Venice
Venice may not be as old as Rome, but La Serenissima is every bit as visually stunning as the Eternal City—perhaps even more so, because Venetians are actually still living in and using their monuments. Almost nothing can prepare you for the sight of people going about their modern daily lives surrounded by renaissance treasures in a city so medieval it’s not even possible to drive a car.
Activities and Attractions:
Venice is the kind of city where whole days can be passed without an itinerary, simply wandering and taking in the beauty of the city. (That’s a good thing, because everyone gets lost in the ancient warren of alleys and canals.) But certain sights do have to be seen. The magnificent Byzantine Saint Mark’s Basilica, said to be the final resting place of Venice’s patron saint, is one. The Ducal Palace, too, is a triumphant piece of early renaissance architecture studded with more artistic masterpieces than many museums.
As you can imagine, then, actual museums like the Peggy Guggenheim Collection of modern art and the Academy Gallery of Venetian works are not to be missed—they’re packed full of the contents of art history books. In addition, there are canals to be cruised, and famed bridges (Rialto, Accademia) to be crossed. And if you’re a romantic, there’s the matter of a gondola ride, ideally under the Bridge of Sighs at sunset. Such rides are definitely for tourists (locals get around by private boat or public water taxi), but it worked for Diane Lane in A Little Romance, so don’t discount it out of hand.
Not everyone makes it to the other islands in the lagoon surrounding Venice, but few who do regret the trip. The island of Murano is famous for its glass. You can purchase Venetian glass all over the city, but on the island, you can see it hand-blown. Burano is famous for its distinctive lace. Torcello is nearly uninhabited except for the ghosts of Venice’s past. There is still a seventh-century cathedral on the island with some surviving 11th-century mosaics.
In Venice, as in all of Italy, dining is a major vacation pastime, and some of your best memories of the city will probably take place at the table. Dishes you may not have tried outside of the Veneto include risotto alla sepia, or rice tinted black with squid ink; spaghetti alle vongole, which is pasta with clams; and liver and onions, popular in other parts of Italy but raised to an art form here. Wash your repast down with a local dry white Tocai. Or have a glass of prosecco. The sparkling wine isn’t exactly local, but Venetians have adopted it as their own. Try it mixed with peach juice in a Bellini; it’s practically the city’s official drink.
Insider Tip:
What’s the one thing returning travelers often wish they’d packed on their trip to stylish Venice? A pair of big ugly rubber boots. Between October and March the slowly sinking city is prone to floods. The Piazza San Marco is often the first to get wet, and water will occasionally reach knee-height at high tide. You can always buy a pair of boots in Venice if you need them, but consider bringing your own.
-Exclusively for Perfect Escapes by Nicole Clausing |
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