For many tourists, Venice is the city of lovers, a dream place they must visit. Even before it dives into the sea. For the Venetians, however, they are a reality that they live with every day and that they also own and consider that it should belong only to them.
Venice begins already in Mestre, a place fifteen kilometers away, where 230 thousand people already live. The place has long since outgrown its native Venice, from where people moved out precisely because of the tourist bustle and unorganized infrastructure. Tourists can already touch the Venetian soil in Mestre. If you decide to go on the trip by car, we suggest that you park in one of the parking garages in the immediate vicinity of the train station. The daily parking fee is only four euros. Treat yourself to a train ride that will cost you only one euro and take you to the canals of Venice. This is where your journey and exploration of one of the most romantic places in Europe will begin. You have several ways to do this. By vaporetto or traghetto, which runs at seven places between the railway station and Trg sv. Marka crosses the Grand Canal. Liner ships are the most efficient and also the fastest. They run along the Grand Canal and around the city, and also connect the islands of Giudecca, San Giorgo, Lido, San Michele (cemetery), Murano, Burano, Torecello and other inhabited islands in the lagoon with Venice. The best way to get to know the city is definitely on foot. For the most romantic, there are gondolas waiting for you at almost all important canal crossings on the way to Trg sv. Mark.
THE DOGE ALSO SLEPT IN VENICE
Many elegant palaces are hotels today. For a luxurious sleep in any of them, you will have to dig deep into your pocket. You will find the best hotels near the Square of St. Marko, on the Riva degli Schiavoni and by the beach on Lido. The golden rule that applies in the city is that the further you go from the market, the lower the prices of both accommodation and food and drink. Nevertheless, there is no need to give up pampering. One of the affordable hotels is Giorgione. You can have breakfast and dinner in the romantic courtyard with a fountain. For fish lovers, we suggest San Cassiano. The palace, which was built in the thirteenth century and is near the fish market, and from the room you will look directly at the Grand Canal, where there are also many trattorias, authentic kitchens with original Venetian food. Treat yourself to lunch like a local. Spaghetti alle vongole (spaghetti with clams), seppioline alla griglia (grilled squid), baccala (codfish) are just some of the dishes you must try before leaving town. We suggest a visit to the pleasant trattoria Ai Fratti on the island of Murano. You will be spoiled with fish and local vegetables. Al Volto is suitable for wine lovers. The wine museum, where they sell almost a thousand types of wine from all over Italy and also from elsewhere. If you still have some energy left for an evening stroll, head to Al Mura, a modern trendy bar that is also frequented by tourists, or perhaps Da Codroma, where mostly students and young people meet - a wonderful and relaxed atmosphere.
THE SQUARE OF ST. MARKA, MURANO, CARNIVAL
All roads lead to the market, you might say. There are signs on the houses that lead you either to the Rialto Bridge, the Ponte di Rialto, which connects Venice to the mainland, or to St. Peter's Square. Mark. By that logic, you can't get lost. You can. It's quite simple. And that's exactly the charm of Venice, when you start discovering it for yourself. 700 palaces and 150 churches are waiting for you to discover them and take a peek inside. The most important is certainly the Basilica of St. Mark, which is the best preserved Byzantine church in the world. In the square in front of the basilica, there are many sellers of corn that you can feed the pigeons with. But do this only in the square, because it is forbidden elsewhere, the penalty is astronomical, 500 euros. Just around the corner from the basilica is what most call the "lovers' bridge," but it's actually the Bridge of Sighs, the Ponte dei Sospiri. Ironically, sighs sometimes came from the mouths of prisoners who were taken to prison cells after being sentenced in the Doge's Palace. But we can still stay romantic and go to one of the many islands of the Venetian lagoon. Venice is also famous for Murano glass, which you will see in every shop and is a great gift idea. The glass is shaped and blown on the island of Murano, where you can take a boat. The Venice Carnival and the Biennale International Film Festival are just two of the many events not to be missed. The city turns into an anthill during Carnival (in February), as thousands of people visit it. At the end of August, everyone who means something in the film industry moves to the Lido, to the Palazzo del Cinema. Then you can also meet your film idol on the streets of Venice. We will not waste words about the crowds at this time. So when is the best time to visit Venice? All seasons are ideal. In any case, the city will take you over and suck you in.
