Venezia. Venice is unarguably one of the most romantic cities in the world. And it’s not just because of the dreamy singing guys in gondolas.
Just a really expensive boat ride.
No, Venice so much more than that. It’s full of history around every bend of the Grand Canal. There are museums galore, a ducal place, and churches on every little canal it seems. Venice will keep you busy for days. This city is not a tourist trap by a long shot.
History
According to legend, Venice was founded by refugees from nearby Roman cities and countryside who were fleeing the invasions of the Germanic tribes and the Huns. Late Roman sources also say that there were already some fishermen living on the islands in the lagoon. The traditional founding of the city of Venice was when the city’s first church, San Giacomo was founded on March 25, 421 CE.
Venice belonged to the Byzantine Empire, albeit very loosely. The first doge, the ‘dukes’ of Venice, were actually installed by the Byzantines. Doge is the Venetian dialect version of the Latin term for leader or duke, dux.
From the 9th to the 12th century, Venice developed into an independent city state. The city became a flourishing trade center between Western Europe and the Islamic East. Although the Republic of Venice was now independent, it still retained strong economic ties with its former overlords, the Byzantines.
Waterside views of Venice in front of the Doge’s Palace.
Venice became an imperial power following the Forth Crusade in 1204 by capturing and sacking Constantinople and establishing the short-lived Latin Empire. The conquerors brought back lots of plunder to decorate San Marco (St. Mark’s). By the late 13th century, Venice was the most prosperous city in all of Europe. During this time, Venice’s top families tried to outdo each other, building fancier casa (the Venetian term for house, abbreviated Ca’) and hiring more and more artists to cover the city in art.
Venice, however, began its long, long decline in the 15th century. A few unsuccessful attempts at world domination regional control blew a few too many ducati. With new discoveries in the New World and new routes to India, trade from the East diminished, along with it, money into the coffers. However, Venice continued to be a major exporter of manufactured goods until the mid-18th century (Venetian glass for example).
Venice was conquered in 1797 by everyone’s favorite French guy, Napoleon. He bought to an end what has been called the most fascinating century of Venice’s history. During the 18th century, Venice became one of the most elegant and refined cities in Europe, influencing art in literature around the world.
Venice joined the rest of unified Italy in 1866 following the Third Italian War of Independence.
Today, the “Queen of the Adriatic” draws over a million visitors a year to a little city of tiny islands. The minuscule city, about the size of two of New York City’s Central Parks, is filled to the brim with museums, churches and, of course, canali. While one may be put off by the onslaught of tourists that visit every year, Venice is worth the risk. (I strongly recommend the off-season November-March.) With just one ride down the Grand Canal in a vaporetto (water bus), you will fall in love with Venice. So come and explore the winding canals and alleys of Venice and find the history you didn’t even know you were missing.
The Grand Canal as seen from the Ponte Rialto.
Must-See Attractions
These are the places I have visited and recommend to other visitors. There are a lot more places to see than this list.
Tips
The museums around St. Mark’s Square (Piazza San Marco) are all on one ticket. So, if you go to the Doge’s Palace, you can also go to the Museo Correr for free. It’s worth it. You can skip the ticket line for the Doge’s Palace by going to the Museo Correr first. Tickets are good for three days.
Even better, for 10 Euros more than the Doge’s Palace ticket, you can get a pass for all the civic museums in Venice for 6 months! It’s the best deal in Venice. The ticket for Ca’Rezzonico alone costs 10 Euros (fantastic museum), so there’s your price difference. This pass includes the Glass and Lace Museums in Murano and Burano. If you are staying in Venice for more than a couple of days, spend the extra 10 euros and visit some of the small museums of the city! Buy the pass at a small museum and skip the line at the museums at St. Mark’s Square!
The city is not handicapped accessible by a long shot; only a few sections are accessible. Almost all the bridges have steps and the main transportation in the city are water buses, so plan accordingly.
The islands are actually a lot smaller than they look on a map. Walking is almost always faster than boating (and cheaper).
The water buses (vaporetto) are not cheap. Multi-day passes look outrageously priced when you buy them, but they are much cheaper in the long run. On my last stay, I squeezed everything I needed to use a vaporetto for into two days (including the outer islands in the lagoon).
Going to the airport? You can either go by bus from the bus station near the train station or catch a fast boat ride from various places around the city, which is worth the extra money.
Go inside the city and explore. See more than the main sights. Go off the beaten path. You will not regret it. I sure didn’t.
Winter is a great time to visit. It is a bit chilly, but there are almost no tourists, and you can have the canals to yourself.
Acqua Alta has become a serious problem the last few years, especially in late fall, early winter. Be prepared. I got caught without boots myself. Download the Hi! Tide app (free and available on both Apple and Android.) It seriously saved my butt.
Finally, look but don’t touch; skip the really expensive gondola rides and just ogle the gondoliers.
