Overlooking Venice’s Grand Canal

Venice is endlessly photographable, it seems. Turn down any street and there’s something magical that just must be captured. The crumbling buildings, the canals, the gondolas, the ornate churches – it’s all so beautiful, right?

With unlimited time, you could just spend hours walking in Venice and getting as lost as possible, finding picturesque pockets of the city where you’ll get memorable photos. But if you’re not content with hoping you get the best shots and you want more of a photography to-do list, then here are some of the best spots for a photo in Venice.

Exterior Balcony of St. Mark’s Basilica

Photography inside the iconic St. Mark’s Basilica isn’t allowed, but when you climb into the upper reaches of the front of the cathedral you get to access the balcony that overlooks St. Mark’s Square. From here, you can get fun shots of all the tourists below (some covered in pigeons), as well as some close-up shots of the four bronze horses that adorn the roof.

Campanile in St. Mark’s Square

Ascend the elevator in the bell tower across from the front of St. Mark’s Basilica and you’re afforded a fantastic view of the cathedral’s onion domes – not to mention of the city’s red-roofed buildings. Just be aware of the time, as the massive bell that tolls is quite close by.

Campanile of San Giorgio Maggiore

Across the Grand Canal from St. Mark’s Basilica is the pretty San Giorgo Maggiore church. When you’re done with your visit there, don’t miss the opportunity to climb into its bell tower for a spectacular view back over the Grand Canal toward Venice’s most popular attractions – St. Mark’s Basilica and the Campanile.

Outside Seat of a Vaporetto

For a relatively cheap Grand Canal tour, hop a ride on the #1 vaporetto at one end of the canal and find a seat along the outside – either the front or the back. From here, you’ll be able to get photos closer to water level without paying for a more expensive gondola ride.

Rialto Market

Everyone loves market photos, and when the market is on a canal they’re even more interesting. Plan to get to the Rialto market early in the morning, when deliveries are being made by boat, to capture the real Venetian character of the place.

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- Jessica Spiegel

5 Best Spots for a Photo in Venice from Venice Things To Do

Grand Canal in Venice at night

The concept of a “White Night” has been steadly growing in popularity throughout Europe. It’s the one night a year when museums, galleries, and other major attractions stay open almost all night long and offer free admission to visitors. Venice finally joined the movement with their own Art Night Venezia, and it’s now an annual event.

Art Night Venezia happens on one night in June, and in 2012 there were more than 100 locations participating. While the current list of participants will change from year to year, you can expect major museums, galleries, attractions, and even shops throughout Venice staying open late into the night. There are both private and public spaces that open their doors for Art Night Venezia, all of which waive admission fees for the evening. It’s organized by the University Ca’Foscari and the city of Venice, and although it’s still quite new it’s likely to take its place among the best festivals in Venice.

In addition to the many venues around Venice opening their doors for Art Night Venezia, there are also plenty of events happening outdoors, too. The entire city has been described as an “open air show” on this one night each year, with music performances, poetry readings, and outdoor film screenings. In a city that’s so ideally suited to aimless wandering, hunting down all of the festivities on Art Night is an excellent way to see parts of Venice you may not find otherwise. And since many of the main things to do in Venice will be free to enter, that can help your travel budget a bit.

In short, if a visit to Venice improves when you spend the night instead of just visiting for a day trip, being in Venice for Art Night Venezia is incredibly special.

- Jessica Spiegel

Art Night Venezia from Venice Things To Do

Venice Biennale. Photo courtesy of Bruno Cordioli via Flickr.

We often think of the Italian art scene as one that’s relegated to history. All that stuff in museums is hundreds of years old – if not older – and that’s the Italian art we hear about most. Venice, however, has been critical to the world’s contemporary art scene since 1895, the first year the Venice Biennale was held.

The Venice Biennale, as the name suggests, is held every other year in odd-numbered years – and in those years, it’s a city-wide arts exhibition that lasts from June through November. More recent additions under the Biennale umbrella include sections for music, dance, and theater. The annual Venice Film Festival is also part of the Biennale organization, while the Venice Biennale of Architecture is held in the even-numbered years. In short, Venice is an important contemporary arts city every year.

Since 1907, other countries have been participating in the Biennale by setting up “pavilions” in the large public gardens in the eastern part of the islands. The gardens actually have 30 permanent pavilions, with the number of countries exhibiting in Venice growing every year.

