Venice, Italy

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Venice is the capital city of Venetia and located in northeastern Italy on the Adriatic Sea. It is a city, port and naval base. It is also one of the most unique and beautiful - and certainly known as one of the most romantic destinations in the world.

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Venice is built atop 117 small islets in the saltwater lagoon in the Gulf of Venice. The city is sheltered from the Adriatic Sea by the Lido and other islands and strips of land. It connects with the mainland by a bridge which can be crossed by road or rail and is approx. 2.5 miles (4km) long. It has approx. 150 canals connected by over 400 bridges, and only three of those bridges cross over the Grand Canal (the Rialto, Accademia and Scalzi). Although Venice is often unbearably crowded in the main tourist areas, especially around Piazza San Marco (St. Mark’s Square), it is a place where you can stroll down backstreets and go exploring to get away from the crowds among the calles (alleyways) and campos (squares). Venice is divided up into seven sections (sestiere): Cannaregio, S.Croce, Dorsoduro, S Polo, S Marco, Castello and Giudecca.

Tourism is the main industry of Venice, but it also includes glass-making, jewellery, textiles and lace. Venice has dozens of churches, many of which are richly decorated and contain famous works of art.

The Grand Canal snakes through the city and serves as the main street for the city. A trip by vaporetto will have you entranced as you pass the many Gothic style palaces (palazzo) and under famous bridges such as the Rialto and Accademia. The Rialto Bridge (Ponte di Rialto) is one of the top-ten sights to see. It is over 400 years old and provides a great place to view the boats and gondolas passing beneath.

St. Mark’s Square (Piazza San Marco) is the focal centre and main square of Venice. It is the place that most visitors head to first. Its sides are lined with expensive shops and cafes. The 11th century cathedral of St. Mark’s (Basilica di San Marco) is a spectacle and open for tours if you don’t mind waiting. St. Mark is the patron saint of the city and the basilica was erected originally to house the remains of St. Mark and consecrated in AD 832. . Sculptures of lions, St. Mark’s symbol, can be seen in the square and on the cathedral and clock tower. The Byzantine cathedral has five domes and plenty of mosaics and marble. From the outside you can look up at the four magnificent Greek bronze horses and they can also be accessed from inside.

St. Mark’s Square is very lively and something every visitor must experience, with its many street vendors, flocks of pigeons and hoards of camera-wielding tourists. You can take a trip up to the top of the Campanile (bell tower), in St. Mark’s Square, rebuilt in 1912 after it had collapsed. Standing at over 300 feet high (98m) it is worth the wait for the fantastic views of the city. You will also see The Moors’ clocktower (torre dell’Orologio) which dates from the 15th century is located in the Square.

The 14th/15th century Gothic Doge’s Palace (Duke’s Palace or Palazzo Ducale) is located on the Square. It is a very impressive place and was at one time the political and judicial centre of Venice. The palace is connected to the prisons via the much-photographed Bridge of Sighs - which the tour guides will tell inform you was the place where condemned prisoners had their last glimpse of freedom. The Bridge of Sighs leads on to the old prisons and law courts which are all included on the Doge’s Palace tour.

The Florian and Quadri cafes are just two of the famous and historic cafes located in St. Mark’s Square. They are certainly not inexpensive but worth the money just for the experience if you feel like spoiling yourselves. The historic Cafe Florian has been a favorite of poets, writers, artists and celebrities with names like Dickens, Hemmingway and Casanova and is still a favorite with celebrities and the world-famous: Web site: www.caffeflorian.com. Cafe Quadri is another famous café and restaurant located in the Square which has been in existence since the 1770s. Over the years it has also seen guests such as Lord Byron, Stendhal, Proust and Wagner and today both cafes continue to attract celebrities, politicians and movie stars. Web site: www.quadrivenice.com. Live orchestras play outside the cafes, which all adds to the wonderful atmosphere. If you decide to take a seat and listen be prepared for a hefty bill and cover charge!

Travel Guides

For art lovers, Venice has a dizzying collection of works by the Venetian School of artists, such as Titian, Bellini, Carpaccio, Veronese, Mantegna, Giorgione, Tintoretto. Many of these works can be found at various locations in the city, including the Accademia Museum (Galleria dell’Accademia) which has an amazing collection of works by Venetian painters.

