Venice and its lagoons

Rialto Bridge - Venice
Rialto Bridge - Venice

Venice World Heritage Site

Venice, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987, is a unique, fascinating, romantic, dreamy city that makes you fall in love, that can make you hate, but that you must visit at least once in your life.
The term "Venice" derives from "Venetia", an ancient name which originally indicated the entire area inhabited by the Venetian populations of the pre-Roman age. The term “Venetian” literally means “inhabitants next to the river or spring”. Venetia, in Roman times, concerned the area which, alongside Istria, was part of the X Regio. It is located in Veneto, in the north-east of Italy, and with its lagoon extends over an area of over 50,000 km².
It was born since the 5th century, when the local populations, to escape the barbarian invasions, found refuge on the sandy islands of Torcello, Jesolo and Malamocco. These temporary settlements gradually became permanent and Venice, born from the union of 118 small islands connected by canals and small streams into a single urban system, became an important maritime power and one of the major capitals of the medieval world in the 10th century.
From its origins Venice was characterized by a singular relationship with water and over the centuries, during the period of expansion, when it was forced to defend its markets from the commercial initiatives of the Arabs, the Genoese and the Ottoman Turks, Venice did not cease never to consolidate its position in the lagoon. In this inland sea lies one of the most spectacular built-up areas of the Middle Ages: from Torcello in the north to Chioggia in the south, almost each of the tiny islands boasted a settlement, a town, a fishing village and a center of artisanal production.
Human intervention stands out for its high technical and creative abilities in the creation of hydraulic and architectural works in the lagoon area, which have made Venice a true work of art. Venice also exerted its influence thanks to its great painters. Bellini and Giorgione, and then Titian, Tintoretto, Veronese and Tiepolo who totally changed the perception of space, light and colour, leaving a clear imprint on the development of painting and decorative arts throughout Europe.
Venice has an unparalleled array of architectural complexes that recall the height of its splendor. From large monuments, such as Piazza San Marco and the Piazzetta (the Basilica, the Palazzo Ducale, the Marciana Library, the Correr Museum, the Procuratie Vecchie) to the more modest residences in the streets and fields of its six sestieri, including the Schools Large, the hospitals of the Schools and charitable or mutual aid institutions of the 13th century.
From a naturalistic point of view, the Venice Lagoon represents an exceptional example of a semi-lacustrine habitat, made vulnerable by irreversible natural and climatic changes. In this interconnected ecosystem, in which the salt marshes (muddy lands now above and now below sea level) are as important as the islands, it is necessary to protect the houses built on piles, the fishing villages and the rice fields as much as the palaces and churches.
Venice is at the same time an exceptional archaeological site, in its entirety a monument city, which surrounds and preserves within it unique works of art of unparalleled value (architectural, monumental, archaeological, landscape), living testimony of its past which comes alive and continues to live every day thanks (...and despite) to the millions of tourists who visit it every year.
Basilica Santa Maria della salute - Venice
Basilica Santa Maria della salute - Venice

