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Hotels in Venezia

Venezia Alloggi Marinella *** 
Venezia Alloggi Sardegna **
Venezia Amadeus ****
Venezia Ambassador Tre Rose *** 
Venezia American *** 
Venezia Amo - Palazzo Sullam *****
Venezia Anastasia ***
Venezia Antica Casa Coppo ***
Venezia Antica Locanda Montin ** 
Venezia Antica Locanda Sturion *** 
Venezia Antica Venezia First Class Inn *** 
Venezia Antiche Figure *** 
Venezia Antiche Figure ***
Venezia Antico Doge *** 
Venezia Antico Fiore ***
Venezia Antico Panada *** 
Venezia Antigo Trovatore ** 
Venezia Apostoli Palace ***
Venezia Appartamento Madonna
Venezia Arcadia ** 
Venezia Ariel Silva *
Venezia Arlecchino *** 
Venezia At Home A Palazzo *** 
Venezia Ateneo *** 
Venezia Atlanta Augustus *** 
Venezia Atlantide **
Venezia B3 - Sant'Antonin ***** 
Venezia B4 - Zattere ***** 
Venezia B8 - San Gregorio *****
Venezia Barbaria (6664) ****
Venezia Bartolomeo **
Venezia Bauer ***** 
Venezia Bel Sito & Berlino *** 
Venezia Belle Arti *** 
Venezia Bellini, A Boscolo First Class Hotel **** 
Venezia Bernardi Semenzato **
Venezia Bestwestern Villa Mabapa ****
Venezia Biasutti ****
Venezia Biasutti Villa Ada *** 
Venezia Bisanzio ***
Venezia Bonvecchiati ****
Venezia Bridge *** 
Venezia Bucintoro ** 
Venezia Buon Pesce *** 
Venezia C3 - Orseolo ***** 
Venezia C4 - Cammello *****
Venezia Cà dei Fabbri
Venezia Cà dei Speci
Venezia Ca Maria Adele ****
Venezia Cà Rielo ***
Venezia Cà San Giorgio *** 
Venezia Ca' Accademia **** 
Venezia Ca' Albachiara ***
Venezia Ca' Alexander **
Venezia Ca' Angeli ***
Venezia Ca' Angelo 
Venezia Ca' Bauta ***
Venezia Ca' Bernardi *** 
Venezia Ca' Bernardo ****
Venezia Ca' Canal **** 
Venezia Ca' Caotorta 2 *** 
Venezia Ca' Cerchieri 1 **** 
Venezia Ca' Cerchieri 2 **** 
Venezia Ca' Cerchieri 3 ****
Venezia Ca' d'Oro *** 
Venezia Ca' d'Oro 
Venezia Ca' Dante - Biennale Giardini ***
Venezia Ca' Dante - Cannaregio *** 
Venezia Ca' Dante - Centro *** 
Venezia Ca' dei Conti ****
Venezia Ca' dei Dogi *** 
Venezia Ca' dei Mori 
Venezia Ca' del Brocchi ***
Venezia Ca' del Campo ***
Venezia Ca' del Duca *** 
Venezia Ca' del Modena *** 
Venezia Ca' del Nobile *** 
Venezia Ca' Della Corte
Venezia Ca' Diamante 2 ****
Venezia Ca' Diamante 3 **** 
Venezia Ca' Dogaressa ***
Venezia Ca' Doge *** 
Venezia Ca' Duca **** 
Venezia Ca' Formenta ***
Venezia Ca' Frari **** 
Venezia Ca' Furlan 
Venezia Ca' Giardino ****
Venezia Ca' Giulia **** 
Venezia Ca' Gondola **** 
Venezia Ca' Grassi 2 ****  
Venezia Trinità ** 
Venezia Universo & Nord *** 
Venezia Venezia 2000 *** 
Venezia Venezia 2000 
Venezia Venezia Residence ***** 
Venezia Venice Apartments ** 
Venezia Venice Canal View 
Venezia Venice Square Garden View 1 
Venezia Venice Square Garden View 2
Venezia Villa Albertina ** 
Venezia Villa Angelica *** 
Venezia Villa Beatrice *** 
Venezia Villa Berghinz 
Venezia Villa Casanova *** 
Venezia Villa Cipro *** 
Venezia Villa Delle Palme *** 
Venezia Villa Edera *** 
Venezia Villa Gabriella *** 
Venezia Villa Igea *** 
Venezia Villa Pannonia ***
Venezia Villa Paradiso *** 
Venezia Villa Parco ***
Venezia Villa Rosa *
Venezia Villa Stella ** 
Venezia Villa Tiziana *** 
Venezia Villa Vaniglia ai Giardini ***
Venezia Violino d'Oro ***
Venezia Wildner ** 
Venezia Zecchini **
Venezia Antico Fiore ***
Venezia Antico Panada *** 
Venezia Antigo Trovatore ** 
Venezia Apostoli Palace *** 
Venezia Appartamento Madonna 
Venezia Arcadia ** 
Venezia Ariel Silva * 
Venezia Arlecchino *** 
Venezia At Home A Palazzo *** 
Venezia Ateneo ***
Venezia Atlanta Augustus *** 
Venezia Atlantide ** 
Venezia B3 - Sant'Antonin ***** 
Venezia B4 - Zattere ***** 
Venezia B8 - San Gregorio ***** 
Venezia Barbaria (6664) ****
Venezia Bartolomeo **
Venezia Bauer ***** 
Venezia Bel Sito & Berlino *** 
Venezia Belle Arti ***
Venezia Bellini, A Boscolo First Class Hotel **** 
Venezia Bernardi Semenzato ** 
Venezia Bestwestern Villa Mabapa **** 
Venezia Biasutti **** 
Venezia Biasutti Villa Ada *** 
Venezia Bisanzio *** 
Venezia Bonvecchiati ****
Venezia Bridge *** 
Venezia Bucintoro ** 
Venezia Buon Pesce *** 
Venezia C3 - Orseolo ***** 
Venezia C4 - Cammello ***** 
Venezia Cà dei Fabbri 
Venezia Cà dei Speci 
Venezia Ca Maria Adele ****
Venezia Cà Rielo *** 
Venezia Cà San Giorgio ***
Venezia Ca' Accademia **** 
Venezia Ca' Albachiara ***
Venezia Ca' Alexander ***
Venezia Ca' Angeli *** 
Venezia Ca' Angelo
Venezia Ca' Bauta *** 
Venezia Ca' Bernardi ***
Venezia Ca' Bernardo **** 
Venezia Ca' Canal **** 
Venezia Ca' Caotorta 2 *** 
Venezia Ca' Cerchieri 1 ****

Venice Hot Travel Hotels - Best Venice hotels guide and online reservations.

Thanks to www.travelpuppy.com
__________Venice Culture Guide
Venice Culture Guide - TravelPuppy.com
The Venetian culture survives on the crumbs of its grandiose past. It rests firmly on its laurels as the home of Vivaldi and the centre of the world for music during the 16th century.

Musicians dressed in foppish costumes entertain tourists with one-off renditions of Baroque music in local churches, while string quartets vie for space in St Mark’s Square.

La Fenice, the home of Venetian opera and theatre, was devastated by a fire in 1996. Gone are the days when the prolific Venetian dramatist, Carlo Goldoni, produced 16 works in one year and had the critics rolling in the aisles. The theatre scene these days is a fairly middle-class affair, with its cap firmly set at the euro-laden tourists. With the declining population and young people choosing to leave, Venice’s home-grown performance groups are virtually non-existent. The city has come to rely on outside artists to spice up the cultural scene. Only the cinema keeps abreast of contemporary traditions when, every September, Venice welcomes the moneyed and the honeyed to the International Film Festival.

For further information and listings, A Guest in Venice is published fortnightly during the summer and monthly during the winter season and is available from good hotels. Information is also available online (website: www.doge.it). Tickets for major cultural events are available for purchase from Ciaoticket (tel: (848) 888 444).

Music

The temporary home for La Fenice, the PalaFenice, Tronchetto island (telephone number: (041) 786 511; fax number: (041) 786 580), is a grand name for what amounts to a large tent. The PalaFenice holds over 300 more people than the original opera house and is conveniently reached from St Mark’s Square by vaporetto (marked La Fenice), leaving 45 minutes before each performance. The opera season is somewhat overshadowed by neighbouring Verona but the standard of the music is very high. Tickets cost from €20 and are available at the venue from two hours before each performance or at a temporary box office alongside the Cassa di Risparmio di Venezia (a local bank), in Campo San Luca, between 0830 hrs and 1300 hrs.

Other music venues in the city include the Frari Church, San Polo 3003, which offers recitals from May to October (excluding August) every Friday at 2100 hrs, and La Pieta, Riva degli Schiavoni, Castello, known as the Vivaldi church, because it stands alongside the Ospedale where the composer taught. Not surprisingly, this is a popular and atmospheric spot for renditions of Vivaldi. Tickets prices start at around €20 are usually available on the door or at hotel receptions. For a serious art and music splurge, visitors should reserve seats in the Scuola di San Rocco, Campo San Rocco, San Polo 3052, where the Accademia of San Rocco gives regular performances of Baroque music on period instruments. Tickets cost from of €25 and visitors can book these in person or by telephone (telephone number: (041) 523 4864).

Theatre

For any aficionado of Venetian Commedia dell’Arte, a visit to the Teatro Goldoni, Calle Goldoni, San Marco (telephone number: (041) 240 2011; fax number: (041) 520 5241), should not to be missed. Renamed to mark the playwright’s death in 1867, this wonderful theatre offers a comprehensive repertoire of Venetian classics and this includes works from the rib-tickling Goldoni. Opening nights are often booked well in advance and seats must be reserved at the box office. It is advised that tickets be picked up at least an hour before the performance to avoid disappointment.

Visitors searching for more alternative theatre should go to Teatro a l’Avogaria, Corte Zappa, Dorsoduro (telephone number: (041) 520 6130), the home of experimental theatre since 1969. Venetian professor Giovanni Poli, who died in 1979, was the guiding light behind contemporary theatre in Venice and has a strong following in the city. In keeping with his groundbreaking ideas, the theatre has no ticketing system but just asks spectators to make a donation.

Dance

Classical ballet forms part of the season at the PalaFenice (see above) but otherwise dance performances in Venice are a little thin on the ground.

Film

The city has been the setting for many famous films, including Luciano Visconti’s Death in Venice (1971), Nicholas Roeg’s Don’t Look Now (1973) and, more recently, the adaptation of Henry James’ Wings of the Dove (1997).

