Venice is an incredible place. The tiny streets or ‘calle’ that link together in a maze, the sense of having no idea where you are and the aroma of the laguna that hits you as you step onto the floating city. I’ve never been anywhere quite like it.
One of the unique things about Venice is its use of boats and gondolas. Around every corner is a waterway, another bridge, two more gondoliers. There are gondolas everywhere, and you don’t even have to be near them to hear “Gondola, Gondola” being shouted as each person walks past. We didn’t actually travel by gondola as passengers are repeatedly photographed as they pass every bridge – not as romantic as you might think. Despite this, we opted for a boat trip down the Grand Canal, twice in fact – during the day and after the sun had set. This was a highlight to our time spent in Venice. We got to use the mode of transport that Venice is synonymous for and it passed by the majority of the main sights, which we could take in from the water. The architecture is incredible with entrances right on the water, colourful facades, gold-lined buildings and the sense of disbelief that this place actually exists.
My boyfriend was shortlisted as a finalist in the Digital and Virtual Arts category in the Arte Laguna Prize 2015. We travelled to Venice to setup his installation in the Telecom Italia Future Centre where this section of the Prize was being shown. It was a great opportunity for him to showcase his work, and a great opportunity to knock another place off my bucket list!
Every guide book you read and every person you speak to will say that the one thing you must do when you go to Venice is to get lost wandering the streets. And it’s true. Walking the streets without looking at a map and finding a lovely new area of Venice, or a quaint little restaurant is the perfect way to find out about the city. It was through wandering the streets that we found this incredible restaurant that had the best ravoli I have ever tasted, and fish that was impeccable. We walked until the light began to fall and watched the sun set over mainland Italy.
We took a boat to the island of Murano, the home of Murano glass. It was fascinating to watch it being made and the final designs were beautiful. The vivid colours, simple patterns and clean lines attracted me to everything. Despite Murano being a great destination, if you want to pick up a unique item of glass, Venice itself has a huge amount to offer.
San Marco Plaza is a must stop destination when you visit. A large open square, it is full of people feeding pigeons, al fresco dining and tourists capturing and immersing themselves in the magic of Venice. The Plaza is encompassed by numerous museums with the amazing Basilica de San Marco proudly overlooking the square in all its glory.
Venice has captured a part of my heart. It is a city that I cannot wait to explore more and discover even more of its magic. I hope that I will be able to return to this beautiful city soon, and maybe next time I’ll actually go on a gondola!
See more about my Venice trip on my next post.