Should you be visiting Venice in an odd-numbered year, be sure to consult the current schedule of Biennale events. This is one of Venice’s best festivals, and it’s fun to take it all in. In addition to the exhibits in the national pavilions, there are often performances or temporary exhibits staged in other spaces throughout the city – from churches to historic palazzos. Searching for hidden buildings full of unexpected art is a great way of discovering Venice attractions and for really getting a taste of the compelling contrast of cutting edge contemporary art with a city that simply exhales artistic genius and splendor. The opening and first four days of the Venice Biennale are when the greatest fun is to be had – the partying is said to be frenetic and endless.

- Jessica Spiegel

Venice Biennale from Venice Things To Do

Venice’s Grand Canal

Although Venice is busy and crowded with tourists year-round, and the city’s high season stretches far beyond the typical borders of summer, the summer months are still when most people visit Venice. It tends to be the time when most people can travel – especially because the kids are out of school – and, of course, the weather is reliably good. But going to Venice in the summer means dealing with some of the difficulties of high season travel.

Most people treat Venice as a day trip destination, but in the summer months the number of day trippers increases dramatically. The main route between the end of the islands with the train station and the cruise port can get really clogged with people during the day, but if you wander off that main route you can usually get away from the bulk of the crowds without straying too far. And if you venture to the outer reaches of the islands, you may find yourself alone on quiet streets – even in the midst of summer. And by staying overnight Venice, you’ll get to see it at night and the early morning (when it’s most wonderful) – you could even stay for a few days and take day trips from Venice.

The story about Venice getting smelly during the summer months is mostly a myth – yes, sometimes there’s a bit of an odor to the canals in the summer, when the water’s a bit stagnant or a canal is being drained and cleaned, but the old tale that Venice always smells in the summer is no longer true. Venice’s summer weather can, however, be quite hot and humid. Italians have a long-held superstition about air conditioning, too, which means that many older buildings (including hotels) either don’t have it or it’s not available all day long. You may want to inquire before you book a hotel about whether they’ve got A/C available 24 hours a day.

As popular as the city is for tourists, there really aren’t that many things to do in Venice that are major must-see attractions. St. Mark’s Basilica, the Doge’s Palace, and the Rialto bridge are high on everyone’s lists – but after that, the city is really the sight. Regardless of the weather or the time of year, plan to spend lots of time wandering around aimlessly.

Venice in Summer is also high season for crowds also means high season for prices. Hotels and airlines charge higher rates during the summer, so keep that in mind. In August there’s a small dip in prices, as that’s when Italians take their month-long vacations – but since Venice’s population is actually quite small these days, that dip doesn’t tend to impact Venice as much as other major cities. National Italian holidays in the summer are the Festa della Repubblica (June 2nd) and Ferragosto (August 15).

- Jessica Spiegel

Tips for Visiting Venice in Summer from Venice Things To Do

Inner dome of the Santa Maria dei Miracoli. Photo courtesy of Francesco Piraneo G. via wikimedia.

Around every corner in Venice you’ll find another wonderful church. They’ve managed to build some pretty huge and magnificent edifices given the small amount of land their city is perched on. In the Cannaregio district, not far from the Rialto Bridge, you’ll find Santa Maria dei Miracoli with a canal on one side and the Campo Santa Maria Nova in front. Dating from the 1480s, the church was built to house a painting by Niccolo di Pietro which was attributed with performing miracles such as bringing back to life a man drowned in the Giudecca Canal. A small shrine was erected to house the icon and pilgrims came and left donations. Eventually the wealthy Amadi family completed the funds needed to build the church and donated their own house as a convent for the Poor Clares.

The church was designed by Pietro Lombardo and decorated by him and his sons and this original design has remained untouched, only being cleaned at the beginning of the 21st century. This Venice attraction is pretty from the outside with its marble and inlay but it’s once you step inside the pink, white and grey interior that you realize how lovely it really is. It feels bigger than it should largely due to the absence of columns and the focus on the altar above which the miraculous painting hangs. Sometime Miracoli is described as the jewel-box church and it does look and feel like this. No wonder it’s such a favorite for weddings. Open every day although Sundays it is closed to tourists for worship until mid-afternoon.

-Philippa B.