The final scenes of The Talented Mr Ripley (1999) were filmed aboard the Croatian cruise liner, the MV Dalmacija, in the Venetian lagoon.

The Accademia, Calle Gambera, Dorsoduro (telephone number: (041) 528 7706), is one of Venice’s oldest and best-loved cinemas, with an excellent range of flicks from American blockbusters and European independents to arthouse (especially on Wednesday and Thursday). More recently, however, it has been overtaken in the popularity stakes by the brand-new Giorgione Movie D’Essai, Cannaregio 4612, Rio Tera de Franceschi and includes a two-screen miniplex holding over 300 seats and showing films in the English language every Thursday.

Cultural Events

Two cultural names dominate the Venetian calendar, the Biennale and the Venice Film Festival.

The Venice Film Festival was originally founded by Mussolini in 1932, as a reflection of Italy’s increasing global importance and despite the low-key influence of Italian cinema, the event remains the second most important film festival in the world, after the Cannes Film Festival.

The cinematic merry-go-round takes place around the end of August and lasts 10 days. All the action is centred on the Lido where the paparazzi rub shoulders with directors and starlets in pursuit of the Leone d’Oro.

Films are shown in the Palazzo del Cinema, Lungomare G Marconi, and the Astra, Via Corfu, although tickets are only available by queuing at the door. A programme of events should be available in advance at the tourist office. The Biennale is a forum for contemporary art, frequented by the enfant terribles from all over the world. From early Italian Futurists like Marinetti to America’s Robert Rauschenberg and Benetton’s Oliviero Toscani, the Biennale courts controversy at the many events they organise during the year.

Literary Notes

Venetian-born novelists are an obscure bunch, although many other writers, such as Henry James, have used the city as a backdrop for their novels. William Shakespeare set Othello and Merchant of Venice here, while Thomas Mann’s masterpiece, Death in Venice (1912), is one of the most resonant portrayals of 19th-century Venice, set in a particularly insalubrious Lido.

Jan Morris brings her richly woven prose and evocative descriptions of the Divine Republic in her Venice (1974). Other books worth seeking out for their atmospheric descriptions of the city are Ian McEwan’s The Comfort of Strangers (1981), Frederick Rolfe’s The Desire and Pursuit of the Whole (1986) and James Cowan’s A Mapmaker’s Dream (1996), which centres on the famous map in the Libreria Sansovino.

More recent works include Margaret F Macdonald’s Palaces in the Night (2001), a look at the artist Whistler’s time in Venice, and David Rosand’s Myths of Venice – The Figuration of a State (2001). Mary Laven’s Virgins of Venice (2002) is a fascinating insight into life in a Venetian convent in the Renaissance era.


__________Venice Festival - Events
Venice Festivals and Events Guide - TravelPuppy.com
New Year’s Day Swim A chilly swim in the Lido, 1 January, Lido.
Carnivale Famous carnival culminating with an exclusive
masked ball and mass dancing for the locals and suitably attired tourists in St Mark’s Square, in
the 10 days leading up to Shrove Tuesday,
February/ March in the city centre
Festa di San Marco Gondola race in honour of the city’s patron saint,
late April, Sant’Elena to Punta della Dogana.
La Sensa Re-enactment by the city’s mayor of the Marriage
to the Sea ceremony, first performed by the Doge, Pietro Orseolo, who sailed out into the lagoon and cast a golden ring into the sea,
Ascension Day, May, Venetian Lagoon.
Vogalonga 32km (20-mile) boat race from St Mark’s Square
to the island of Burano involving any rowing vessel and any number of crew, Sunday following
Ascension Day, May, Venetian Lagoon.
Palio delle Antiche Repubbliche Marinare Held at the Palio of the Old Maritime Republics,
where four teams in traditional costume take to
the waters to battle to protect their commercial
interests, June, Venetian Lagoon.
Festa del Redentore Venetians celebrate their deliverance from the
plague of 1526, with a pontoon of boats, fireworks display and picnics on the water, third
weekend in Jul, pontoon laid across the Giudecca
Canal to the Palladio’s Redentore church from
Sant’Elena to Punta della Dogana.
Venice Film Festival One of the world’s leading film festivals, August-
September, Palazzo del Cinema, Lido.
Regata Storica Historic Regatta, procession of historic vessels along the Grand Canal, followed by a race
between the city’s top oarsmen and gondoliers,
first Sunday in September, Grand Cana.l
Venice Marathon October
Festa Di San Martino Children patrol the streets in trick-or-treat style,
mid-November, city centre.
Festa della Salute the church of salute (good health) was built to
celebrate the passing of the plague of 1630. In
mid-Nov, a pontoon is built across the Grand
Canal to the Church of Madonna della Salute
___________
Venice Getting Around
Getting Around Venice - TravelPuppy.com
Public Transport

For a real sense of the city, a stroll through the tiny side streets, over the hump-backed bridges and into pocket-sized piazzas is a must for visitors to Venice. But if time is of the essence, visitors should consider using the extensive network of water buses called vaporetti and operated by Azienda Consorziale Transporti Venezia – ACTV (telephone number: (041) 528 7886).

Tickets cost €5 for trips that include the Grand Canal and €3.50 for those that do not. There is also a 24-hour pass which is available for €10.50 and a good value three-day ticket priced at €22, both passes allow the holder to travel on the Grand Canal. Tickets and passes are available for purchase at most landing stations and selected newsagents and should be punched in the machine before boarding. Failure to provide a valid ticket when requested results in a €30 fine, plus the full value of the ticket. Tickets are also valid for ACTV road buses, which operate to Piazzale Roma from Mestre and the airport. ACTV operate a 24-hour service but not on all routes.

Traghetti (public ferries) are traditionally used by locals to cross the Grand Canal. There are only three bridges with another currently planned, but sadly they are an increasingly rare breed. A poor relation to the gondola, these wooden dinghies nonetheless conjure up some of the romance of old the -fashioned Venice. A swift plunge of the oars and the journey is complete but at €0.40 per trip, it is worth it for the chance to see Venice just as Marco Polo might have done.

For visitors who cannot afford the expense or do not want to succumb to the cliché of taking a tourist gondola ride, a traghetti is a better option, although standing is de rigeur and the ride an unsteady one, not to be attempted after one too many Bellinis. The traghetti are run by the gondoliers co-operative in conjunction with the city council and there are no set routes or times of operation.

Taxis

Water taxis have to offer the most expensive taxi service in Europe and there is a minimum set charge of around €15, and the trip will only be a maximum of seven minutes.

A brief trip along the Grand Canal will cost in the region of €70-80 and on top of this there are surcharges for extra passengers, (over the standard four), luggage and travelling by night.

Water Taxis (telephone number: (041) 541 5084) can be ordered by telephone but will have a minimum of €5 on the clock when they arrive. Co-operative San Marco (teephone number: (041) 523 5775) also operates a water taxi service. Stands are located at the station, Piazzale Roma, Rialto, San Marco and the Lido. Official water taxis have a black registration number on a yellow background. Visitors are advised to stay away from illegal operators who charge what they want.

Taxis of the four-wheeled variety operate between Piazzale Roma and the mainland only. Since hailing a taxi can prove difficult, visitors find it easier to call for a pickup from a reputable company, such as Radio Taxi (telephone number: (041) 523 7774), which charges from €10 for short trips. Visitors should beware of unlicensed taxis without the usual sign or meter.

Tipping is expected for both land and water taxis, with approximately 10 per cent the accepted norm.

Gondolas

The Venetian equivalent of the limousine is the gondola. For the ultimate travelling experience, there is nothing like gliding under the Bridge of Sighs, leaning back in plush red velvet seats and listening to the gentle slap of water against the crumbling palazzi walls.

First mentioned in the city’s annals in 1094, there are now just 400 of these sleek, flat-bottomed vessels negotiating the Venetian waters. The traditional cabins that once shielded lascivious English lords and their courtesans from prying eyes were done away with ages ago. The gondoliers of today must rely on fine weather and long summer days for their business, which may account for the very high cost of the ride. For visitors who balk at paying €62 for 50 minutes (more after 2000 hrs), the cost can be kept down by doubling up with other sightseers. Gondolas can carry up to six people and fees for additional services, such as musical accompaniment, costing an extra €100-130 and should be negotiated before setting off on the trip.

Gondolas depart from St Mark’s Square, the Rialto, Piazzale Roma and the railway station. Fares are set by a central body called The Ente Gondola (telephone number: (041) 528 5075; fax number: (041) 521 1534; e-mail: gondola@gondolavenezia.it ) and any complaints should be directed there. Bargaining down the price by 10-15 per cent is possible, particularly in shoulder seasons, although this should never be attempted when there is a group of gondoliers gathered together, as this is deemed insulting.

Driving in the City

No cars are allowed in Venice at all. Even the emergency services operate by boat.

Car Hire

Cars are not allowed in Venice, although for forays into the surrounding countryside, cars can be hired at the airport or in Piazzale Roma.

Major providers include:

Avis (telephone number: (041) 541 5030)
Hertz (telephone number: (041) 541 6075)
Europcar (telephone number: (041) 541 5654).

All have offices at Piazzale Roma and the airport. Rates are approximately €80 per day. Drivers must be 23 years or over (depending on the company policy) and carry an EU licence or full International Driving Permit. Basic insurance is usually included, although drivers are recommended to purchase excess insurance to avoid any excess charges in case of an accident.

____________
Venice (Marco Polo) International Airport
Venice International Airport - TravelPuppy.com
Address Venice Marco Polo Airport - Save SPA,
Viale G Galilei, 30/1,
30030 Tessera,
Venice (Ve), Italy
Location The airport is located 12km (7.5 miles) from Venice by
land and 10km (6 miles) by water
Country code 39
Airport code VCE
Telephone (0)4 1260 6111
Fax (0)4 1260 6260
Email airportelite@veniceairport.it or pubrel@veniceairport.it
Website www.veniceairport.it

Venice (Marco Polo)Airport

Located just 12km (seven miles) from Venice, Marco Polo airport is the main hub of European and national flights to the Veneto region. It is easily accessible by land or water and when occasionally blighted by fog, planes land at nearby airports in Treviso or Verona. Marco Polo is one of the busiest airports in Italy, handling 4.2 million passengers in 2002. A new three-floor terminal, which can cater for up to six million passengers per year, recently opened.

Number of Terminals

2

Transfer between terminals

A free shuttle runs between the two terminals, the docks and various car parks.

Major airlines

Italy’s national airline, Alitalia (telephone number: (041) 541 5340), connects Venice to Rome, Naples and Catania in Sicily.

