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| Venice, Italy |
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Enjoy all that's Unique about Venice on Your Vacation
Venice is a city that captures the imagination and seems almost surreal to new visitors. There are no cars, so you travel around the ancient city on foot or in boats on the water. There are beautiful palaces and plazas and fantastic museums to explore. Everywhere you look seems to offer a postcard scene of a magical, otherworldly place. It's no wonder Venice is such a popular and beloved tourist destination.
Hotel Accommodations in Venice
As you consider where to stay in Venice, be prepared to spend more than you are perhaps accustomed to on hotel accommodations. It isn't that Venice is unjustly overpriced; it's that hotels in Venice are expensive to run. By necessity, Venice hotels and restaurants must operate on a carry-in, carry-out policy. Supplies must be brought in by boat or handcart, and that's how all waste must be removed.
Unlike other cities, the location of your hotel in Venice is not crucial. Wherever you stay, you will be close to major attractions, restaurants and bars. In general, you can save considerably on your room, meals and transportation costs if you avoid major tourist areas such as the area around Piazza San Marco.
Alternatives to hotels in tourist sections are those near Piazzale Roma or in Dorsoduro and San Polo on the side of the canal that is less frequented by tourists. You may also find comfortable, affordable hotels in Cannaregio and Castello. One of the keys to finding ideal hotel accommodations in Venice is booking very early in advance of your trip.
Eating and Drinking in Venice
Although Venice doesn't have the stunning gastronomic reputation other areas of Italy do, it is entirely possible to enjoy eating and drinking there if you keep an open mind and commit to avoiding tourist restaurants as much as possible. While you may wish to pay for a full meal at a sit-down restaurant nearly every day, it is not necessary to do so in order to eat well in Venice.
Many snack bars serve sandwiches, wine and fruit you can enjoy for lunch or an afternoon meal. Alternatively, you can create your own fresh, flavorful afternoon or evening meal. Take advantage of what's fresh in local shops and outdoor markets, and bring cheese, olives, fruit, bread, sandwich meats and pastries back to your hotel. Don't forget a bottle of wine! You can also pack your meal up to eat outdoors at one of Venice's many beautiful sites.
When it is time to enjoy a sit-down meal at a restaurant, you are likely to be pleasantly surprised if you opt for some of the regional specialties. Spaghetti alle vognole is a delightful pasta and clam dish, and Pasta e fagiole is a hearty soup made with pasta and beans. You can also enjoy a variety of battered seafood by ordering the Fritto di mare.
Gelato and rich, robust coffee is two things to look forward to enjoying daily in Venice, and fine wine is a third. Although you may be tempted to try Harry's Bar just to say you were there, Al Volta is an even more impressive option if you are interested in enjoying wine. Al Volta is the oldest wine bar in the city. It houses more than 1,500 different wines in an intimate bar setting full of character. The staff is friendly and the service is great, and you'll probably find yourself visiting more than once during your vacation.
A Night Out in Venice
If you are searching for clubs and late-night revelry, it may be best to depart from Venice and head for the Strand at the Lido on the mainland. There are plenty of wine bars and cafes to enjoy in Piazza San Marco, although prices tend to run slightly high in this touristy area. You can also enjoy live music and a lively atmosphere at several bars in Cannaregio. A very pleasant way to spend the evening is outdoors in Piazza San Marco beneath the stars, enjoying the music that drifts out from the surrounding cafes.
Venice Attractions
Venice may be short on disco clubs, but it is brimming with delightful attractions. The Galleria dell'Accademia is the site of the former church and convent of Santa Maria della Carita. Today it is a fabulous museum that houses the largest and most significant collection of 15th to 18th century Venetian paintings in the world. The Peggy Guggenheim collection of European and American art dating from the first half of the 20th century presents another opportunity to see fine art in Venice. The collection is on display at Palazzo Venier dei Leoni, Peggy Guggenheim's former home.
If you'd like to enjoy some outdoors attractions, try taking a gondola ride to the Rialto Bridge and do some shopping at the outdoor markets. The Grand Canal itself is an impressive attraction, and a Canal tour can be a very relaxing alternative to sightseeing. From the Canal, you can spot palaces and buildings dating to the 15th century.
Transportation throughout Venice depends on the Grand Canal, and the waterbus is the most affordable way to travel along the Canal. You can save considerably on waterbus fares by obtaining a one, three or seven day Venice Card for unlimited public transportation. |
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