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The visual beauty of Venice

by Charlotte
(Leeds)

With its 116 islands, winding waterways, cobbled courtyards, beautiful architecture and tiny back streets, Venice is one of the most picturesque and recognizable cities in the world.

But Venice offers far more than what you see in photos and on TV. This ancient city provides a stunning backdrop for modern, pioneering contemporary art, meaning that this is a city very much looking forward as much as looking back. Even cheap digital cameras will take stunning images in this stunning city.

For the first few hours upon arriving you will probably spend your time standing back and admiring the genius of a city built on water, with huge marble churches based upon posts driven into mud banks. Looking at ancient arched bridges scattered with osterias (bars) and traditional trattorias (restaurants) should precede a ride on a gondola along the Grand Canal.

Then, once you have appreciated the scale of it all, you can delve deeper and explore a place of contrasts, the modern alongside the ancient, the innovative as well as traditional, a place that ebbs and flows with the tide of the water that surrounds it.

Speaking of water, don’t forget to watch out for Acqua alta (high water), when many of the courtyards and streets become flooded, meaning the city is only navigable by raised walkways. An Acqua Alta map can be found at tourist information and if you haven’t been able to locate one, there are many cafés with internet points for laptops, so you could always log on to find the tourist points that are not as well advertised while you are there.

All this beauty comes at a price; its endless charm means tourists regularly outnumber locals, meaning you have to share the many sights with several hundred other people.

To try and avoid the crowds I recommend avoiding Venice in high season. Not only is it busier during the summer but the heat can be stifling and, given the amount of standing water, fly infestations and less than savoury smells can hover above the waterways.

Try heading across in spring or autumn when the heat is less intense and you may just get that museum to yourself.

Avoid the crowds in Venice

by Miss Cook
(UK)

The charming Italian City of Venice may be a victim of its own success, with the tourist hordes crowding up its ancient waterways, narrow back streets and traditional roadside eateries. But that shouldn’t be a reason to put you off going there – it is popular for a reason after all.

Venice is a city unlike any in the World. A town built on water it’s iconic vaporetti (water taxi) snaking along the Grand Canal is as famous as the Statue of Liberty of the Eiffel Tower.

But as I alluded too, its popularity and the tourist dollar that comes with it, means it is spoiled by the heavy feet of the travelling hordes.

Unfortunately this is the price you pay for visiting such wonderful places, people will be out to get your money and a coffee will cost you three times as much with a view of St Marks Square than it would a few metres around the corner.

So as a traveller you just need to get smart. This can be as simple as changing the time of year you decide to visit. Summer high season sees the most visitors and the crowds can be suffocating, but so can be the heat.

With so much water around flying insects and unpleasant smells can hover above some of the canals. It is also the time where prices are at their highest, with prices on a par with even the most expensive of London hotels.

If you are able to The Best Time to Visit Venice is in spring or autumn, where the weather remains good but the crowds ease and the prices dip to slightly more realistic levels. Sites like Hotels.com offer deals all year round and away from high season bargains can be had.

Winters can be bitterly cold, though as the season with the least tourists it offers a different perspective to the city and perhaps a glimpse back to its quieter, less tourist trodden past.

The month to avoid generally is November as this is the when rainfall is at its highest and therefore Acqua alta (high water) warnings are at their most frequent. You can still get around thanks to elevated waterways but squares and paths often flood quickly meaning your route back to your hotel could be different, longer and wetter to the one you took out from it.

Venice on a budget

by Charlotte
(Leeds)

Amsterdam-Hotels and hotels in Copenhagen may offer great deals for backpackers and students from across Europe but if you are travelling on a budget, Venice, unbelievably, is one of the greatest cities in the world to visit.

The city oozes a rich history, which is reflected in its architectural heritage, and this can be enjoyed simply by ambling through the streets. Yes, some of the major tourist attractions are expensive, but you can still see an authentic slice of the city without having to pay a considerable amount.