British Airways, British Midland and budget airline Easyjet operate daily flights to London (Gatwick, Heathrow and Stansted respectively), while Lufthansa and Air France fly to other European capitals and business centres. Alitalia/Delta run a regular code share service to New York.

Approximate Flight times to Milan:

From London is 2 hours 10 minutes
From New York is 9 hours 20 minutes
From Los Angeles is 13 hours 20 minutes
From Toronto is 10 hours 30 minutes
From Sydney is 20 hours 45 minutes

Arrival/departure tax

None

Time Zone

GMT + 1 hour (GMT + 2 from the last Sunday in March to the last Sunday in October))

Airport facilities

Money and communications

Facilities include bureaux de change, banks and 24-hour ATMs. There is a post office, which also provides currency exchange and a fax service.

Eating and drinking

There are bars, and restaurants and cafés at the airport. Food outlets include traditional Italian espresso bars and also a self-service restaurant.

Shopping

Shops are located in the Extra Schengen Departures Hall and include a duty-free shop.

Luggage

Left-luggage facilities also a lost property office and a luggage wrapping service.

Other facilities

There is a first aid service, a spa and a prayer room.

Information desks

A Venice Tourist Information Office is located in the Arrivals area (telephone number: (0)4 1541 5887). An airport information desk is situated in the Departures area (telephone number: (0)4 1260 9260). Recorded information is also available for Arrivals (telephone number: (0)4 1260 9240) and Departures (telephone number: (0)4 1260 9250).

Disabled Facilities

Wheelchairs are available for disabled travellers, passengers requiring special assistance should inform their airline prior to travel. The terminal is equipped with ramps and lifts that provide access to all areas.

Business facilities

The Travelex Business Centre (telephone number:(0)4 1269 8191) has meeting rooms and conference halls, as well as individual workstations, translation services, secretarial support, audiovisual equipment and mobile phone hire. A meeting room in the VIP Lounge can be hired (telephone number: (0)4 1260 6285); facilities in the lounge include telephone, TV, video, fax machine, slide projector and a bar.

Car Parking

There are multi-storey car parks (Park 1 and 4) in front of the old terminal and an open-air car park (Park 2) at the back of the multi-storey complex (tel: (0)4 1541 5913). There are also short-term car parks (Park 5 and 6) in front of the new terminal and a parking lane for pick-up and drop-off . There is a long-stay car park (Park 7), some distance from the new terminal; a shuttle service is available.

Driving Instructions

The airport is 15 minutes from the Venice-Mestre motorway exit and is situated off the SS14 airport road towards Trieste, which is well signposted for the airport.

Transport to the city

The most romantic way to arrive in Venice (weather permitting) is by motorboat (motoscafo). Visitors pay for the privilege (€10) and the ride takes a little longer than the bus, but the approach to St Mark’s Square from the water is fantastic. The Alilaguna service (telephone number: (041) 523 5775; fax number: (041) 522 939; e-mail: info@alilaguna.com) departs hourly 0615-0010 and takes one hour. Water taxis (telephone number: (041) 541 5084) are an altogether more upmarket option, with a price tag upwards of €80.

A cheaper alternative is by land, on the ATVO airbus (telephone number: (041) 541 5180) to Piazzale Roma, which departs every 20 minutes 0835-2330 and costs €3 (journey time is approx 20 minutes).

Cheaper still is the ACTV (telephone number: (041) 528 7886) public bus 5, which costs just €1 and departs every 30 minutes 0525-2125 (journey time is approx 30 minutes to Piazzale Roma). Car taxis to Piazzale Roma wait outside the arrivals hall and cost approximately €15-18 (telephone number: (041) 936 222).

Car Hire

Auto Europa, Avis, Easy Car, Europcar, Hertz, Maggiore, Qui Car, Sixt, Targarent, Thrifty and Tirreno Prestige are all represented in the Arrivals area.

Airport hotels

The Fly Hotel is 300m (328 yards) from the airport (telephone number: (0)41 541 5022), the Antony Hotel (telephone number: (0)41 542 0022) is 1km (0.6 miles) away, and the Ramada Venezia (telephone number: (0)41 531 0500) 7km (4.5 miles). A hotel reservation service is available in Arrivals.
_________
Venice Nightlife
Venice Nightlife - TravelPuppy.com
Visitors who are expecting debauchery and nefarious nights in the licentious ‘City of Revel’, which Venice was once dubbed, will be slightly disappointed. With so few young people able to afford to live in the city and most places set up for the tourists, the city’s nightlife often lacks real soul. In short, visitors to Venice will often be hard-pushed to find entertainment beyond their plate of cuttlefish risotto.

Most of the action takes place in the early evening, when Venetians take their daily stroll or passeggiata along the Riva degli Schiavioni. Sometimes they stop off for an aperitif, a glass of chilled prosecco, the local white wine that fizzes on the tongue. For a quick tipple, the swankiest venues are concentrated around St Mark’s Square, where you can spend your euros with decadent abandon. Other more bohemian areas are located in the back streets of Cannaregio and San Polo, where you can swill a beaker of local wine alongside fishermen and students. The average price of a beer in Venice is €3-5 and you have to be over 18 to drink. Most pubs close at either 2400 hrs or 0100 hrs, although some places stay open later, especially those attached to hotels.

Due to problems with the noise pollution, Venetian nightclubs are virtually non-existent and those that do operate a well-honed entry system that favours short-skirted women. More places open on the Lido, in the summer, when you can rub shoulder pads with Hollywood’s glitziest. However, for the rest of the year, the best of the city’s bright lights are the lanterns on the boats twinkling in the lagoon.

For information and listings, A Guest in Venice is published fortnightly in summer and monthly during the winter season.

Bars

Harry’s Bar, Calle Vallaresso, on the western edge of St Mark’s Square, is the home of the legendary Bellini, a cocktail of prosecco, fresh peach juice and a dash of grenadine. No introduction to Venice (or prosecco) is complete without one. The bar is owned by the Cipriani family and has played host to Hollywood’s most rich and glamorous.

The two grand old dames, Florian and Quadri, on St Mark’s Square, with a €4.50 per person cover charge, may seem exorbitant for a coffee but a bottle of wine with nibbles and a carafe of water costs approx €40-45, which is not bad value for two when you add in the live classical music and the stunning panorama of one of the world’s most famous squares.

Campo Santa Margherita has, in recent years, become the haunt of Venice’s young and beautiful, with its smattering of trendy cafés and bars and slightly grungy ambience.

Margaret Duchamp is one of the liveliest options on the Campo, with outside tables, a trendy interior and a good pint of Guinness. The recently refurbished Taverna Da Baffo, Campo San Agostin, has once again become one of Venice’s most popular places. An added bonus is that, as it is not yet featured in the printed guidebooks and the venue is relatively tourist free, leaving Venetian hipsters an unmolested location for their nocturnal revels. The tables outside close at midnight but visitors should beware at all times, the crotchety old lady upstairs has been known to shower rowdy revellers with buckets of ice cold water.

Osteria alla Postali, Fondamenta Rio Marin 821, now run by a Venetian ex-pilot, is a good place to lounge next to a cosy canal, sipping a campari bitter and watching the gondolas drift by.

Vitae, Calle Sant’Antonio, is a real local secret, tucked away near the Rialto, that very few tourists ever find. Intimate and stylish, this bar attracts the Venetian yuppie crowd. Over on the mainland in Mestre, a new favourite of the smart set is Zen Café, Via Torre Belfredo 110/112, a lounge bar/restaurant. There are echoes of the Buddha Bar in Paris (an ultra chic but also very tastefully decorated with mellow and relaxing music, serving a cool clientele) with smart modern art and mellow background music. Unusually for Italy, Zen Café is non-smoking.

Casinos

Venice has one casino but in two locations. In the summer, the Casino Municipale di Venezia (Telephone number: (041) 529 7111) welcomes beach bums and film stars to its home in the Palazzo del Casino, on the Lido. In the winter, it closes its doors and retreats to the more refined surroundings of Palazzo Vendramin Calergi, on the Grand Canal which is the last resting place of Richard Wagner, who died here in 1883. Games at both include blackjack, roulette, as well as video poker. Gamblers should be willing to dress up. They also have to be over 21 years and a passport is required.

Clubs

Since these are few and far between in Venice, most young people head for Mestre, where there is more space and less of a noise restriction and further afield to the student town of Padua. But if you are stuck in Venice and you want to dance the night away, the best option is Disco Club Piccolo Mondo, Calle Contarini-Corfu, Dorsoduro, where house music is enjoyed by a mixed clientele and entrance costs are around €7.50. Or try the Casanova Disco Club, Lista di Spagna, Cannaregio, a popular Venetian hotspot for rubbing groins with Latin smoothies and is located very near Venice’s railway station. Expect to pay €10.50, which includes a free drink. Internet facilities are available at Casanova.

Live music

Live music venues in the city are scarce. Two of the best known are the late opening (until 0200 hrs) Bacaro Jazz, Salizada del Fontego dei Tedeschi, San Marco, for hot jazz and a cool clientele, and Paradiso Perduto, Fondamenta Misericordia, Cannaregio, a late-night venue that’s popular with students. The wonderfully named Pizzeria 900 Jazz Club, Campiello del Sansoni, San Polo, is difficult to find but well worth the effort for the quality Italian and international live jazz.

_______________Venice Shopping
Venice Shopping Guide - TravelPuppy.com
From the pungent fish market to hand-blown glass factories, Venice may not be focused on pure shopping style but it certainly has some of Italy’s more interesting gifts. In the past trading post of silks and spices, the city’s shops are now filled with carnival masks, hand-painted fabrics and Murano crystal.

There is no set shopping area, although most of the fashionable haunts, including Benetton, Max Mara, Sisley and the more recently opened Calvin Klein, are situated on or just off the main drag between the train station and St Mark’s Square. As well as the international designers, all of the big Italian names are present including Versace, Armani, Missoni, Gianfranco Ferre and Valentino.

There are also some more unusual clothing lines, including Emilio Ceccato, Sottoportego di Rialto, San Polo, who specialises in gondolier’s outfits. Of the carnival masks, the best can be found at Emilio Massaro, Calle Vitturi, San Marco, where shoppers can watch them being made.

The islands of Burano (lace) and Murano (glass) are also prime excursions for speciality shoppers. Glass is the most celebrated of the city’s industries. From chandeliers to jewellery, all manner of shapes and objects are reproduced in the delicate colourful glass. Prices vary enormously but tourists should expect to be fleeced in the elegant shops around St Mark’s Square and even on the island of Murano.

