Venice is a one of a kind place. It is not like anywhere you have ever been, and its beauty is not to be underestimated. Sadly, though, Venice has gotten a bit of negative reputation as a city that’s “only worth a day trip at best”, which is a such far cry from the truth. People on this side perceive it as dirty, overcrowded, smelly, too touristy, but spend a few days there instead of just a single afternoon and you, too, will discover the magic Venice has to offer. Because Venice is quite magical, and you will feel the grandeur of the city the minute you step outside of the train station Santa Lucia when you begin your journey to it. I certainly did, anyway.
I took a water taxi to San Marco and it was one of the most captivating moments of my life. I have to admit I had a bit of trepidation about the trip because I wasn’t a fan of boat riding, but going to Venice changed my view of that completely, and actually got me over my fear of the sea. I could not stop marveling at the scenery and I hadn’t even stepped into Venice yet. When I finally did, it blew my mind quite honestly, and I couldn’t understand why so many people hated it.
Ok, maybe I could understand a little. It is definitely overcrowded – however, that is of no fault of Venice itself; but rather the giant cruise ships that stop there and bring in hordes of tourists Awho only pop in and then out for a half a day. When you spend a few days in the city proper though, you notice that the mornings and the nights in Venice are vacant, the quiet streets roaming with mostly local Italians. The mornings and the nights are the best time to take in the city, get lost in it, explore what it has to offer. I mean, if there’s ever a place to wander and lose yourself in, it’s Venice, because you will definitely get lost, and you will hit many dead ends on the way. It’s a part of the experience.
I spent about 3 days in Venice, and I wish I had spent more. In that time, I saw St Mark’s Square, St Mark’s Basilica. I took an elevator ride up to the top of St Mark’s Campanile, and was greeted with a breathtaking view of the city that helped to really define where you were. I was inside of the Dodge’s Palace. I traveled by boat to the hidden gardens of Venice, the Jewish Ghetto, where you could feel the history of Venice, and I visited San Giorgio, which is its own beauty. I passed by the Teatro La Fenice Opera house that had some sort of red carpet event, with gelato in hand looking like a lost fool. All of that, and I still feel as though I didn’t see everything.
The Tour Guy and Through Eternity had Venice specific tours that I utilized for my trip in Venice. Both companies offer enlightening tours that will teach you about the history of Venice, and even about the current state of it. These tour groups definitely made me appreciate my role as a tourist and made me consider how I can contribute positively to places I visit. For example, the current state of tourism in Venice does not help the city keep itself afloat (almost literally), so I would think twice about booking a cruise ship to Venice if that was your goal. Venice seems to share some of the same problems as Kyoto, where overcrowding makes the locals feel a bit of resentment towards tourism due to a lack of consideration to the environment.
The Tour Guy had a nice boat tour that I took, so I did not ride a Gondola. If you do, be wary about how much they are charging you because it is by the hour.
Speaking of Gondola’s, did you know that they didn’t use to always be black? There was so much competition with crazy designs that they made the uniform law because they felt it was a waste of money.
Venice has a lot of beauty to offer to those who are willing to see it (not everyone does, apparently). It’s definitely a romantic destination and I wouldn’t say no if I was ever proposed there. There are even beaches in Venice, if you are willing to make the trek out. Those are part of the getting lost experience.
Like Rome, there is no shortage of good foot in Venice, though you might be more hard pressed to find a place that is affordable. Just don’t eat by the water and you won’t be robbed blind.
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