Best places in Italy

The beauty of Venice has been described in ancient times, and neither time nor people have washed away the brilliance of this glorious city. Venice undoubtedly resembles a fairy tale place with wonderful buildings, hundreds of canals and bridges. The territory of Venice resembles a fish on the geographical map and is therefore called the “goldfish of Italy”.

We reached Venice by boat from Punta Sabbioni, which is a continuation of the beautiful beach resort of Lido di Jesolo. We arrived among many gondolas that add a unique charm to the city. However, before taking a tour with them, we headed for a walking tour of the city, passing by the first landmark: the bridge of sighs. Everything in Venice seemed so romantic, it turned out that the only “non-romantic” bridge is that of sighs or “Ponte dei sospiri”. It connects the Doge’s Palace with the prison, and it was believed that when the condemned prisoners crossed the bridge, they sighed heavily, as here for the last time they saw the sun and the city.

Next to it is the beautiful Doge’s Palace and the beautiful St. Mark’s Square. Here are some of the most important and beautiful buildings in the city, such as the Doge’s Palace, St. Mark’s Cathedral and the bell tower. However, all of them remain somehow in the background, overrun by hundreds of pigeons. It is difficult to judge on the sunny spring day, which were more:  pigeons or tourists. They all obviously enjoyed the beauty of the square.

​We entered the Cathedral of St. Mark, which is famous for its rich collections and treasures. Years ago, every ship that landed in the city was obliged to make a gift to the cathedral. And today all precious things are stored in its treasury. Here, for example, is the Golden Altar, famous for being decorated with more than 2,000 precious stones. I was also impressed by the view from the second floor, as the landscapes outside were almost as beautiful as the masterpieces inside.

While waiting in line to enter the cathedral, we looked at the two columns erected in the square – one with a statue of the winged lion that personifies St. Marco, and the other with St. Todor – the first patron of Venice. There was also a long queue for the Doge’s palace, so after the cathedral we headed to the bell tower.

The 99-meter Bell tower was  built in 1156-1173. In 1902, however, it collapsed and 10 years later it was rebuilt. Today it also has an elevator that takes visitors to the top floor, from where a fairytale landscape is revealed. Venice from a bird’s eye view – a real beauty, no wonder there are so many pigeons and seagulls in the city.

Through the narrow cobbled streets and bridges over many canals, from St. Mark’s Square we headed  to the Rialto Bridge. Towering over the Grand Canal, this is one of the oldest bridges that is covered on all sides with pavilions and souvenirs. We passed to the other side, where a street followed all dotted with souvenirs stands. We ate Venetian sandwiches with mozzarella and ham,  as well as a fresh fruit salad, and then the obligatory, uniquely delicious Italian ice cream.

Then followed the excessively touristy, but still unforgettable gondola tour through the canals of Venice. From the very beginning we bargained for an acceptable price, then we settled comfortably on the wooden but cushioned gondola. The gondolier sang Italian ballads to us as we moved through the canals and bridges. It was magical.

​No less picturesque was the walk with public transport, which in Venice is wooden boats with numbers two and one. With them we descended the Grand Canal and then toured many other islands. Venice itself is located on 118 islands in the shallow lagoon of the Adriatic Sea, at the mouths of the Po and Piave rivers.

​Venice is a real fairy tale: with over 400 bridges, and even more beautiful buildings, whenever you get in the city, you will gasp in amazement. Especially pleasant are the walks through the narrow cobblestone streets, which you almost never know where they will take you. Some of them are as narrow as e.g. Ul. Ramo Varisco, which is only 53 cm wide. Most bridges have no stairs, as horses with chariots passed through them. Today for tourists there are gondola rides, the price of which far exceeds what was expected, but the memories are priceless, as well as the beauty of Venice.

GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT VENICE:

Location: Venice is located in northeastern Italy, on the Adriatic coast.
Area:  414 sq.km (the city is located on 118 small islands)
Population: 263 736 people (as of 2015)
Official language: Italian
Altitude:  1 m
Climate: humid subtropical climate with cool winters and warm summers.
Time zone: UTC+1
Currency:  euro (EUR)
Further information: http://venice-tourism.com/en

Best time to visit: throughout the year, the  winter is quite windy and cold, but in February is the carnival period and the atmosphere in the city is unique. In spring and summer the city is full of tourists, but you can combine the walk in the city with a beach on the wonderful Adriatic coast.  From September to November is probably the calmest period, when tourists are significantly less and hotels offer preferential prices.
Typical food and drinks: Italian cuisine is  world famous and Venice is no exception. Besides pizza and pasta, as on every coast and here the seafood is particularly popular, as well as the excellent Italian ice cream. During the carnival, you can try the sweet fried Fritole donuts, sprinkled generously with powdered sugar.