Carlo Moretti at L’Isola, Campo San Moise, San Marco, and Lucio Bubacco, Calle Rughetta, San Polo, are two of the best designers. Other chic glassware outlets include Ma.re, XXII Marzo, Markus Art Gallery, Piazza San Marco, and Cesare Toffolo, Bressagio 8/A Murano.

For the ultimate novelty gift, visitors should head for Giacomo Rizzo, Calle San Giovanni Crisostomo, Cannaregio, where there is a selection of local produce, including gondola-shaped pasta.

Countless outlets around Venice cater for those with a penchant for overpriced and poor quality art, while there are some hidden gems, such as Galleria D’Arte L’Occhio, Dorsoduro 181, with large prints and originals by innovative Italian artists on sale. Papier mâché masks can be bought all over Venice with high quality masks offered by Papier Mâché, Calle Lunga San Maria Formosa and La Bottega Dei Mascareri, San Polo (Rialto).

Of the markets in Venice, the Fish Market is open 0800 hrs -1200 hrs, Tuesday to Saturday, closed Sunday and Monday) is the most memorable. Tucked away under the arches alongside the Rialto Bridge, visitors should aim to visit in the early morning, when the dawn mists rise off the lagoon and piles of shimmering fish glisten in the sunlight.

Dedicated bargain-hunters should also look out for the flea market, which appears infrequently in the Campo San Maurizio. Food shops in Venice often close on a Wednesday afternoon and many gift and clothes boutiques stay shut on Monday morning. In general, shops are open 0900 hrs-1930 hrs, with many smaller shops closing between 1300 hrs and 1600 hrs.

Sales tax is 12-14 per cent depending on the value of the good purchased. Non-EU citizens should retain receipts for goods over €155 to reclaim their VAT (IVA) at either Venice’s main airport or at nearby Treviso Airport. Global Refund Italia (telephone number: (0331) 283 555; fax number(0331) 283 698/9; e-mail: taxfree@it.globalrefund.com) provides further information.
Useful travel links
____________Venice Sightseeing
Venice Sightseeing Guide - TravelPuppy.com
Overview

With so much shoring up work and construction, even the waterfront by St Mark’s Square is currently blighted by hulks of metal and workers, getting around Venice and appreciating its attractions is currently slightly more problematic than it is usually. The best plan for sightseeing in Venice is to have no plan at all. Those who choose to follow a map soon end up on a one-way street with a watery end, or cut off by construction.

For initial sightseeing, it is advisable for tourists to get on one of the main well signposted tourist thoroughfares from the train station to St Mark’s Square, either via the Rialto or Galleria dell’ Accademia. As water is so integral to the city, another excellent way for tourists to get a good feel for Venice and its layout is to take a vaporetto ride from Piazzale Roma, situated in the far east of the city, right along the wide artery of the nearby Grand Canal to St Mark’s Square in the centre. The Grand Canal provides an insight into the very essence of Venice, with all sorts of waterborne craft, from vaporetti and speeding water taxis, right through to the more leisurely traghetti and, of course, the ubiquitous gondola.

Along the length of the Grand Canal are some of the most renowned sights in Venice, from the charming arch of the Rialto Bridge and the artistic treasure trove of the Galleria dell ‘Accademia to the more modern charms of the canal-side restaurants and the avant-garde art Mecca of the Peggy Guggenheim Museum. Travelling away from the water, there are the attractions of St Mark’s Basilica, the Doges’ Palace, Basilica dei Frari and Scuola di San Rocco.

Elsewhere around the Venetian Lagoon are the enticing islands, such as Murano, known for its glass, Burano, famous for its lace, and Torcello, famous for looking much like Venice would have before the builders moved in. On a clear day, taking a vaporetto over the lagoon to the Lido is also recommended to see the city shimmering across the water with a hulk of snow-capped mountains as a dramatic backdrop.

Tourist Information

Azienda di Promozione Turistica (APT) Giardini Ex Reali, San Marco (Venice Pavilion)
Telephone number: (041) 522 5150 or 529 8711. Fax number: (041) 523 0399.
E-mail: info@govenice.org
Website: www.turismovenezia.it
Opening hours: Daily 0900 hrs-1730 hrs.

Other tourist offices are located on St Mark’s Square, the train station and on the Lido, at Viale Santa Maria Elisabetta.

Hello Venezia (telephone number: (041) 2424; fax number: (041) 271 4730) can also provide information on transport, cultural events etc. in Venice. They also have English speaking operators.

Passes

The complicated VeniceCard (telephone number: (041) 2424) is split between ‘blue’ and ‘orange’ variations, with the former including public transport and toilets, and the latter providing access to some of the city’s museums.

Then there are variations between senior and junior cards, with the junior card available to those under 29 years old, the disabled and guides.

The One-day blue cards cost €14 for seniors and €9 for juniors, with orange cards priced at €28 for seniors and €18 for juniors.

Three day and seven day passes are also available. Three and seven day blue cards cost €29 and €51 for seniors, €22 and €49 for juniors respectively. The three and seven-day orange cards cost €47 and €68 for seniors, €35 and €61 for juniors. Transport to/from Marco Polo airport can be included for an extra €20. The Venice Card is available from railway stations, tourist information offices and online.

The Chorus Pass (telephone number: (041) 275 0462; fax number: (041) 275 0494; e-mail: info@chorus-ve.org) includes entry to 15 of Venice’s churches, including the spectacular Frari church and Palladio’s Santa Sede Redentore. The pass lasts for one year and costs €8, with proceeds going towards the upkeep of some of Venice’s most historic parish churches. This pass is available for purchase at the tourist office, which will also provide a full list of the participating churches and their locations. Passes can also be purchased from the churches themselves.

The excellent value Rolling Venice Card (telephone number: (041) 274 7645), available to those aged 29 or under and valid for one year, costs just €5 and gives a range of discounts at many of Venice’s attractions. The Rolling Venice Card is available for purchase from the railway station and tourist information offices.

Key Attractions

Basilica di San Marco (St Mark’s Basilica)

St Mark’s Square was memorably described by Napoleon as the ‘drawing room of Europe’. Visitors can sit at one of the elegant 18th-century coffee houses, Florian and Caffe Quadri, with the tables spilling out into the sunlight from the shadows of the Renaissance colonnades, and peer at one of Europe’s most unusual churches, the golden Byzantine Basilica di San Marco. The basilica was founded in the ninth century, as a shrine for the relics of St Mark and whose body was smuggled from Alexandria in a barrel of salted pork. Formerly a private chapel of the Doges, the church was completely rebuilt in the 11th century, following a fire. Built on a plan of a Greek Cross, its Eastern appearance is enhanced by golden mosaics both inside and out, originally created by craftsmen from the Byzantine court at Ravenna. To see how the church appeared in 1260, visitors should take a look at the mosaic over the left portal which is one of the oldest surviving mosaics on the façade. Also on the façade are copies of four bronze horses seized from Constantine’s Hippodrome at the sacking of Constantinople in 1204, which became one of the symbols of the city. The originals are now being displayed in the Museo Marciano, inside the church.

The inside is lit by the expanse of golden mosaics, houses many of Venice’s greatest treasures. In the chapel north of the main altar is the venerated icon of the Madonna Nicopeia. Once worshipped by the Roman Emperors in Constantinople, she came to Venice in 1204, as their Madonna of Victory, whose blessing was vital for Venetian military campaigns. The golden screen behind the high altar, the crypt in which St Mark is supposed to be buried, is the Pala d’Oro. Decked with sapphires, emeralds and rubies and inset with enamels from Constantinople, it was ordered by Pietro Orseolo, the Doge who was responsible for the rebuilding of the Basilica. Before leaving St Mark’s, visitors should pause to admire the 12th-century pavement, a resplendent mosaic of glass and marble. Now it is filled with uneven dips, and is a fitting witness to Venice’s unique situation, as the weight of its history threatens to submerge it below the waves.

The waterfront near Piazza San Marco is currently blighted by the much-needed attempts to shore it up, and looks destined to ruin many a tourist photo for some time to come.

Piazza San Marco
Telephone number: (041) 522 5205. Fax number: (041) 520 8289.
Transport: Vaporetto 1 or 82 to San Zaccaria.
Opening hours: Monday-Saturday 1000 hrs-1700 hrs and Sunday 1400 hrs-1700 hrs.
Admission: Free (Church); €2 (Pala D’Oro); €2.50 (Treasury).

Palazzo Ducale (Doges’ Palace)

The Doges’ Palace was once home to the elected leader of Venice, the Doge, as well as the city’s political nerve centre, is a must for anyone interested in the history of Venice and its former empire. The building seemingly too graceful for the dirty work of government, its pearly façade is best appreciated from the lagoon, in whose milky light her rosy complexion blushes beguilingly. A merging of Islamic and Gothic styles, the façade dates from 1365. In contrast to the stern fortifications of the castle that was formerly on this site, the undefended colonnade and arcaded balcony are a testament to Venice’s confidence and democratic outlook during the Middle Ages.

The interior is more Renaissance in style, dating mainly from the 16th century, when Antonio da Ponte was employed to refurbish the palace after the fire during 1577. The first floor is predominantly made up of the Ducal apartments, all but empty except for some exemplary paintings by Titian and Bellini. It is on the upper floors that the business of government took place and it is here that Tintoretto and Veronese were commissioned to create new paintings to highlight the power and wealth of the republic. The Anticollegio (or waiting room) holds some of the palace’s best works, Tintoretto’s Bacchus and Ariadne vies for attention with Veronese’s Rape of Europa.

The Sala del Collegio is dominated by Veronese’s ceiling painting of Venice Triumphant above the throne. But it is the Chamber of the Great Council (Sala del Maggior Consiglio), the huge hall on the 3rd floor, spanning the length of the façade overlooking the lagoon, which holds the palace’s most dramatic work. Tintoretto’s Vision of Paradise, painted with the help of his son, Domenico and is the largest oil painting in the world, with a cast of 500 figures. Tintoretto junior is also responsible for the frieze of portraits of the first 76 Doges, made memorable by the blacked-out image of Marin Falier, the only Doge ever to attempt to overthrow the council and install himself as absolute ruler. Falier was beheaded for his pains but his reputation lives on in this silhouetted image.

The Doges’ Palace is currently in the process of a five-stage restoration project, with the final completion date is constantly changing. Nevertheless, concerted attempts are being made to keep as many of the museum areas as possible open throughout the running repairs, though scaffolding currently mars the exterior.

iva degli Schiavoni, San Marco
Telephone number: (041) 271 5911.
Transport: Vaporetto 1, 6, 14, 41, 42, 51, 52 or 82.
Opening hours: Daily 0900 hrs -1900 hrs.
Admission: €9.50.