What see

It is an understatement to draw up a list of things to do for a place of art such as Venice, because Venice is to be seen all around, from the Grand Canal, passing through Piazza SanMarco and the Great Historic Palaces, but above all in all of those many glimpses offered from the smallest street, where to find the true and genuine beauty of Venice. Definitely the periods of the year in which to visit it are spring and autumn, unless you like high water (continuously monitored by the town's tidal center) and Carnival. Having said that, let's see what you can't miss:
  1. Canal Grande or "Canalaso" as the Venetians call it is the main axis for city transport. A ride on a vaporetto or, better still, a gondola is therefore a must. Going through it you will enjoy an uninterrupted sequence of palaces of the glories of the Venetian Republic.
  2. Piazza San Marco , living room and center of Venice, symbol of Venice and multicultural environment par excellence. A photo in the center of the inevitable, as inevitable as the first stop for anyone arriving in the city. On the perimeter works of inestimable value absolutely worth visiting: the Basilica, the Campanile and Palazzo Ducale . To close a coffee or a tea at the table of the historic cafe Florian (an elegant cultural salon already frequented by Giacomo Casanova where he was courting the ladies and by Carlo Goldoni who entered there as a boy. He was also visited by illustrious figures such as Gasparo Gozzi, Giuseppe Parini , Silvio Pellico, Lord Byron, Ugo Foscolo, Charles Dickens, Goethe, Rousseau, Gabriele d'Annunzio).
  3. Basilica of San Marco and Campanile di San Marco (bell tower and sighting 99 meters high). The Basilica represents the living essence of the stratification of Roman, Byzantine and Venetian culture. Above all, the Venetian woman wins since the inhabitants of the Serenissima, a proud people of sailors, have, over the centuries, embellished with artifacts from the distant lands of the East. Founded, legend tells, for the need to host, following the stealing by Venetian merchants, the relics of the saint from Alexandria in Egypt. To see, in the Museum of the Basilica, the Four Horses of San Marco. Opening hours 9.45 - 16.45 - more info: www.basilicasanmarco.it
  4. Palazzo Ducale , also in Piazza San Marco, seat of the Doge of Venice since 1797, is the obligatory stop for anyone who wants to understand what has been for centuries the historical, cultural and political importance of Venice, a city that was a bridge between West and East . From the majestic architecture, emblem of Venetian-Gothic, further embellished by the enormous quantity of works of art kept inside, always the result of Venetian commerce over the centuries. Hours 8.30 / 19.00 (from November 1st to March 31st closing 5.30pm). Inputs up to 1/2 hour before closing.
  5. Ponte di Rialto, completed in 1591 and designed by the Venetian architect Antonio Da Ponte, is the oldest and most famous of the four bridges that cross the Grand Canal (Accademia bridge, Ponte degli Scalzi and Ponte della Costituzione). Initially a simple bridge of boats, followed in the twelfth century by a real bridge on wooden poles, represents another of the true symbols of Venice to visit and where to take a selfie.
  6. Peggy Guggenheim Museum , in the Palazzo Venier dei Leoni on the Grand Canal, takes its name from the American collector Marguerite "Peggy" Guggenheim (buried, among other things, in the garden of the palace) who donated her collection to make it a museum. Thanks to permanent works by artists of the caliber of Picasso, Kandinsky, Magritte, De Chirico, Boccioni, Dalì, the museum is also characterized by an intense calendar of activities with exhibitions, debates and training initiatives for children. Timetables
    Every day 10.00 / 18.00 (closed Tuesday).
  7. The Jewish Ghetto , in the Casaregiomerita area, is certainly worth a visit. The only district of the city to have had prevalent development in height, it is composed of a museum, five synagogues and towers, allowing the tourist to take a step back in time, reliving what was the Jewish de Venice from 1516 to 1797. Today the ghetto is a dynamic and full of life district in which 500 members of the Jewish community still live, custodians of an ancient culture and stories revealing the limitations suffered before by the Most Serene Republic of Venice and, over a century later, in 1938 (year of the promulgation of the racial laws in Italy), by the fascist regime.
  8. The islet of Murano , inside the Venetian lagoon, is a must for lovers of the ancient art of blown glass. With a solid foundation already in Roman times, this art established itself, thanks also to Arabic techniques and influences, already before the year 1000, to perfect itself between the late Middle Ages and the beginning of the Renaissance. On the islet you will find a splendid museum to visit (opening times on 1 November to 31 March 10.30 - 16.30 - from 1 April to 31 October 10.30 - 18.00 - the ticket office closes 1/2 first), but it is certainly unforgettable to see a craftsman at work that still keeps this art alive in one of the many islet laboratories.
  9. The Rialto Bridge Market is the right place to breathe the real. Not far from the famous bridge of the same name, it is a market of fruit, vegetables and fish, which is crowded with tourists and residents from the early morning hours. A historic place for Venetians, to recommend to anyone who wants to go beyond his many postcard images. Rialto San Polo fruit and vegetable market, Casaria - Campo de la Pescheria Monday to Saturday 7.00 / 20.00 - Rialto San Polo fish market, Campo de le Becarie - Loggia Grande and Loggia Piccola from Tuesday to Saturday 7.00 am / 2.00 pm
  10. The small streets and the Sestrieri of Venice , apart from the truly indispensable stops, are the places to "get lost" to get to know the real Venice and its centuries-old atmosphere. Venice turn it all over and above all on foot, it is not very big, without any fear and armed only with a good old map (let the mobile phone in your pocket or at least take it out for a selfi with your Love). And if at some point you get hungry, enter a typical Venetian tavern, enter a real Bacaro. Nothing but a small tavern or a small bar where you can taste (often standing) some cod or crouton with cod and a shade of red or white wine. It will not be the gourmet menu recommended by the great jude, but I assure you it will be a snack that you will hardly forget.
If you love books or cats do not miss a visit to the "high water" bookstore or even called "cat library", a unique bookstore with thousands of books, but which hosts dozens of absolutely social cats and that looks directly onto a channel ... a unique union that can only exist in Venice!
Carnival - Venice
Carnival - Venice

