Venice, Italy — Things to Do
Sightseeing in Venice
Mention Venice and the image of beautifully lit canals and graceful gondolierscomes to mind. This romantic city does however have many more attractions...
The Grand Canal ( Canalazzo), Venice's main waterway, divides the city with sestierito the west and east of it. It is the core around which much of the activity in Venice is conducted, surrounded by the elegant facades of the palazzi. A 'must see' is St Mark's Square ( Piazza San Marco), in the heart of Venice. Basilica dei Frari, a Gothic Franciscan church, was constructed in the 14th century and is mostly known for being the gravesite of Titian and the Venetian sculptor, Antonio Canova.
Explore the School of St Roch or the Gallerie dell'Academia, which houses one of Europe's finest art collections from the 14th to 18th centuries. Visit the historic La Fenice Theater or the Jewish Ghetto of Venice, where the word ' ghetto' derives from. Life is still very active in the ghetto, home to five synagogues, as well as various shops and restaurants.
The traditional mode of transport in Venice is by foot or boat, so enjoy the strolls and relaxed boat trips. All visitors to Venice should buy a Venice Card, it gives you use of the main tourist services, including optional discounted airport transfers, vaporettoservices and admission to some museums and attractions.
Shopping in Venice
Venice still has a few residents who work in the non-tourism industries, but these are comparatively rare today. The city's waterways can be difficult to navigate so you should buy items you want immediately, rather than risk not being able to find the store later on. The Rialto is the commercial core of Venice, famous for being the site where the first bridge over the Grand Canal was built. Most shops in Venice are closed for an extended lunch hour.
Visit Venetia Studium on San Marco for fine velvets and silks, of every imaginable color, woven into subtle scarves, delicate evening bags and luxurious pillows. You can buy unique costumes and masks at Atelier Marega, where you can often see the preparation and painting of the masks. Francis Model sells locally crafted leather goods, and for gloves and accessories go to Fanny, on Calle dei Saoneri and Campo San Polo. Hand-made paper and beautiful miniature buildings, made by Moro, can also be found in Venice. Look out for handmade examples of Venetian glass ( Muranoglass) and fine lace sold throughout the city.
VAT (IVA in Italy) of 20% is added on to the price of all consumer goods and tourists can apply for a tax refund. Some shops participating in a Tax-free Shopping program.
Venice Nightlife
Venice is not famed for a hectic nightlife but the persistent will persevere... Piazza San Marco has the most popular social venues, and the tourist information centers have current English-language schedules of special events. The Ospite di Venezia guide is available in the more expensive hotels.
Cafés abound in Venice, one of the most popular being Taverna del Campiello Remer, near the Grand Canal's Rialto bridge, which often has live music. Near San Marco, Caffè Lavena and Caffè Quadri (the first to serve coffee in Venice) are also worth visiting. In Campo Santo Stefano, the Paolin bar and gelateria serves the best ice-cream. The Devil's Forest Pub sees patrons enjoying backgammon, chess and Trivial Pursuit, while Bacaro Jazz cocktail bar has great Bellinis. El Moro Pub boasts numerous beers on-tap and a TV (smokers welcome!) Torino@Notte offers live jazz performances and beer from Lapland.
Nightclubs are more limited; Piccolo Mondo, on Dorsoduro, has disco nights during summer, and Casanova on Lista di Spoagna is also quite popular. Visitors are better off trying their luck at one of the city's casinos, the most acclaimed being Casino Municipale di Venezia (note: a passport and jacket are required for entry). Otherwise, there are regular classical-music concerts; the Vivaldi Church, San Stefano and the Scuola di San Giovanni Evangelista are often concert venues, as is Chiesa di Vivaldi.
Attractions for Kids
With such a rich and diverse cultural history, many would think that Venice would be a dull vacation destination for kids. But on the contrary, this beautiful canal-lined city offers its younger visitors plenty to see and do.
Obviously a ride on one of the famed gondolas will be a memorable experience for children of all ages and highlights are guaranteed to be spotting the fire fighters' boat, the ambulance boat and many more. While parents are admiring the architecture in St Mark's Square, be sure the kids have enough breadcrumbs to feed the hundreds of pigeons this square is known for. Kids will also enjoy the Peggy Guggenheim as there is lots of space to run around outside and Parco delle Rimembranze is probably the best-suited park for children in Venice and a great place to head for a picnic or a stroll. For outdoorsy families, a hike or walk in the Po Delta Natural Park is a must.
On rainy days, visit some of the museums this historic city has to offer, such as the Naval Museum, or the Museum of Natural History. A trip to the nearby island of Murano is also a must, where children will be mesmerized by the glass-blowers and incredible creations.