Rialto Bridge

Venice is historically centred on Rialto Island, the name is derived from the Latin rivus altus, meaning high bank. In the 10th century, a provisions market developed spontaneously on the adjacent island and so, in 1264, the first wooden bridge linking the two landmasses was built. This wooden bridge collapsed in 1444, from the weight of crowds watching a wedding procession.

The bridge was replaced in 1588, by Antonio da Ponte’s design for the single stone arched bridge, which beat off proposals by Palladio and Michelangelo. Da Ponte’s bridge retained the covered shops of the original and today the haunt of tacky tourist traps and hawk-eyed goldsmiths but once home to Shakespeare’s Merchant of Venice. Visitors may note how the bridge crosses the Grand Canal at an angle, in order to align with the axis of the Ruga degli Orefici (Goldsmiths’ Road). Until 1854, this was the only point at which the Grand Canal could be crossed on foot. If visiting during the day, make sure to return when it is dark, or even better misty as well, when the bridge really takes on an otherworldly atmosphere.

Ponte di Rialto, near Piazzale Roma
Transport: Vaporetto 1 or 82.
Opening hours: Daily 24 hours.
Admission: Free.

Galleria dell’Accademia

In Venice many of the greatest paintings remain in the buildings for which they were created, but the most important art gallery, the Accademia, is still worth a visit. Housed in the former church of Santa Maria della Carita and the adjoining Scuola, the collection first opened in 1750.

Oils were the favourite medium of the Venetian masters. Frescoes, popular on the mainland, were unsuited to the damp, salty climate of the lagoon and soon perished. Instead, oils painted on wood or canvas (long used in Northern Europe) were exploited, with the artists demonstrating an unusual sensitivity to colour and light, no doubt partly influenced by the play of light on the lagoon. The small paintings in rooms four and five are some of the finest in the collection. Giorgione’s Tempesta, depicting a naked mother and child sheltering under a stormy sky against the ruins of an ancient city, is full of mystery. Little is known about the artist and the subject of the scene is unclear, but the interplay of dark and light conveys a deep sense of drama. The larger canvases by Titian, Tintoretto and Veronese in room ten should not be missed either. Titian painted the Pieta for his own tomb, demonstrating his extraordinary ability to create light with his palette. Veronese’s bawdy picture, entitled Feast in the House of Levi, was originally painted as The Last Supper but the artist was forced to amend the subject after charges of indecorum. Visitors should allow time for room 21, to admire the drama and colour of the nine broad canvases in which Carpaccio has dramatically staged the Life of St Ursula.

Dorsoduro 1055
Telephone number: (041) 522 2247. Fax number: (041) 521 2709.
Transport: Vaporetto 1 or 82.
Opening hours: Tuesday-Sunday 0815 hrs-1915 hrs, Monday0815 hrs-1400 hrs.
Admission: €6.50.

Basilica dei Frari (Church of Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari)

The glorious Gothic Church of Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari, built around 1330 and is primarily associated with the name of Titian, Venice’s painter son who is buried here, alongside the city’s celebrated sculptor, Antonio Canova. Titian made his reputation and crowned his early years by painting the large altar piece, The Assumption of the Virgin, for the Franciscan brothers of the Frari in 1518. The view through the choir screen and wooden choir to the high altar influenced Titian’s choice of frame and composition. The best way to admire it is to walk slowly up the centre of the nave towards the altar. Titian also executed the painting over the Pesaro family altar in the north aisle. The inclusion of the flag and Turk in the painting alludes to Bishop Pesaro’s victory over the Turks at Santa Maura. Titian’s tomb, located in the south aisle, faces the large marble pyramid created for Canova, depicting St Mark’s lion paying homage to the dead sculptor. Ironically, the design, executed by Canova’s pupils, was based on Canova’s own plans for a new monument to Titian.

San Polo 3072
Telephone number: (041) 272 8611.
Transport: Vaporetto 1 or 82 to San Tomà.
Opening hours: Monday-Saturday 0900 hrs-1700 hrs and Sunday 1300 hrs-1700 hrs
Admission: €2.

Scuola Grande di San Rocco (School of St Roch)

The School of St Roch, one of the many lay fraternities established in Venice for charitable works, is the series of masterful canvases by Jacopo Tintoretto that decorate its interior. Founded in 1478, the school was dedicated to St Roch, following a particularly vicious outbreak of plague. Tintoretto won the commission to decorate the entire Scuola in 1564 and spent the next 23 years doing so, becoming a brother of the school.

The ground floor holds a series of large canvasses depicting scenes from the Life of the Virgin (1582-1587). In the upper hall, connected by Scarpagnino’s staircase, are representations from the Old Testament on the ceiling and New Testament on the walls (1570-1581). The art critic and famous Victorian thinker, John Ruskin, reserved his greatest praise for the Sala dell’Albergo (1564-1567), where the chapter met. On entering the room, the visitor is confronted with the stunning expanse of Tintoretto’s Crucifixion along the breadth of the opposite wall, one of the world’s great works of art. Tintoretto manages to capture the painterly equivalent of tempo, rendering the darkened landscape busy with vignettes of activity while the divine halo around Christ’s head, his face partly hidden as his head bows in death, dimly illuminates the scene. Tourists attending one of the cultural events in the building can nip through during the interval for a free peek at the master’s work.

Campo San Rocco, San Polo 3054
Telephone number: (041) 523 4864. Fax number(041) 524 2820.
Transport: Vaporetto 1 or 82 to San Tomà.
Opening hours: Daily 1000 hrs-1600 hrs.
Admission: €5.

Scuola Dalmata di San Giorgio degli Schiavoni (Dalmation School of St George the Slav)

In the Middle Ages, the large Dalmatian (Schiavoni means ‘Slav’) population in Venice provided labourers for building ships in the arsenal and sailors for the Venetian fleets. Forming a charitable guild in 1451, they moved their seat to the School of St George in 1480, under the patronage of the Knights of Malta. Vittore Carpaccio, himself of Istrian origin, painted a series of celebrated and brilliantly imaginative canvases, between 1502 and 1508. Located in a dark hall on the ground floor since 1551, the canvases depict scenes from the lives of the guild’s patron saints – St George, St Tryphone and St Jerome. Based on tales from The Golden Legend, the images depict St George killing the dragon, St Jerome welcoming the lion into the monastery, the funeral of St Jerome and the revelation of the death of St Jerome to St Augustine. Carpaccio’s canvases demand attention through a combination of drama and extraordinary detail. The canal-side wall, complete with its relief of George slaying the dragon, is in a dire state, but finally work is underway to shore it up, as well as to stabilise the rest of the exterior.

Calle dei Furlani 3259/a, Castello
Telephone number: (041) 522 8828. Fax number: (041) 520 8446.
Transport: Vaporetto 1 or 52 to San Zaccaria.
Opening: Tuesday-Saturday 0930 hrs-1230 hrs and 1530 hrs-1830 hrs, Sunday 0930 hrs-1230 hrs (April-October); Tuesday-Saturday 1000 hrs-1230 hrs and 1500 hrs -1800 hrs, Sunday 1000 hrs-1230 hrs (November-March).
Admission: €2.50.

Peggy Guggenheim Collection

Peggy Guggenheim’s collection of modern art is probably the most distinguished in Italy. The wealthy American heiress and generous benefactor who helped promote Jackson Pollock, built up her collection between 1938 and 1947. Following the exhibition of the collection at the 1948 Venice Biennale, she bought the Palazzo Venier dei Leoni, where she lived until she died in 1979, leaving her estate to the Solomon Guggenheim Foundation. The collection spans Cubism, European Abstraction, Surrealism and early American Abstract Expressionism, with works by a wide variety of artists, including Pollock, Picasso, Kandinsky and Dalí. The sculpture garden is particularly fine and enjoys lovely views over the Grand Canal.

Palazzo Venier dei Leoni, Dorsoduro
Telephone number: (041) 240 5418. Fax number: (041) 520 6885.
E-mail: info@guggenheim-venice.it
Website: www.guggenheim-venice.it
Transport: Vaporetto 1 or 82 from Piazza San Marco.
Opening hours: Monday and Wednesday-Friday 1000 hrs-1800 hrs; Saturday 1000 hrs-2200 hrs
Admission: €8.

Further Distractions

Torcello

Torcello appears almost deserted and it is difficult to believe that, between the seventh and 13th centuries, it was a thriving community of 30,000 who prospered from the wool and salt trade. The town’s decline began in the 14th century, when silt from the rivers turned the waterways around the island into swampland and brought malaria to the community. A visit to this ghost town provides a fascinating glimpse into the very early beginnings and architecture of the Venetian lagoons.

The main square can be reached by crossing the Devil’s Bridge, the only medieval bridge remaining in Venice, allegedly built by the devil in a single night. The austere façade of the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, linked by a portico to the Church of Santa Fosca and the Baptistery, conceals lavish mosaic wall coverings. Founded in the seventh century and rebuilt in the ninth and 11th, the complex pre-dates St Mark’s Basilica by two centuries. In the central apse, there is a beautiful representation of the Virgin and the Mystic Lamb, inspired by works in Ravenna. The most magnificent mosaic is on the wall over the main door and is an enormous composition depicting Christ and the final judgement. Torcello also has its own provincial museum, Museo Provinciale Di Torcello, dedicated to the island’s history and evolution with exhibits from different eras including Roman and early-Veneto times.

Torcello Island
Transport: Vaporetto 41 and 42 or ACTV 12 or 14 from Fondamente Nuove and Punta Sabbioni.

Museo Provinciale Di Torcello
Piazza Torcello, 30012 Torcello
Telephone number: (041) 730 761. Fax number: (041) 730 875.
E-mail: beni.cultuarli@ provincia.venezia.it
Website: www.provincia.venezia.it
Transport: Vaporetto 41 and 42 or ACTV 12 or 14 from Fondamente Nuove and Punta Sabbioni.
Opening hours: Tuesday-Sunday 1030 hrs-1730 hrs (March-November) and 1000 hrs-1700 hrs (November-February)
Admission: €2.

Burano

Burano sees its fair share of visitors during the summer months and many Venetians descend on this lagoon island at weekends. But on a quiet, sunny weekday, the island is idyllic. Many of its narrow canals are lined with brightly painted houses, which are said to have been painted originally by local fishermen, so that they could find their way home through the murky lagoon mists. The main industry today is tourism, which is fuelled by the production of traditional lace, on sale from many outlets around the island. Once visitors have purchased the obligatory lace souvenir, the only other pursuits are idling around the charming canals and lazing away the day in the waterfront cafés and restaurants. A meal at Il Gatto Nero (telephone number: (041) 730 120), a popular trattoria serving food every bit as good as Burano’s more expensive and tourist-orientated restaurants, is an experience to remember, although booking is essential to secure an outside table overlooking the canal.

