to eat well, possibly in a restaurant that combines fair prices and a nice view. Da Raffaele is a hidden restaurant overlooking the Rio de l’Alboro; you’ll see gondolas on the canal right out of the place’s windows and hear the gondoliers singing Venetian tunes while rowing. Going back to what to eat, keep in mind that Venice isn’t a city where you’ll find pizza or lasagna. Venetians have multiple snacks (cicchetti – appetizers) and fish courses. We recommend you try their spaghetti da Raffaele. And it’s already time for coffe and I spotted a tiny terrace right on the other side of the canal…
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8. CENTURION PALACE HOTEL
Venice biggest problem is how expensive everything is. Sometimes it’s really way too much. But if, instead of letting yourself being (mis)guided by the general stream of tourists, you follow your own instinct, rest assured your Venetian experience will be wonderful and reasonably priced. It’s Centurion Palace’s case, a 5 stars hotel where it’s possible to behold the sight of the city and sip a coffee at a honest price ceteri paribus.
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7. PEGGY GUGGENHEIM
Close to the Centurion Palace you’ll find Palazzo Venier dei Leoni, where Peggy Guggenheim’s personal collection can be visited, but you can also visit Hannelore B.’s and Rudolph B. Schulhof’s collections as well. And there’s more: Nasher’ sculpture garden and other contemporary exhibitions. Long story short, Palazzo Venier is the shrine of European and American contemporary art in Italy. Continue reading clicking the below button Next >
6. ACCADEMIA BRIDGE
In my humble opinion, it’s the most beautiful bridge of Venice. First of all, it’s not crowded. Secondly, its position allows you to snap pictures that could serve as postcards: imagine taking a selfie with the Grand Canal and Santa Maria della Salute (one of the main churches together with the Redentore) serving as background. Thirdly, it’s called ponte dell’accademia because it’s close to the Accademia Gallery where you may be lucky enough to find Da Vinci’s Vitruvian Man on exhibit and finally see its true form instead of that impressed upon coins.
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5. VENETIAN TAXIS
Venice doesn’t have regular streets, its streets are the canals which means its taxis are motorboats – called lancia. A lancia will take you all the way up the Grand Canal to Piazza San Marco. You’ll pass under the Rialto Bridge and admire the beautiful historical palaces (I particularly loved Palazzo Grassi) that side each canal. Also, you’ll behold the Venetian sky at sunset while your lancia sails for the Giudecca and Santa Maria della Salute.
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4. THE BRIDGE OF SIGHS
We’re slowly becoming tourists. This bridge is one of the two most famous bridges of Venice (the other one is Rialto). Most people believe it to be called thus in honor to the lovers’ sighs, but unfortunately this is just a fancy fantasy. The sighs of this bridge were those of the prisoners sentenced to die by the Doge (Venice’s Duke) himself. Those doomed souls would cross this bridge on their way back to their destiny from the Doge’s Palace (which we recommend you visit).
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3. PIAZZA SAN MARCO
Don’t feed the pigeons, please. Ignore them and get in line to visit the top of San Marco bell tower from which you’ll be able to see the entire city of Venice. Such a sight will fill your heart with gratitude and rest assured you’ll never forget what you saw nor how you felt. If the wind blows in the right direction, you’ll even hear the piano playing from the best bar of the city, Bar Florian. Instead of sitting at a table outside the bar, get inside and check the mosaics on the floors. Continue reading clicking the below button Next >
2. SHOPPING & TEATRO
There are so many cities where you can go Vuitton or Prada shopping and let’s be honest, Venice has a fashionable street too and of course you’ll be tempted by its allure. But try to resist this urge and lavish your money on something else, something typically Venetian. How about a Venetian mask? These hand-made trinkets are an authentic part of Venice’s history and folklore.
By the way, when you say mask you say theater which reminds me of Campo San Fantin 1965 – nope 1965 isn’t the year of foundation of the place, but the street number. In case you didn’t know, this is one of the many secrets of Venice: the street numbers are still those assigned when Venice was part of the Austro Hungarian Empire. Continue reading clicking the below button Next >
1.HOTEL DANIELI AND LIDO DI VENEZIA
You’re on the terrace of Hotel Danieli, sipping a Bellini cocktail (so Venetian!). See something? That shore and those trees on that island are indeed the famous Lido di Venezia where the Venice Film Festival takes place every September. And not only that. Venice’s Lido inspired Thomas Mann to write his masterpiece Death in Venice.
To rest in the arms of perfection is the desire of those who aim at excellence. And what is Venice if not pure perfection?
Discover also the 10 secrets of Venice clicking here and discover the best Italian pictures following us on Instagram
My heartfelt gratitude goes to the Venetian Elena Pizzini, whose help was fundamental into composing this article.