The Peggy Guggenheim gallery (affiliated with the Guggenheim in New York) is a must for lovers of modern and contemporary art. The collection is located on the Grand Canal in her former residence – a historic 17th century Customs House. Web site: www.guggenheim-venice.it.

The famous Harry’s Bar in Venice is close to St. Mark’s Square and a place that Ernest Hemingway frequented. The Bellini cocktail was invented there - made from white peach juice and sparkling prosecco wine. www.cipriani.com

Across the lagoon from St. Mark’s you can admire the 16th century Church of San Giorgio Maggiore designed by Renaissance artist Andrea Palladio, and the Church of Santa Maria della Salute.

The Venice Carnival (Carnivale di Venezia) is a festival held annually at the end of February and is one of the liveliest and most colourful celebrations in Italy. Donning festive outfits and masks, the Venetians basically have a street party that lasts for almost two weeks. Events are held in St. Mark’s Square, various palaces and the surrounding areas. The events include costume and masquerade balls, galas, concerts and firework displays. Web site: www.carnival-of-venice.net. www.venicecarnival.com www.carnivalofvenice.com www.visitvenice.co.uk

The Venice Regatta (Regata Storica) is held annually during September and is another popular event for tourists. Venetians take part in a historical parade and rowing races along the Grand Canal. It has been a tradition since the 13th century and the colourful and historical boats filling the Grand Canal provide some wonderful photo opportunities. www.tours-italy.com/Venice/regatta

The Venice Biennale, is an important international art exhibition. It is held bi-annually, as the name indicates, during odd years. The Venice Film Festival is a part of the Biennale, as is the Venice Architecture Biennale – which is held during the even years. The events begin in June and run through November.
Web site: www.labiennale.org.

Venice is bordered and protected from the sea by the islands of Lido and Pellestrina and there are sandy beaches to be found at both Sottomarina and Cavallino. The fashionable Lido Island has sandy beaches and the famous San Nicolo Beach as well as some impressive beachside hotels – all a short vaporetto or ferry trip away from Venice. Web site: www.turismovenezia.it.

No trip to Venice is complete without a vaporetto ride to the islands of Murano, Burano and Torcello.

The island of Burano is located in the northern area of the Lagoon, and takes just over half an hour by boat. It is a delightful place to stroll and admire the brightly painted houses. Burano is known for its lace-making industry and there is a Lace Museum with impressive displays. Beware, however, of vendors selling items that are not genuine Burano lace.

The island of Murano, is also located in the northern lagoon just a short vaporetto ride from Venice. It is a delightful place to stroll with lots of shops and cafes. Murano is where the famous Murano glass is produced and there are free tours of the glass factories where you can watch glass blowing and various items being produced.

The Vaporetti, or water buses are the most popular way to get around in Venice, other than by foot. If you are staying there a while consider purchasing a multi-day pass to use them. It is a great way to see the Grand Canal and to get around other than by foot. You can cross the Grand Canal in some places via a traghetto, which is a standing gondola and can be a scary experience the first time. For a small fare the gondolier will simply taking you across to the other side. Everyone has to go on a gondola ride at least once. Haggle for the best price. It won’t be cheap, but well worth it. Water taxis are available but expect to pay dearly for them.

There are two airports which can take you to Venice. Marco Polo is the more central airport, while Treviso requires a longer bus ride, but it still gets you there eventually.

If you plan to visit Venice from November through approximately January, be prepared to experience the aqua alta – or high water. The temporary flooding conditions are due to the tides and the moon cycles among other factors. At these times you will need a pair of wellies. Raised platforms are erected in well-trodden areas such as St. Mark’s Square.

If you plan to spend a few days in Venice and see the sights, you might consider purchasing a Venice Card online to received discounts: www.venicecard.com

Disclaimer: While we have tried to ensure this information is correct we do not accept responsibility for any inaccuracy.

* Inclusion on this guide does not guarantee travel insurance is available in this country at any given time. Travel Insurance is not available in countries for which the F.C.O. advise against travel to.

** At the time of writing, the F.C.O. advised against travel to countries, or areas thereof, marked thus at the time of writing. Travel Insurance is not available in areas where the F.C.O. advise against travel to.

You are strongly advised to visit the F.C.O. web site for up to date information and general travel advice before you travel.

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