Burano Island
Transport: Vaporetto 12.
___________Venice Tours - Excursions
Venice Tours Guide - TravelPuppy.com
Walking tours

Walks Inside Venice (telephone number: (041) 524 1706) organises comprehensive English-speaking tours around the city. The company caters for small groups of up to 15 people and charges €57 by the hour most of the tours are three hours long. Sights visited depend on the tour taken and include the Bridge of Sighs, the Doges’ Palace and the largely unspoilt Cannaregio District. Tours usually depart from the hotel in which the client stays or from St Mark’s Square.

Other cultural, historic and artistic tours can also be booked at tourist information offices. The tourist office has an excellent range of free brochures outlining suggested walking routes.

Those preferring to explore by themselves can hire an audio guide from D’Point Venice, Campanile San Marco, Loggia del Sansovino (tel: (055) 873 4527, fax: (055) 873 2219; e-mail: dpoint.venice01@duwas.com) daily 0900 hrs-2000 hrs. Alternatively, pick up one of the walking itineraries titled Venezia Beyond St Mark’s that are freely available at the tourist offices and include maps.

Boat Tours

Venice Walks & Tours, Via Villanova 27 (telephone number: (041) 296 0282 or 520 8616 to book; fax number: (041) 241 0256; e-mail: info@venice-day-tours.com) offers a boat tour of the Grand Canal, although this may seem unnecessary, seeing as the local ferry network is the most efficient and cheapest way of getting out and about on the water. However, no local ferry will include a glass of sparkling wine while taking its passengers down some lesser known canals in a luxurious motor launch. The 70-minute tour departs Monday-Saturday 1630 hrs (April-October) and costs €40 per person (with a minimum of four and a maximum of eight people per ride).

Excursions for half day

Padova

Due to its location, about 35 km (21 miles) west of Venice, Padua is often overlooked as just a cheap place to bed down while enjoying the delights of its more famous neighbour. Padua is a thriving town, singled out by her ancient university (second only to Bologna in age) and the remarkable Cappella di Scrovegni, home of Giotto’s groundbreaking frescoes. Nicknamed La Dotta (‘the Learned’), Padua nurtured the great minds of Livy, Petrarch, Dante and Galileo and later became home to one of the chief medical schools in Europe – as witnessed by its crude Anatomical Theatre, the gruesome highlight of any university tour. Despite serious bomb damage during World War II, the arcaded streets surrounding the market squares (Piazza delle Erbe and Piazza della Frutta) belong to the Middle Ages, when Shakespeare had set his play, Taming of the Shrew, here.

The market itself is a treat not to be missed, crammed with herbs, vegetables and flowers from the bountiful plains of the Veneto and divided by the Palazzo della Ragione, Padua’s ancient law courts, whose loggia shelters the purveyors of local cheese, hams and bread.

The Basilica of San Antonio echoes the Byzantine influence of St Mark’s and is a popular spot for pilgrims who come to venerate the body of St Anthony. This building is something of an architectural elephant, lacking the delicate motifs of its Venetian counterpart, its interior gaudily daubed with mock Byzantine paint work. But the high altar by Donatello, as well as his majestic horseman, Gattamelata (whose statue fronts the church), are well worth visiting.

Visitors come to Padua for just one attraction. The Scrovegni Chapel, sometimes called the Madonna dell’Arena, was commissioned by the moneylender, Scrovegni, as his passport to heaven. It may not have done him much good (the church denied him a Christian burial) but it has enriched the world of art. Giotto executed the chapel at the height of his fame and these resplendent frescoes echo his genius. The walls of the tiny chapel are painted a cerulean blue and vividly depict the Lives of Christ and the Virgin. Bold brushstrokes, a dramatic narrative and a revolutionary perspective combine to form one of Italy’s greatest masterpieces. Tickets include entrance to the city’s art gallery and cost €5.

Padua is just 20 minutes by train from Venice. The APT tourist information office, Riviera Mugnai 8 (telephone number: (049) 876 7911; fax number: (049) 650 794; e-mail: apt@padovanet.it), is open Monday to Saturday 0915 hrs-1745 hrsand Sunday 0900 hrs-1200 hrs.

For a Whole Day

Verona

Walking around the romantic streets, wistfully swooning past the balcony where Romeo wooed Juliet, visiting the home of the strapping young Montague and finishing with an emotional visit to the tomb where the tragedy of the young lovers reached its fatal conclusion, it is easy to get caught up in the drama of the world’s most famous lovers.

On any given day in Verona, tourists can be seen openly crying with the emotion of it all. Strange then that Shakespeare never even visited the city and that the lovers were entirely fictional and something that many visitors do not seem to be aware of. It is a tribute to Verona’s beauty, however, that the romance still shines through, even when one is aware that its leitmotif is a myth.

Today the city offers a spectacular opera season, in addition to the romance and grand passion of its rose-tinted setting. Dominating Piazza Bra, the Arena was built in the first century AD and is considered the best-preserved amphitheatre in Italy, after Rome’s Colosseum. Partially damaged by an earthquake, its pretty pink and white stone belie the brutal sport that it was built for. Today, it is the home to the famous outdoor opera festival, offering performances throughout July and August.

A wander through the city of Verona offers an abundance of bridges, piazzas and Romanesque churches. San Zeno is the king of Veronese churches, with its zebra-striped bell tower climbing out of the rosy rooftops and marking the spot where King Pepin the Short is buried. The façade is dominated by a 12th-century rose window depicting the Wheel of Fortune, a finely carved porch and a set of bronze doors that retell the biblical stories with such intensity that they have been nicknamed the ‘poor man’s bible’. Inside, standing on the altar, is Mantegna’s triptych – a dramatic painting created for the church, using the play of light from the window on the right-hand side.

Verona is located about 100km (62miles) west of Venice. The main tourist office, situated at Via dell’Alpini 11, Piazza Bra, near the Arena (telephone number:(045) 806 8680; fax number: (045) 800 3638; e-mail: info@tourism.verona.it), is open all year (Tuesday to Saturday 0900 hrs-1900 hrs, Monday and Sunday 0900 hrs-1500 hrs). Situated between Milan and Venice, Verona can be reached by a one-hour 45 minute train journey from Santa Lucia in Venice.
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Venice Travel Guide
Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see
Along the Grand Canal

Along the Grand Canal

Lynne

Venice is built on one hundred and seventeen small islands, and holds one hundred and fifty canals, connected by an amazing four hundred and nine bridges, of which only three cross the main canal. The area it covers is a mere 284 miles (458 kilometres). Although the city appears small, it is really quite extensive for its size with a fair number of Venice restaurants and Venice hotels (off peak) to choose from. While most tour guides don’t recommend getting lost in the majority of cities during your Venice vacation, Venice is the place to get hopelessly lost for a day. However, Venice isn’t all cities and crowded streets. Through the mysterious alleyways leading off from the city, endless mazes of backstreets and deserted squares, on your Venice trip, you'll find that this city is a perfect place to walk for hours on end, pretending to know where you are.

The unique Venice activities you'll discover during a walk around town are plentiful. The now-famous watery villages on rafts of wooden posts driven into the soil, laid the foundations for the floating palaces of today.

____Sights
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Acque alte - "high waters": November through February brings heavy rain and flooding, especially in Piazza San Marco

Acque alte - "high waters": November through February brings heavy rain and flooding, especially in Piazza San Marco

Kim Rowland
On your first Venice trip one of the first things you will notice is that Venice itself is the main attraction. Venice activities like strolling along the winding streets and the canals, sitting at a terrace with a proper cup of coffee (the sun also rises nicely in Venice, Hemingway must have thought), a glass of wine or 'Grappa', and breathing in the atmosphere of this dazzling city are all a part of Venice vacation you will never forget. Along the Canal Grande are various piazzas, churches and monasteries, most of them accessible to the public. The main sights are centered at and around the piazza of San Marco. Besides presenting an abundance of impressive architectural diversity, several buildings also house museums and/or galleries. Do not forget to cross the canal to have a look at the gallery of the Accademia, which has a fine and varied collection of Venetian paintings.

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May 24, 2008 change by mcburton
Display all
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Piazza San Marco
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This spacious square remains impressive to every visitor. Whether it is packed with tourists, or nearly deserted in the early morning hours, this is one of sights you will want print on your retina to remember for the rest of your life. Besides the Basilica di San Marco, the piazza houses the Campanile (the 99 metres high tower which offers some excellent views of the city), the Torro dell'Orologio, the Palazzo Ducale and other architectural beauties.

Looking for romance? Stroll the Piazza San Marco after dark, treat yourself to a cup of decadent more..
type: Hotspots
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Ponte dei Sospiri (Bridge of Sighs)
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Leaving the Palazzo, you will soon find your way to the Ponte dei Sospiri which leads towards the prisons. The name of the bridge refers to the sighing of the prisoners when looking at the water and the world of freedom outside their barred windows. When you follow the route over water, you will end up at the Pozzi, the cells for the real tough prisoners.
type: Squares and Bridges
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Basilica del Redentore
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The architect of this basilica, Andrea Palladio, left his architectural touch all over the place. He also made the chiesa di S. Giorgio Maggiore.
type: Churches
World66 rating: [rate it]
address: Giudecca 195
tel: +39 (0)41 – 5231415
Chiesa di San Giacomo di Rialto
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Possibly built around 421, Chiesa di San Giacomo di Rialto, also called San Giacometo, is considered the oldest church in Venice. Highlights include the great clock, the Gothic Portico (one of the last remaining examples in the city), and the interior design.
type: Churches and Cathedrals
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Galleria dell'Accademia
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Although the Accademia is often left out of the visitor's schedule, it would be a shame to miss this collection of Venetian paintings. The gallery exhibits an impressive specialist collection of Venitian painting from the fourteenth until the eighteenth century.
type: Museums
World66 rating: [rate it]
address: Accademia, Dorsodura district
openings: daily 9am – 2pm, Tues-Thurs 9am – 7pm, entrance € 6,20
tel: +39 (0)41 – 5222247
Musea Archeologico
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The museum, which has a collection of Greek and Roman sculpture, is situated, together with the Libreria Sansoviniana, in one of the most impressive Rennaisance buildings Sansovino created in Venice.
type: Museums
World66 rating: [rate it]
address: Piazza San Marco 52
openings: daily 10am-2pm
tel: +39 (0)41 – 5222247
Museo d'Arte Moderna
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type: Museums
World66 rating: [rate it]
address: Santa Croce, Ca' Pesaro
openings: 10am – 4pm, closed on Mondays, L5000.
tel: +39 (0)41 – 721127
Scuola Grande di San Rocco
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Over fifty major works by Tintoretto are exhibited in this sixteenth- century building.
type: Museums
World66 rating: [rate it]
address: San Polo, San Rocco
openings: Apr-Oct: daily 9am-5.30pm / Dec-Feb: Mon-Fri 10am-1pm, Sat. and Sun. 10am-4pm / Mar-Nov daily 10am-4pm.
tel: +39 (0)41 – 5234864
Palazzo Grassi
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type: Palaces
World66 rating: [rate it]
address: San Marco
tel: +39 (0)41 – 5231680
Basilica di S.Maria Gloriosa dei Frari
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This basilica houses an extraordinary art collection of the period between the 14th and the 18th century.
type: Hotspots
World66 rating: [rate it]
address: San Polo 3072
tel: +39 (0)41 – 5222637
Chiesa di Santa Maria della Pieta
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This church of the Pietas was the one where the famous composer Vivaldi worked and taught for many years. He even managed to bring together an orchestra of 1000 teenage orphan girls!

