This was my 3rd trip to Venice - the Gateway to the Orient. My earlier visits were on the Christmas day last year and once during the Venice Carnival in early spring this year. Yes I have been smitten by this city, as it has always captivated my fantasy since childhood, to see such beautiful buildings standing on water since so many ages. Venice was on my travel itinery of a brief Italian holiday along with some of my friends from Germany who had come come visiting me over this long weekend of Ferrogosto.
Each of my experiences of Venice have been different. The previous one was mainly the carnival festive mood in February. Exploring Venice is like going on a game of treasure hunt because of the narrow streets and bridges you come across. One can walk to most of the places of the city but to go to any of the islands you do have to take the motorboats. The only way to enter Venice from mainland Mestre is through the causeway leading to Piazzale Roma. The trains arrive at the Santa Lucia Stazione facing the Grand Canal. Travelling on a Vaporetto or the motor boat across the Grand Canal is the best way to view Venice. Almost all of the star attractions of the city are along this canal. Facing the Stazione is the domed church of San Simeone Piccolo which resembles the Pantheon of Rome. As the boat wades through the Grand Canal going towards the Rialto you see the Fondaco dei Turchi, a warehouse of Turkish traders in the past, but now houses the Natural History Museum. The Rialto Bridge spans the canal in the commercial heart of the city. Locals and tourists flock around the several food, vegetables and fish markets. Its a good place to watch and photograph the gondolas in the canal below. As you move further you come across the Ponte dell´Accademia (which hosts a large collection of Venetian paintings) and the Santa Maria della Salute just at the mouth of the Grand Canal. This huge Baroque church is supported by over a million timber piles.
The Piazza San Marco is the centerstage of action during the Carnival or as a matter of fact any event hosted in Venice. At the square you have the San Marco Bassilica and towards its side the Palazzo Ducale. The Basilica blends the architectural styles of East and West to create one of the popular buildings of Europe. The Facade Mosaics inside the dome are a popular attraction amongs tourists. The Palazzo Ducale was home to each of the Venetian rulers and its external appearance displays the art of the 14th century. I was lucky enough to see the high tide of the Mediterrainean, during which the water floods onto the square of San Marco. It occurs frequently during the months of August and September, I was told. When I was there, the water was upto my ankle level.
Venice is famous for its glassworks, and its island of Murano is the home to most of the glass factories. The Museo Vetrario has a large collection of antique pieces. Easy reachable from the mainland Venice on boat numbers 5, 41 and 42, Murano should be a must see list for all tourists coming to Venice. Burano is the most of the colorful islands of Venice, is famous for its lacework industry. A day ticket of about 12 euros allows you to use the vaporettos around the Grand Canal and also to any of the islands.
for images of Venice I had taken visit my gallery on Flickr and Webshots
Each of my experiences of Venice have been different. The previous one was mainly the carnival festive mood in February. Exploring Venice is like going on a game of treasure hunt because of the narrow streets and bridges you come across. One can walk to most of the places of the city but to go to any of the islands you do have to take the motorboats. The only way to enter Venice from mainland Mestre is through the causeway leading to Piazzale Roma. The trains arrive at the Santa Lucia Stazione facing the Grand Canal. Travelling on a Vaporetto or the motor boat across the Grand Canal is the best way to view Venice. Almost all of the star attractions of the city are along this canal. Facing the Stazione is the domed church of San Simeone Piccolo which resembles the Pantheon of Rome. As the boat wades through the Grand Canal going towards the Rialto you see the Fondaco dei Turchi, a warehouse of Turkish traders in the past, but now houses the Natural History Museum. The Rialto Bridge spans the canal in the commercial heart of the city. Locals and tourists flock around the several food, vegetables and fish markets. Its a good place to watch and photograph the gondolas in the canal below. As you move further you come across the Ponte dell´Accademia (which hosts a large collection of Venetian paintings) and the Santa Maria della Salute just at the mouth of the Grand Canal. This huge Baroque church is supported by over a million timber piles.
The Piazza San Marco is the centerstage of action during the Carnival or as a matter of fact any event hosted in Venice. At the square you have the San Marco Bassilica and towards its side the Palazzo Ducale. The Basilica blends the architectural styles of East and West to create one of the popular buildings of Europe. The Facade Mosaics inside the dome are a popular attraction amongs tourists. The Palazzo Ducale was home to each of the Venetian rulers and its external appearance displays the art of the 14th century. I was lucky enough to see the high tide of the Mediterrainean, during which the water floods onto the square of San Marco. It occurs frequently during the months of August and September, I was told. When I was there, the water was upto my ankle level.
Venice is famous for its glassworks, and its island of Murano is the home to most of the glass factories. The Museo Vetrario has a large collection of antique pieces. Easy reachable from the mainland Venice on boat numbers 5, 41 and 42, Murano should be a must see list for all tourists coming to Venice. Burano is the most of the colorful islands of Venice, is famous for its lacework industry. A day ticket of about 12 euros allows you to use the vaporettos around the Grand Canal and also to any of the islands.
for images of Venice I had taken visit my gallery on Flickr and Webshots
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