VENICE, Italy

CAB
Oct 20, 2019
6 min read

Updated: Sep 22, 2023

Venice, a city of water or a city of love?

Some places in the world have always attracted me and Venice is one of them. At first I could not imagine a city built on water then I wanted to know if it was really the City of Love like it's been called by many. There was only one way for me to find out: I had to go there. Diva got on line, made the research, found us tickets , affordable hotel and boom we were on our way! After a 11 and half hours flight from Miami, Fl (5083 miles) we found ourselves in Venice.

Hard to believe but true: The city is really on water. With our luggage by our side, waiting for the shuttle to go to the hotel, we were looking at water taxis picking up and dropping up people. It was easy to figure out who was a tourist and who lived here. Venice was originally built on over 100 small islands in the Adriatic Sea. There is really no roads in Venice, instead they have a series of small alleys, waterways, canals and bridges. Imagine that, a city built on water. Located on the northern part of Italy in the Veneto region.

The first boat ride to the hotel was surreal. Paolo, the captain, was very polite and professional. Since he spoke enough English, he was able to give us some good tips on what to do during our vacation. We stayed in a nice hotel right in front of the water. Oh by the way, when booking a hotel, look to see if there is a direct access to a water-taxi. Chances are if they don't, you will have to drag your luggage thru the alleys to get to the hotel. A lot of people walk with their suitcases so don't be discouraged if you have to. it is very common.

Even tho the hotel was very nice and the view from the room was perfect, we had no time to stay in. There is so much to see and we wanted to enjoy every minute of the trip. Getting around is not so easy since the small alleys are so easy to get lost into. I do not have a good sense of directions, so it made it harder for me but most tourists get lost in those alleys anyways. Nothing to worry about because the place is safe. Don't hesitate to ask for direction. Google Maps and GPS help but they, too get lost sometimes. I guess getting lost is part of the experience. You must really pay attention when you walk and once you go over this huddle, you will find out there are lots of free activities you can enjoy. I am talking about sightseeing. Renaissance and Gothic architecture, world-class museums, and over 100 churches caught my attention. I would recommend one of those free walking-tour. It is a great way to see a lot of and at the same time get some history lessons. You need to book in advance for the tour and you can get these info at your hotel lobby. The canals, the bridges and the colorful houses are so attractive. Nothing like we are used to in our daily life.

When you think about Venice, you think of Gondolas so no matter what, if you find yourself in Venice you should schedule a gondola ride. Some will argue that it is expensive or overpriced but where else can you live this experience? For about 80 euros you can enjoy a 40 minutes ride. A gondolier will sing to you an you will be able to take a look at the city and go under those bridges. While it may be crowded in the canals, it may turn to be a very romantic and relaxing moment. I also learned that there are about 375 licensed gondoliers in Venice. Only 3 or 4 licenses are issued each year.

Iconic Gondola ride thru the canal

One of the most famous areas of the city is the world-renowned Grand Canal, which was a major centre of the Renaissance. Another area of interest is the Piazza San Marco. This is where you’ll find a range of Byzantine mosaics, the Campanile bell and, of course, the stunning St. Mark’s Basilica. This is the biggest center of attraction when visiting Venice. From there, we also went to visit Burano and Murano. These are two small islands that you will not regret visiting while you are there. Plan a full day if you want to go visit the islands.

When visiting new places, I always look forward to taste the food and going to Venice was no different. We tried several restaurants some more fancy than others but I can say that seating at the restaurant, sipping on good wine and eating exquisite Italian dish next to the water are memories that I will keep for a long time. One thing I learned during my trip is that the Italians really take pride in their cuisine. I have to admit that I really love their food. ( I wasn't impressed by the pizza ). If you like seafood, you are in luck. Because of it's location, you will always find a fresh supply of fish and seafood. Diva on the other hand is harder to satisfy. Our last night in town, we went to a very nice restaurant and when we received our food, she asked for some cheese for the pasta she had ordered. BIG MISTAKE!!! Our waiter got so upset. He let us know that it was "wrong" to add cheese to the food . When he brought the cheese, he left it at the end of the table, then turn around saying he "couldn't tolerate to see [her] kill the chef's creation." I have never seen a waiter so upset. At the end I don't judge him, I just find it surprising because we are so used to "the customer is always right"

" I can not stay here and watch you kill the chef's creation" A waiter got upset at my girlfriend because she asked for cheese on her pasta. One thing to learn when visiting Italy: they take food very seriouly.

I went to Venice with this idea that I was going to have the best pizza ever... I came back with the knowledge that for all these years of eating pizza, it was supposed to taste a certain way and I was not impressed by the pizza during my trip. If you ask me about gelato, I will tell you I had the best gelato ever. And that's a fact.

You probably saw padlocks on bridges before. In Venice, it is a thing to do. Couple show their love for one another in the City of Love. How is this showing love? you ask. The idea is simple: "a couple crosses the bridge and puts a padlock on a section of the chainlink fence. The lock represents their love, and it will stay there for all of eternity. They then dramatically hurl the keys to the lock into the body of water under the bridge." If you find yourself in Venice with your significant other, it may be something to try !

Ready to go?

If you are making plans to go visit Venice, there are a few things you need to consider. First of all, Venice is one of the most visited place in the world and it is because of its landscape. Now, if you are like me (meaning you like to party) "the Venice Carnival" is a must see. This celebration happens at the end of February or beginning of March. It is when they celebrate the arts. The costumes and the music will take your breathe away. The summer months ( June and July ) are without a doubt the busiest time of the year. During the winter months, there are lots of floods. You can imagine that some sites will be affected because of that. Piazza San Marco, one of the point of interest in Venice does get flooded. It is also the cheapest time of the year to book flights and hotels, at the same time if you do your research you may find some very good deals all throughout the year. After spending 6 days in Venice it is my opinion that it is the City of Love on Water. I think that I explored a lot in those days but I will go back one day.