The inside shows several several frescoes by Tiepolo.
type: Churches and Cathedrals
World66 rating: [rate it]
Palazzo Ducale
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This palace housed Venice's former governmental departments. It dates from the early ninth century, but the earliest recoverable traces are from around the 1340s. The main entrance of the palace, the Porta della Carta, is one of the most bombastic Gothic works in Venice.
type: Palaces
World66 rating: [rate it]
address: Piazza di San Marco, next to the Basilica
openings: daily, summer 9am-7pm; winter 9am-5pm.
Palazzo Giustinian Lolin
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type: Palaces
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tel: +39 (0)41 - 786711
Basilica dei S. Giovanni e Paolo
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Pantheon of doges and an astonishing collection of Venetian painting and sculpture.
type: Churches
World66 rating: [rate it]
address: Castello 6363
tel: +39 (0)41 – 5237510
Canal Grande (The Grand Canal)
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i
photo by: Richard J. Gaba

Grand views, galleries, museums, and beautiful Venetian Gothic style palaces -- these are just a few of the sights visitors will see while floating down the Grand Canal in a vaporetto (Venice waterbus). Another way to explore the Grand Canal is by Gondola or motorboat. The Grand Canal begins at Piazetta San Marco and ends at the rail station.
type: Hotspots
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Palazzo Labia
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type: Palaces
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address: Cannaregio
openings: Wed-Thru-Fri, 3pm-4pm
tel: +39 (0)41 - 5242812
Basilica di San Marco (St. Mark's Basilica)
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Acque alte - "high waters": November through February brings heavy rain and flooding, especially in Piazza San Marco
Acque alte - "high waters": November through February brings heavy rain and flooding, especially in Piazza San Marco
photo by: Kim Rowland

This astonishing cathedral was finished in 1094. The dark inside has been covered up under the spell of an enormous amount of relics, brought along from all over the world and also houses one of the most revered religious images of Venice, the icon of the Madonna of Nicopeia. Golden mosaics line every inch of the ceiling, while flames behind red candleholders flicker in the lamps. The Byzantine influence is evident especially on the outside facade and domes. Other points of interest include: the atrium, the baptistery, Pala d'Oro, and the Marciano Museum and Loggia dei Cavalli.
type: Hotspots
World66 rating: [rate it]
email: biblioteca.proc@patriarcatovenezia.it
address: Piazza di San Marco, San Marco 328
openings: Monday-Saturday 9:45 a.m.-5:30 p.m., Sundays 3:00 p.m.-5:30 p.m.
tel: +39 041 2708311
url: www.basilicasanmarco.it
openinghours: Monday-Saturday 9:45 a.m.-5:30 p.m., Sundays 3:00 p.m.-5:30 p.m.
Museo della Comunita' Ebraica
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The Museum of the Jewish Community gives an overview of the history of the Jews in Italy from the Middle Ages throughout the Renaissance.
type: Museums
World66 rating: [rate it]
address: Cannaregio 2902/b
openings: daily 10am-5:30pm. Closed on Saturdays. L4000
tel: +39 (0)41 - 715359
Palazzo Mocenigo Gambara
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type: Palaces
World66 rating: [rate it]
tel: +39 (0)41 - 5228400
Palazzo Pisani (Palace)
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photo

Located between the Bridge of Rialto and the Ca'Foscari's Vault, Palazzo Pisani stands at one of the most beautiful points along the Grand Canal. The architecture is significant, due in part, to the palace’s façade, which features two levels of Gothic mulliones windows. Inside, Baroque decoration can be found throughout by the best Venetian artists of the XVIIIth Century such as Giuseppe Angeli, Gaspere Diziani, Giambattista Tiepoloi, and Jacopo Guarana. Other points of interest include the grand staircase, antique furnishings, and the palace's art collections.
type: Palaces
World66 rating: [rate it]
email: info@pisanimoretta.com
tel: +39 041 5285343
url: www.pisanimoretta.com
address: Between Bridge of Rialto and the Ca'Foscari's Vault

Palazzo Soranza Piovene
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type: Palaces
World66 rating: [rate it]
tel: +39 (0)41 - 720250
Chiesa dei Carmini
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In this solemn Gothic church, you can find great Renaissance works.
type: Churches
World66 rating: [rate it]
address: Dorsoduro 917
tel: +39 (0)41 – 5226553
Collezione Peggy Guggenheim (Peggy Guggenheim Collection)
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Housed in the former Venetian home of Peggy Guggenheim, the Peggy Guggenheim Collection is one of the most outstanding art collections in the world. Visitors to the home -- Palazzo Venier dei Leoni, which sits on the Grand Canal in Venice, can browse through works by Jackson Pollock, Max Ernst (whom Peggy Guggenheim was once married to), Picasso, Chagill, Delvaux, Salvador Dali, Duchamp, and Mondrian. Also on site is a garden of modern sculpture with Giacometti, a museum shop, and a cafe overlooking the sculpture garden.
type: Hotspots
World66 rating: [rate it]
email: info@guggenheim-venice.it
address: 704 Dorsoduro, I-30123
openings: Open Daily 10:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m., closed Tuesdays and December 25
tel: +39 041 2405411
openingHours: Open Daily 10:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m., closed Tuesdays and December 25
url: www.guggenheim-venice.it
Museo Di Storia Naturale
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National History Museum
type: Museums
World66 rating: [rate it]
address: Santa Croce 1730
openings: 9am-1pm, closed on Monday. L5000, with reduction, L3000
tel: +39 (0)41 - 5240885
Chiesa di S. Zaccaria
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According to insiders' information: one of the most charming churches of Venice.
type: Hotspots
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tel: +39 (0)41 – 5221257
Museo Correr
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Go there if you are intensely intrigued by the history aspects of Venice. The museun exhibits a huge collection of coins, weapons, paintings etc. Entrance fee: €4.50; with reduction €2.75.
type: Museums
World66 rating: [rate it]
address: Ala Napoleonica, Piazza San Marco
openings: during summer 9am-7pm, during winter 9am-5pm.
tel: +39 (0)41 - 5225625
Torre dell'Orologio (The Clock Tower)
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Also known as St. Mark’s Clock Tower or the Moors Clock Tower, The Clock displays the current phase of the moon, the dominant sign of the zodiac, and of course, the time of day. The Clock Tower is 500 years old and it is one of Venice’s top tourist attractions. Torre dell'Orologio sits on St. Mark's Square – the heart of Venice. Guided tours take place at 9:00 a.m., 10:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays and at 1:00 p.m., 2:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.
type: Landmarks
World66 rating: [rate it]
openingHours: Guided tours take place at 9:00 a.m., 10:00 a.m, and 11:00 a.m.on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays and at 1:00 p.m., 2:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays
address: St. Mark's Square
Museo Storico Navale (Naval History Museum)
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Some of the most interesting items are on display at Museo Storico Navale such as a lavish gondola that belonged to Peggy Guggenheim and several sheds where several historic barges are displayed. The Museum has three floors. The first contains a collection of Second World War torpedoes and artillery pieces as well as a 16th century frieze by Fernando Bertelli. The second floor contains a collection of model ships and it is also dedicated to naval hero Admiral Morosini. The third floor houses several decorative 17th and 18th century gondola prows as well as large collection of more..
type: Hotspots
World66 rating: [rate it]
tel: +39 041 5200276
address: Campo San Biago, Castello 2148

___________History
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Map Room at the Palazzo Ducale

Map Room at the Palazzo Ducale

Ellen Fields

The Republic of Venice, located in northern Italy, was founded in the ninth century when the Venetians prevented the Francs from abducting this island. Venice was, however, not distinctive in any way yet. Whether it was a theft or a cheap bargain, the arrival of the body of the saint Evangelist Mark by the eleventh doge changed everything. No saint without a legend and the legend was established very soon. When St. Mark set foot on the lagoon island, he was welcomed by an angel who told him that on the very spot where he was standing, an impressive city would come into being. After the arrival of the body- the bones of St. Mark were buried in the Basilica di San Marco's poop, Venice prospered and could no longer be ignored on the world-stage.

Venice became the first and the biggest trading power in the world. That is, the world before the great expeditions during the fifteenth and the sixteenth century. Through trade the Venetians prospered and Venice rapidly accumulated wealth. Venetians merchants established monopolies and used the Crusades as a tool to increase their trading power. They forced the Crusaders to attack rival traders in Constantinople in exchange for transportation to the Arab Empire in the Middle East. At the beginning of the sixteenth century, the Portuguese arrived in the Indies and the Venetians had to face the loss of their monopoly of spices. However, the tendency to self-idolizing fed the urge to find a new alternative: art flourished as never before. At the same time that Venice had to face the end of its trading status, it reached its artistic pinnacle, both in architecture and painting.

The Venetians decided to maintain the 'chaotic' form of the city. Until the Renaissance, Venice gained its own distinctive character by colouring the city with marble, red brick and using all sorts of architectural elements the Venetians imported and adjusted from elsewhere in Italy or collected during travels abroad. Gothic and Roman-Byzantium architecture gave way to the Renaissance and its most important architect, Jacopo Sansovino, halfway during the fifteenth century. He and his pupils put their mark on the city before the Renaissance was overwhelmed by the exuberant style of the Baroque, the style which contributed heavily to the Venice you are experiencing this day. In 1866, Venice became part of the kingdom of Italy. Twentieth century Venice mainly exists because of its visitors and their presence at the yearly local and international events, such as the 'Film-festival of Venice' and the 'Mostra Biennale Internazionale d'Arta Moderna', the latter offering an overview of modern painting and sculpture.