The Piazza San Marco is one of the greatest piazzas in the world. It is dominated by the Basilica di San Marco at one end, with the Loggetta and the Campanile facing it. The intricate and ornate Loggetta was designed by inspirational architect Jacopo d'Antonio Sansovino whilst the Campanile, the bell tower of St Mark's Basilica, is one of the most recognisable and famous landmarks in the city.

The Torre dell'Orologio or clock tower is also worth visiting. It must be noted that the Piazza is the lowest part of the city and is prone to flooding from autumn through to spring during periods of high tide.

The Basilica di San Marco is another wondrous example of Venetian architecture, which is again completely free. It was constructed to hold the bones of St Mark, which had been plundered by Venetian merchants from Egypt, and the building is a cornucopia of sculptures and religious artifacts which have been plundered throughout the years.

Between 11.30am and 12.30pm the gold mosaics are brought to life through illumination, resulting in a jaw-dropping sense of wonder. The building itself presents a grandeur through which a sense of God’s Almighty power is evocatively portrayed. With five domes, Byzantine architecture and colourful mosaics, the Basilica truly is one of the greatest buildings ever made by man.

Finally, no trip to Venice would be complete without going on the Grand Canal. The best time to do this is in the evening, when it is quieter. At this time of the day, it is extremely romantic as the palazzi along the canal are illuminated by candles or from within.

You don’t have to pay for an expensive gondola to experience the canal; riding the No. 1 vaporetto from the Piazzale Roma to San Zaccaria will achieve the same thing. Furthermore, you will pass under three famous bridges and get to observe seven centuries of architectural gems. The traghetto gondola ferry is another good way to get on the waterway.

Tips for exploring Venice

by Charlotte Cook
(charlotte@omruk.co.uk)

Venice is quite rightly one of the most popular and recognisable destinations in the World. But with popularity comes a host of pitfalls for the tourist including avoiding scams, over priced accommodation and dodging the crowds to fully appreciate attractions and activities.

For those lucky enough to be heading to Venice, here are my tips to get the most out of your stay:

1) Rise early

I know it sounds obvious but if you can try and get up early, just after dawn, you will get to see a Venice free from the buzz of the yet-to-arrive day trippers and cruise passengers.

The calmness harks back to its past, with fisherman arriving back with their night's catch and store sellers preparing their wares.

2) If you're hungry stay away from the crowds!


There are plenty of places to eat in Venice, but it is harder to find somewhere that doesn't cost an arm and a leg. Places near the busiest tourist destinations are the most expensive of all.

If it's value AND quality you're seeking stay away from the tourist hubs like San Marco and Riva degli Schiavoni and head into the city. Your wallet will thank you for it. Maria's tip... try these restaurants.

3) Watch out for Aqua Alta!

If you hear a siren wail and see flustered locals running around with wooden planks and wearing wellingtons it's Aqua Alta time!

Aqua Alta means high tide in Italian and occurs frequently in Venice, though more often in the winter months. When the water rises many paths and bridges become inaccessible, hence the raised wooden boards. If you do go to Venice in autumn or winter make sure you take a Aqua Alta map from the local tourist office, which details routes affected by the tide.

It's also worth checking out the notice board at the base of the Campanile in the Piazza San Marco that shows a live tide reading and predictions for the next few days.

4) Don't worry if you get lost!

As Venice is an island there is no way you can wander to far away from where you want to go. But if you don't want to get too lost make sure you pick up a map from your hotel. Also try to make a mental note of building numbers as you cross bridges and watch out for street signs.

However, feel free to keep off the main thoroughfares and instead wander down the small twisting alleyways in the general direction of where you would like to go, you may be surprised what you find.

5) Use public transport

If you do get lost, are in a hurry or just can't find a nearby bridge to get across a river, use Venice's public transport system.

There are not cars and trains here of course, but the vaporettoes on the floating waterways have the same function. To save money buy your ticket in advance, a 24 hour ticket costs around 18 Euros, if you are there for a week then 50 euros will cover all of your water travel for your stay.