Santa Maria dei Miracoli church from Venice Things To Do

Venice at night

Venice is such a famous city, you probably know everything there is to know about it – right? Wrong. It’s a city of seemingly endless mysteries, many of which are just waiting to be discovered by new visitors. Here are some of the things you probably didn’t know about Venice.

Some of the original Venetian settlements were on Torcello.

Most visitors head for Murano and Burano if they’re island-hopping in the Venetian Lagoon, but for a look at what those marshy islands looked like when people first settled here in the 5th century, take the longer boat trip to Torcello. Much of the island is now a nature preserve, giving it a very different look than the built-up islands of Venice, and the small cathedral on the island dates from the 7th century.

Venice has more than 110 islands and more than 400 bridges.

We know Venice is the canal city, but the canals that snake through the city actually separate it into individual islands. There are more than 110 small islands making up what we think of as “the island of Venice,” all of which are connected by more than 400 bridges. Visitors don’t need to worry about which specific island they’re on – their names aren’t used for navigation – but it’s an interesting thing to notice as you’re walking from one Venice attraction to another.

Venice is not 100% car-free.

You can drive to and from Venice, although it’s a hassle. There’s one road out to the islands, and one parking lot (which can and does get full sometimes, meaning drivers get turned around and sent back) – but that’s not the only place in Venice you’ll see cars. Venice’s Lido looks like any other Italian town, with paved streets and car traffic. This island isn’t adjacent to the main Venetian islands, and you’ll take a car ferry from the mainland to reach it, but it’s also where Venice’s sandy beaches are – very popular in the summer.

Venice doesn’t smell. But it does flood. And it is sinking.

You’ll hear people say that when Venice floods, Venice smells. This isn’t always true. In fact, it’s more rare to catch a whiff of anything icky than it is to simply smell salty, briny lagoon air – even in the summer. Yes, Venice floods regularly (and sometimes disastrously), especially in the winter, and the city is absolutely sinking. But don’t assume you’ll need to wear a clothespin on your nose during your whole trip.

Venice’s famous Carnival was banned from 1797 until 1979.

Most of us associate Venetian Carnival masks with the canal city, but Carnival – today one of Venice’s best festivals – was outlawed for centuries by the then-ruling King of Austria. Carnival began in 1162, but then in 1797 the Austrian King forbade Venetians from celebrating Carnival and even the use of masks. It wasn’t until 1979 when Carnival was resurrected by the national government, in an effort to reintroduce some of Venice’s lost culture. Now, it’s the busiest time to be in Venice.

Venice is small, but it’s actually pretty easy to get away from tourist crowds.

As small and seemingly overrun with tourists as Venice is, it doesn’t take much to get away from the bulk of the crowds – even during the summer months. Most travelers view Venice as a day-trip, which means they arrive by cruise ship or train, make a beeline from that end of the islands to major sights like St. Mark’s Basilica, the Doge’s Palace, and the Rialto Bridge, and then make a beeline back. The more-or-less direct route connecting those sights is nearly always crowded during the day – but wander away from it just a bit and you’ll find yourself in quiet side-streets. Stay the night in Venice to see it at its crowd-free finest.

Venice’s notorious reputation for bad food is warranted.

Yes, there is plenty of overpriced and bad food in Venice. And often the good stuff is also fairly expensive (this is an expensive city – there’s no getting around that). But you can eat better than most uninformed tourists by doing a few things. First, avoid restaurants with menus translated into multiple languages. Second, avoid restaurants on the main tourist drag or within sight of a major monument. And finally, do as the Venetians do – bar-hop from one “ciccheti” bar to another, sampling bite-sized portions of local specialties washed down with a small glass of local wine.

The Republic of Venice was a major maritime power for roughly 1,000 years.

It may seem like a sleepy tourist town today, but for about a millennium, Venice was an extremely powerful maritime republic. The Republic of Venice began in the 7th century, and it wasn’t until the 1700s that the republic fell into decline. Venice’s geographic position on the Adriatic made it a key point on the trade route between the East and West, which brought the republic great wealth and power.

The Venetian dialect is where we get the word “ghetto.”

You may have noticed in many European cities that there’s a section of the old town that’s the former “Jewish ghetto.” One of the things you probably didn’t know about Venice is that it had the first such neighborhood, and the word “ghetto” comes from the Venetian dialect – it referred to the iron “slag” that was stored in this part of Venice near a foundry. Jews in Venice were required to live in what is still known as the Venetian Ghetto starting in the early 1500s, and the neighborhood’s nickname eventually became synonymous with districts where Jews were confined in European cities.