Contributors
April 03, 2006 change by giorgio

________Practical Information
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Hospital:

Ospedale Civili Riunti di Venezia, Campo Santi Giovanni e Paolo, Tel 041 - 523 0000

Police:

the "Questura" is on Via Nicoldi 21, Marghera, Tel. 041 - 271 5511

Post offices:

Main office: Fondaco dei Tedeschi (near Rialto Bridge), open: Mon - Sat 8.15am-7pm.

[Add Practical address]
Venice Tourist office
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Here you can catch information about accommodation, free city maps and public transport timetables. Other tourist offices are at the train station, at the airport and at San Marco 71.
type: Tourist information
World66 rating: [rate it]
openings: daily from 9:40am-3:30pm
police
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Missuouri police is only 3 digits:

911
type: Embassies and Consulates
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________Getting Around
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Dorseduro

Dorseduro

sMorris

The best way to explore the city during your Venice vacation is by foot and the second best way is also by foot. Besides giving you the opportunity to roam the narrow streets and the piazzas, it is the quickest way too: you can walk across the city in one hour. Sometimes it might be quicker to take a shortcut across the water instead of following the bends of the bridges and alleys.

If you feel like doing the canals the touristy way, you can hire a gondola for 50 minutes for the price of €60 ($94US). Prices go up after sunset and make sure you confirm the price before sitting back and watching the gondoliere do all the work for you. A little bargaining might help.

The Vaporetto (water bus) is most amazing method of getting around during your Venice trip; you won’t find too many public transport routes as unforgettable as vaporetto. No 1's trip along the Grand Canal. Get yourself a travel pass to ride the elusive vaporetto - single tickets don't come cheap, and are less economical if you plan to spend days travelling Venice and travelling every nook and cranny. The Vaporetto leaves frequently and cover important parts of the city. The tickets, which can be purchased at the landing stages and at shops which show the ACTV sign, costs about € 5 ($7US)(valid for one hour) . If you plan to use the “vaporetto” more often, it might be an idea to buy a 24-hour ticket € 10,50 ($16US) or a three-day pass € 22 ($34US). www.actv.it

While the classic gondola ride with the opera-warbling operator is pretty touristy and expensive, the traghetto is a commuter gondola that crosses the Grand Canal at strategic points. It is the cheapest way to get into a gondola (40 cents only!). It's quite a balance test for newbies, as you have to stand. The tragehetto is marked with a green signpost. www.actv.it

Water taxis (motorboats) are almost as expensive as gondolas, but their pilots don't wear stripy shirts and bellow out 'O Sole Mio'. www.actv.it

Regular buses (yes, they do exist) run from one place to another, but it's probably the least exciting way to get around the city. Obviously, don't bring the rental car to Venice - you'll just be paying to leave it in a car park for the duration, and in a few car parks you’ll find yourself with a large fine afterwards. www.actv.it

Taxis - the regular four-wheeled variety - do operate from Piazzale Roma. Radio Taxi: +39 041 5237774
Price for public transport tickets has actually risen to 12 euros ($19US) for the 24 hour pass and 25 ($39US) for the 3-days pass. www.actv.it

And reading the text looks like you can get the bus to get around Venice, which is absolutely not true!

Contributors
May 24, 2008 change by mcburton
August 21, 2005 change by hpharmsen
April 26, 2006 change by giorgio

[Add Local transport mode]
tour guide
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Fiona Giusto

fiona.giusto@libero.it
fiona.giusto@tin.it
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email: fiona.giusto@libero.it
tour guide
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Fiona Giusto

fiona.giusto@libero.it
fiona.giusto@tin.it
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email: fiona.giusto@libero.it

_________ Getting There
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Grand Canal at Sunset

Grand Canal at Sunset

Giancarlo Panella

Your Venice vacation will begin as soon as you land at the city's major airport. Flights to Venice arrive at the Marco Polo Airport ( www.veniceairport.it) on the eastern edge of the lagoon. Marco Polo is 13 kilometres (8 miles) from the city and it is served by most large international airlines. From Marco Polo, you take an ACTV bus nr. 5 to the city centre, which leaves every 30 minutes. Other, more expensive, options are the ATVO buses or waterbuses. www.actv.it

When you enter by train, you will arrive at the Santa Lucia train station ( www.raileurope.com). From there, it is fairly easy to take a water taxi to many of the Venice hotels.

If you are arriving by car, which is not advisable, you can park either at the Piazzale Roma car park or on Tronchetto (an artificial island). Be prepared to queue for a long time and a steep price.

Note to travelers with difficulty carrying luggage: Taking the waterbus from the airport will drop you at the Piazza San Marco or other city centre stop. Unless your hotel is very close to the stop, you may wish to take a water taxi from the airport directly to your hotel, or else switch to a water taxi after the bus drops you off. Venice's bridges and cobblestone streets can be difficult to navigate if you have trouble hauling your bags around.

Contributors
June 20, 2005 change by helen
May 24, 2008 change by mcburton

[Add Global transport mode]
venice
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khhlkk
type: By Sea
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___________Festivals & Events
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[Add New]
Carnival
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carnival
carnival
photo by: ioana, romania

At the end of February, beginning of March, the traditional Venetian Carnival takes place. Dressed up in historical costumes, wearing intriguing black masks and aristocratic capes, Venetians will be celebrating either at official balls or with everyone else in the streets. They also play beautiful music to comfort the enjoying persons.
type: general
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Mostra Biennale Internazionale d'Arte Moderne
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International exhibition of modern art.
type: general
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Film Festival of Venice
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Yearly film festival held in summer.
type: general
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________Museums
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Church of San Giovanni Elemosinaro

By Cat Bauer

After years in the Accademia Galleries, Titian's dynamic altarpiece, "St. John the Almsgiver" (c.1545) is back in its original position inside the Church of San Giovanni Elemosinario, which was reopened to the public in 2002, freshly restored.

The earliest record for the church dates back to 1051, although nothing remains of the early structure, destroyed in the calamitous fire that ruined most of the Rialto area in 1513. The Senate of the Republic commissioned Antonio Abbondi, called Scarpagnino, who was then working on reconstruction of the east wing of the ducal palace, to redesign the entire district of the Rialto. Also responsible for the Fabbriche Vecchie, the porticoed buildings to the left of the Rialto Bridge, Scarpagnino tightly incorporated the present church into the surrounding buildings, making it easy to overlook. Work was concluded sometime before 1531, during the time of Doge Andrea Gritti. The Doge visited it annually on Ash Wednesday, one of the most important ecclesiastical holidays.

Many guilds were based in the small church, located in the commercial heart of the city, and the classic Renaissance interior reflects the wealthy merchants' generosity. One guild, the corrieri (messengers) commissioned various paintings representing their patron saints, St. Catherine of Alexandria and St. Rocco. Most notable is the panel by Pordenone, "Saints Catherine, Sebastian and Rocco" (c. 1530-35). Two paintings by Jacopo Palma the younger, "The Martyrdom of St. Catherine" (c. 1595-99) and "Saint Rocco heals the sick" (1535) also depict the saints.

Believed lost, the frescoes of the central dome attributed to Pordenone representing "The Holy Father in Glory" (c. 1531) were uncovered during restoration.

To the side of the entrance stands the late Gothic bell tower, which was rebuilt between 1398-1410 after collapsing in 1361 for the second time.

Cat Bauer has lived in Venice, Italy since 1998, and was a regular contributor to the International Herald Tribune's Italian supplement, Italy Daily

_________Day Trips
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If you would like to take some time out during your Venice vacation to explore the surrounding areas, there are many day trips to choose from. You can take a quick trip to an island to explore the beaches or unique shops or you can take a wine tour to a nearby region. It's up to you! Continue reading through the listings to find out more.

Contributors
May 25, 2008 change by mcburton

[Add Day Trip]
Lido Island
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This 11-mile long sandbar has two large public beaches as well as hotels, shops, and restaurants. The beaches and this area of the Adriatic Sea are clean and the water is warm. Swimming is safe enough for small children. Other areas of the island comprise private beaches, three settlements, and roughly 20,000 lucky residents. Lido is also home to the Venice Film Festival ( www.labiennale.org) which takes place during the first week of September and it is also home to the only golf course in Venice - The Venice Golf Club ( www.circologolfvenezia.it). more..
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address: Lido Tourist Office: Gran Viale 6
Chioggia
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Located around a two-hour ride by boat from Venice is the City of Chioggia. Chioggia is considered the second most important city in the Venetian lagoon. Venice is, of course, the first. Chioggia features several notable canals, some worthy structures (although many are crumbling), and a more relaxed environment than Venice. An added benefit -- the boat on the way to Chioggia stops at Alberoni and Pellestrina. Both areas are popular for their beaches. To get to Chioggia, take a bus from the Lido (www.actv.it). From central Venice, take the #1 vaporetto to the Lido. more..
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Veneto
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This northeastern Italian region belongs on every visitors day trip list. The weekend is the best time to visit when crowds in Venice are thick and attractions are a lot tougher to enjoy due to the heavy tourist traffic. Veneto highlights inlcude: the villas of Andrea Palladio, the Dolomite Mountains, the wines of Veneto & Friuli, and the hill towns and villages of Veneto. Veneto is home to Italy's most famous wines including Prosecco, Amarone, and Soave -- to name a few.
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url: www.initaly.com
email: initaly@initaly.com

________Beaches
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San Nicolo Beach, Venice Lido

San Nicolo Beach, Venice Lido

Brompton

As many people know, coasts are always changing. Forces from the winds and waves erode coastlines and can dramatically change the landscape in as little as 100 years. An excellent example of this is the Venetian coast in Italy’s Settentrione regions of the north. Venice is the capital of the Veneto region which is in the country’s northeast corner. The coast faces out to the open sea and the force of wind and waves have, over time, built up the small islands and marshes on which Venice was built.

Venice was built as a port and was the trading centre of the western world. Its secluded location within a lagoon is bordered by the islands of Lido and Pellestrina and the sand beaches of Cavallino and Sottomarina. These long narrow islands keep the lagoon secluded and Venice very much protected from the elements of Mother Nature, except for one. During the winter months, global warming causes the normal level of the Adriatic Sea to rise. Even a small increase of the sea level can flood most of the city. Venetians have named this continual flooding "acq