Movida and entertainment

Venice is very beautiful, and offers the opportunity to have fun both day and night, with clubs everywhere of every style and genre, certainly very artistic. Transport services are very well organized and efficient, as far as costs are concerned, of course, it depends on where you go and how you go (public ferries or private taxis). The fun is for all costs, there are restaurants and exclusive clubs, as there are bacari at every corner that from 19 to 21 offer spritz, cichetti and eat. The people here are very festive and open to new knowledge. In addition to the usual premises, there are "theme" clubs where there is no sexual discrimination. For the more romantic, don't miss a coffee, or an aperitif or a slice of cake in the evening at the tables in Piazza San Marco (not cheap!). For lovers of the green table it is certainly worth a visit to the Lido Casino (inaugurated in 1638 is the oldest in the world and can also be reached by ferry - absolutely formal dress code; for gentlemen is recommended the use of the jacket, which you can rent for free at the cloakroom - slot hours 11-2.45 Saturdays and holidays 3.45 - tables times 15.30-2.45 Saturdays and holidays 3.45). Venice in the evening is above all theater and music. The musical events, in fact, even if little publicized, are on the agenda both in small venues scattered among the calli or larger shows at theaters such as La Fenice, Malibran or the Goldoni Theater, in churches or historical buildings. If, on the other hand, you are not too fond of tranquility or want to see another face of Venice, we recommend that you immerse yourself in the Venetian nightlife. It is enough to go to Campo Santa Margherita, a place where university students usually meet and bustle with locals, at the Erbaria at the foot of the Rialto or, again at Fondamenta degli Ormesini and Fondamenta della Misericordia in Cannaregio. Another Venetian evening attraction is the Hard Rock Cafe (located very close to Piazza San Marco, in Bacino Orseolo, station of the gondolas), which offers customers a tasty menu, rock music and musical memorabilia of all kinds. Moreover, it is famous for its cocktails. Among those around the world this, the Hard Rock Cafe of Venice is the smallest in Europe.
A chapter to itself, certainly, the Venice Carnival deserves : certainly among the oldest and most renowned in the world, it can be visited by spectators wearing a simple mask and a camera or a protagonist (with the preparation of clothes even months long and unrepeatable figures), but in one or the other case the fun is undeniable! Council book early, because at that time it is almost impossible to find a room both in Venice and on land. The next is scheduled from 8 to 25 February 2020 (for info visit https://www.carnevale.venezia.it)
Venice Gondola - Photo by Chait Goli from Pexels
Venice Gondola - Photo by Chait Goli from Pexels
Climate, Curiosities and Advice
Climate: As in most of Italy and neighboring Greece, the climate of Venice is Mediterranean. In this city, however, the climate is often humid. Fog, thunderstorms and other frosts often occur in the worst seasons.
In the summer, Venice suffers from strong humidity and it is often very hot, with peaks around 35 ° C in July and August, with a perceived cause of its strong humidity, even 3 ° higher. Spring and Autumn are the best times to discover this ancient and beautiful city of Art. During these seasons, the temperatures are very pleasant, and the humidity is felt much less. In any case, an umbrella should be worn because it is frequent that it can rain, especially in autumn when winter is approaching.
Winter is rather cold and, cause, humidity, it happens in the early morning or evening that you can find fog in the canals, but even this, in Venice, has its romantic charm. Speaking of charm, January is the period in which you can admire the phenomenon known as Acqua Alta.
What time of year do you prefer then? But, certainly Venice is to be chosen all year round (!!), with perhaps a preference for winter because it is less frequented and more romantic.
Curiosity: Did you know that despite the ingenuity demonstrated over the centuries by the Veezians with unique archietectonic and engineering works we have to wait until 1933 for Venice to be connected to the mainland?
Tip: Venice at night is the best time to visit it, because many tourists, for the cost of housing, visit it by day to go away in the evening. And then, during the day you visit historic buildings, museums and churches, but take advantage of the evening to go around, to visit the smallest alleys and the most hidden bridges, to enjoy the silence, the architecture that surrounds you, letting yourself be embraced by the unique atmosphere with a long history. And if you really want to be romantic, I advise you, at no cost (or almost), to take you on a tour of public transport along the Grand Canal ... your loved one or your loved one will thank you for life !!
Italian cities of art
Latitude 45.433991   Longitude 12.337928