There’s a mainland Venice, too.

We think of Venice as the city of islands, but there’s a part of Venice called the “Terraferma” (the mainland), too. This sometimes confuses visitors who get off at the first train station bearing the name “Venezia” – when they’ve actually disembarked at Mestre on the mainland. Pay attention to this detail when you’re booking a hotel in Venice, as hotels in Mestre and Marghera, while technically in Venice, aren’t on the islands.

The islands of Murano and Burano are world-famous for their art.

Murano glass is famous the world over, and it’s a quick boat trip over to Murano to see glass-makers in action (as well as to buy some of their pieces). Little Burano sometimes gets overlooked for its art contributions, however. It’s long been famous for lace-making, with a lace-making museum showcasing the work of the Burano Lace School. Today, it’s a dying art – but you may see old women still practicing the art of lace-making, and you can buy lace from shops around the island. (Just look closely to make sure it’s not made in China.)

The entire city of Venice is listed as UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Venice and the lagoon that surrounds it were added to UNESCO’s list of World Heritage Sites in 1987. UNESCO calls Venice “an extraordinary architectural masterpiece in which even the smallest building contains works by some of the world’s greatest artists.”

- Jessica Spiegel

12 Things You Probably Didn’t Know About Venice from Venice Things To Do

Venice’s colorful Carnival

Venice is practically a year-round tourist destination – even in the cold and damp winter the city can seem overrun with day trippers. But at no time does Venice seem more lively than when the city is in the midst of celebrating something. There are holidays and festivals throughout the year, some of which can dramatically impact your ability to get a hotel room at a decent price, so be sure to consult a calendar of Venice events during your trip planning process. On the other hand, each of these festivals is the kind of spectacle you’ll never forget.

Here are some of Venice’s biggest festivals.

Venice Carnival

Carnival is undoubtedly Venice’s biggest party, the hedonistic pre-Lenten party that lasts for 10 days. The dates change every year, but it’s typically in late February or early March. The festivities include elaborate costumes and masked balls. Carnival masks are one of the most popular souvenirs purchased when people are visiting Venice, but during Carnival itself they’re more than just a cheap plastic trinket – they’re a nod to the history of the festival, when noble Venetians and lower classes mingled freely thanks to the anonymity of the masks they wore during Carnival. Prepare for huge crowds and high prices on hotel rooms during Carnival but it’s worth experiencing the most we;-known of Venice festivals.

Biennale

The contemporary art festival, Biennale,  happens every other year, only in the odd-numbered years, running from June through November. There are art displays throughout the city, including in some of the city’s historic churches, as well as the pavilions set up in the gardens of the Castello district. There’s also an architecture Biennale from Septemer through November in the even-numbered years.

Regata Storica

The first Sunday in September is when the Regata Storica takes over the Grand Canal. This historic boat race pits teams against one another, each rowing in the traditional Venetian style. There are races for men, women, and young rowers, as well as a race for the gondoliers. There are viewing points along the Grand Canal, but this is one time when paying extra for a hotel room overlooking the Grand Canal is totally worth it.

Festa del Redentore

On the 3rd weekend in July, Venetians build a temporary bridge between Venice and the Redentore church on the Giudecca island for the Festa del Redentore. Originally, the Venice festival was meant to give thanks for delivering the city from the plague (which is why the church was built), but today the most anticipated part of the festival is the massive fireworks display over the church on Saturday night.

Venice International Film Festival

Technically, Venice’s International Film Festival is part of the Biennale – but the film festival actually takes place every year. It typically happens in late August or early September on the Lido, although you may spot some celebrities on the main islands of Venice, too. The grand prize of the festival, the Golden Lion, is coveted by filmmakers.

Vogalonga

For more traditional Venetian rowing, look at the summer calendar for the Vogalonga. It happens on a Sunday in May or early June, and it’s a non-competitive rowing event in which Venetians practice the stand-up rowing style that is typical of Venice. The event is partly held to protest the number of motorized boats and the damage they do in the canals, but it’s also a fantastic thing to see.

