The city of Venice has captivated travelers for centuries with its winding canals, elegant bridges, and timeless beauty. As we navigated the famed city of water during our recent Italian escapade, we discovered a world that delightfully defies convention at every turn. Join us as we unravel the secrets of this floating marvel.
Arriving by train, our first steps into Venice’s labyrinthine alleys revealed an utterly car-free world – a rarity in our modern times. The absence of vehicles was startling yet refreshing, setting the stage for our aquatic exploration. With vaporetti (water buses) as our chariots, we glided across the lagoon, drinking in the picture-perfect views of the city. A word to the wise: beware of pickpockets aboard these bustling boats. Keeping a vigilant eye on our belongings allowed us to travel worry-free. For a more intimate experience, splurging on a romantic gondola ride is a must, though don’t expect the gondoliers to serenade you – that’s a Hollywood myth!
Our “off-the-beaten-path” walking tour of Venice was a highlight of the trip, taking us to places away from the crowds that we would never have discovered on our own. We marveled at the serene Church of Santa Maria della Salute (above) and basked in panoramic lagoon vistas – all without the maddening crowds of St. Mark’s Square. Our guide told us that this was the least crowded May and June he had ever seen and he had no explanations as to why. Outside of St. Mark’s Square, the crowds in Venice were much less we were expecting.
St. Mark’s Basillica
Ah, St. Mark’s…while awe-inspiring with its opulent basilica and historic piazza, the frenzy of tourists somewhat diminished the magic. Next door to St. Marks is the Doge’s Palace, the historic home of the Duke of Venice. One of the most notable sites in the palace, is the Bridge of Sighs (below), where prisoners got their last view of Venice while being transferred from the court on one side of the canal to the prison on the other. Still, wandering its labyrinth of alleyways and campos (squares) rewarded us with pockets of quiet authenticity, from the bustling Rialto Market to tucked-away bacari (wine bars).
The Bridge of Sighs
No visit to Venice would be complete without savoring its unique cuisine, though admittedly, finding truly exceptional fare was a challenge amid the tourist traps. We delighted in savory bites like spaghetti with luscious anchovy sauce and salt cod – quintessential Venetian delicacies. And how could we leave without indulging in an authentic tiramisu, the city’s iconic dessert?
As we bid farewell to La Serenissima (The Most Serene), we realized that while it may not top our list of culinary heavens, Venice triumphs as an open-air museum where getting delightfully lost is all part of the adventure. With its singular charm and a spritz in hand, this water-laced wonderland seduces even the weariest of travelers.
Thanks for stopping by! Check out our Go See Do Explore Podcast, available wherever you listen to podcasts. To read more about our Italian Adventure, check out our La Dolce Vita Trip Report. To read about some of our previous trips, visit my Trips Page. If you like my photos be sure to “like” my Facebook Page and follow me on Instagram! For my list of gadgets to make your travels easier, click here. To see inside my camera bag, check out my Gear Page.
Pin This:
From Pena Palace, we took another Bolt to Quinta de Regaleira. We did not pre-purchase tickets to the Quinta, but the line was short by the time we arrived and we were able to use our Lisboa Card for a discount. Quinta de Regaleira is famous for its Initiation Well (left). The Initiation Well is mysterious because it is a circular stairwell into the ground with no known purpose. It is recommended that if you want to walk down the Initiation Well you get there early because a line forms later in the day. We arrived around noon and had to wait a bit but it was worth it.
