Like nowhere else on Earth...
Arriving in Venice for the first time was nothing like I’d expected but it felt somehow so familiar all the same.
It goes without saying that life in Venice revolves around the water. After waiting patiently for our first water-bus, and allowing the locals to board first, we soon discovered that the water-bus is no place for manners – with the locals all comfortably aboard, it pulled away without us and we watched it sail off down the Grand Canal. We joined the locals in pushing our way onto the next water-bus and so our journey through the canals of Venice began.
We visited Venice in January, when it was exceptionally cold and flood risks were high, however there were so few tourists that it felt like the city was our own – well worth braving the cold and floods for!
Much of Venice looks a little worn – thanks to the effect of the water degrading many of the buildings, yet this just adds to the charm and emphasises how beautiful landmarks like St Marks Square and The Doges Palace really are.
To start our first full day in Venice, we bustled our way onto another water-bus, unknown to us that we were going in the wrong direction; we were looking for St Marks but ended up on the opposite side of Venice. This turned out to be a wonderful mistake and adventure. We left the water-bus and went on foot through the narrow winding streets, crossing the canals, finding monuments and basillica’s along the way. Getting lost and spending the day wandering around was the best thing we could have done and it gave us a great feel for the “real” Venice.
The rest of our time in Venice was centered around the usual ‘tourist trail; though the usual ‘tourist trail’ in Venice is far from ordinary.
St Marks Square or Piazza San Marco is stunning and bustling and seems to have a real atmosphere; a buzz about it. Basilica di San Marco (Saint Marks Basilica) is beautiful and intricately adorned with mosaiques in its 5 arches. Five domes sit atop its roof and four noble brass horses stand on top of the largest arch, overlooking the Piazza San Marco.
The Doges Palace or ‘Palazzo Ducale’ is truly imposing; the seat of the government for much of the Venetian Republic's existence, the palace also housed the Doge’s private living quarters. The importance of the building is clear from every aspect; the exterior, the staterooms and especially the beautiful courtyard.
The Isola di San Michele, once a prison Island and now a cemetary is surprisingly a beautiful and very peaceful place to go; it was the most beautiful and moving cemetary that I have ever been to.
Other must-sees include the Bridge of Sighs, The Rialto Bridge, the many museums, the Islands of Burano (known for its lace and brightly coloured houses) and Murano (known for its glass), the Campanile di San Marco (originally a lighthouse, so allowing wonderful views on a clear day).
Venice is a place that everyone should see; it really is like nowhere else and once you’ve been there, it stays in your heart.
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