Christmas

The Christmas season is a big deal throughout Italy, but what makes it special in Venice is that Santa Claus arrives – of course – via gondola. Check with Venice’s tourism office to find out what day “Babbo Natale” (Father Christmas) will be floating into the city delivering gifts to the children. And if you’re visiting on the Epiphany (January 6), stake out a spot on the Grand Canal to watch the Regata delle Befane, in which teams of rowers dress up as the witch who brings candy to children for Epiphany.

- Jessica Spiegel

The Best Venice Festivals from Venice Things To Do

Tight quarters in Venice’s Jewish Ghetto. Creative Commons photo by KentonForshee via Flickr.

Jews have lived in the city of Venice since medieval times, but in 1516 the Venetian Ghetto was established in the Cannaregio district and all Venetian Jews were forced to live there. The word “gheto” is a Venetian word referring to the iron stored near the foundry in the Cannaregio, so it’s from this Venetian Ghetto that the word “ghetto” is derived. The Venetian Ghetto was abolished in 1797 by Napoleon.

Like other ghettos around Italy, the Venetian Ghetto had gates that could be closed at night to keep the Jews inside the walls. Today, you can still see the gates, although they’re no longer closed or guarded at night. Synagogues in the ghetto had to be hidden from view – this was the only way they were permitted to exist by the Venetian Republic – and there are five synagogues you can visit today as part of the Jewish Museum in Venice. Their exteriors are plain, but the small interiors are richly decorated. A guided tour of the Jewish Museum of Venice is perhaps the best way to explore the old Jewish Ghetto of Venice. The Museum is a collection of buildings in the ghetto, including the synagogues and the old Jewish cemetery. It’s a great place to experience a part of Venetian culture if you’re visiting Venice.

Napoleon officially put an end to the Venetian Ghetto in the late 18th century, making Jews equal citizens to every other Venetian. This was further reinforced when the Venetian Republic became part of a unified Italy in the mid-19th century. The overall population of Venice is shrinking each year, but the former Jewish Ghetto remains a center for many Jews who still call Venice home.

- Jessica Spiegel

The Jewish Ghetto of Venice from Venice Things To Do

Venice on a sunny day

Most tourist destinations have what are thought of as high and low tourist seasons, but Venice seems to be popular pretty much year-round. Still, there are a few benefits to visiting in the slower seasons – which, in Venice, includes part of the spring. The calendar generally says spring runs from March-May, but those few months vary widely in Venice. If you’re headed to Venice in Spring, here’s what you can expect.

When it comes to the weather, Venice is fairly mild year-round. Spring can be quite damp, and depending how severe the winter has been there may be some lingering storms that roll into March. By April, weather should be more reliably good, although the occasional downpour isn’t unheard of. May can be summer-like in many parts of Italy, including Venice, so you may find it to be quite hot.

The dates for Carnival, Venice’s biggest annual party, change every year – but it can sometimes be in early March, which is something to keep in mind if you’re planning a spring trip or planning your first trip to Venice. Carnival is a high season in Venice – with high prices, big crowds, and plenty of “no vacancy” signs – so you’ll need to book well in advance. Other holidays in the spring in Venice include two national holidays – Liberation Day on April 25th and Easter (the date for Easter also moves each year, but it tends to be in March or April). Venetians also typically have a traditional rowing event called a Vogalonga in May.

Spring prices in Venice don’t tend to drop as low as shoulder season prices in other parts of Italy, so don’t be surprised if you see high season rates at hotels in April and May. If you’re not visiting during Carnival, you may get better deals in March. And in any case, your best bet for avoiding the crowds when visiting Venice’s attractions is to spend the night – most people are day trippers, so if you’re there in the early morning and late evening, you’ll see a much quieter city.

- Jessica Spiegel

Venice in Spring from Venice Things To Do

Italy’s beautiful Dolomite Mountains

For many travelers, Venice itself is a day trip from elsewhere – but if you’re spending several days in Venice itself, you may be looking for day trip options in the area.

Here are some of the best Venice day trip options.

• Murano, Burano, Torcello – The islands in the Venetian lagoon are an easy and popular day trip from the main islands of Venice. Murano has been home to glass blowers for centuries, Burano is famous for its lace-making, and Torcello is where the original Venetian settlers made their homes (one of Venice’s oldest churches still stands on Torcello). You can visit all three in a relaxed day, taking the vaporetto from island to island.

Click here to read more about day trips from Venice.

- Jessica Spiegel

Best Day Trips from Venice from Venice Things To Do