Ahhh, Venice..sounds of Andrea Boccelli
resonating from open balcony windows. Two young lovers comfortably
embraced while savoring a nice gondola ride through a quaint canal.
Couples strolling down the narrow cobblestone streets mano-a-mano. Romance is in the air. And there's no better place for romance than a trip to Venice.
Venice's main waterway is the Canale Grande
(Grand Canal) which snakes its way through the city for approximately 2
miles. Other canals will feed into and out of this one. The Grand
Canal is the "Main Street" of Venice.
A good vantage point to see the Grand Canal and its activity is from the Rialto Bridge (Ponte di Rialto).
The Rialto Bridge is one of only three bridges to cross the Grand
Canal. The original wooden drawbridge collapsed and was rebuilt a few
times culminating with its current day stone structure in the late
1500's.
On the Eastern side of the Piazza lies the Doge's Palace (or Palazzo Ducale).
This was the seat of the government during the glory years of Venice.
Housed inside are artistic treasures and masterpieces by the famous
renaissance artists Tintoretto and Veronese, among others.
Next to the Doge's Palace lies a former prison. From here, prisoners were led across the Bridge of Sighs (or Ponte dei Sospiri),
as a final walkway prior to their execution. Today, the bridge is
used in another manner young lovers are promised eternal love if they
should kiss in a gondola underneath the Bridge of Sighs. I told you
Venice was a romantic city! Where else can a grim bridge connotate
romance?
Murano glass-making, craftsmanship and
artistry that dates back to the 13th century, was originated and
perfected in Venice. It is definitely worth it to see these craftsmen
at work. They usually have tours where you can see them in action.
There are hundreds of shops, particularly on the island of Lido.
A discussion of Venice would not be complete
without discussing the pre-Lenten festival of Carnevale. Carnevale,
from the Latin meaning "farewell to meat", is Venice's version of
masquerade balls, costumes, parades, grandiose events, etc. The idea,
of course, is similar to the Mardi Gras in New Orleans or the Carnevale
of Rio de Janeiro, where Christians celebrate one last "hurrah" prior to
Lent.
Another famous Venetian tradition is to visit a
"cicchetteria", a little restaurant-bar establishment usually hidden in
many of the alleyways of Venice. On Saturday mornings, prior to
lunch, you will see Venetians visiting the "cicchetterie" to sample "gli
spuncioni", or hors d'oeuvre type appetizers. Similar to the tapas
used in Spain. Don't forget to wash it down with some refreshing
"cicchetti", or the local wine (red or white) served in these
establishments.
If you like to gamble, Venice has the most
renowned casino in all of Italy. There are actually two that operate
alternatively at different times of the year. You will usually find
one of them open, except for holidays.
Despite the above, Venice is not problem-free.
Flooding and polluted canals have been a concern for some time.
Some of the world's brightest engineers have been working on a system to
alleviate the "acqua alta", or flooding that can occur after a heavy
rain or during an extraordinarily high tide. Piazza San Marco has been
known to be flooded for a few hours at a time. And of course, during
the summer tourist season, Venice can become quite crowded. It is best
to make your plans well in advance.
However, Venetians are very resilient. The
town was basically built by trying to defy Mother Nature's sea. It is
this resilience that has served the people well for many centuries.
Venetians are a special breed that live life to the fullest. They are a
people that know how to perservere. And persevere they will for many
more centuries to come.
A trip to Italy would definitely not be
complete without considering Venice on your agenda. It is easily
accessible by train (about 4 hours from Florence) or just a quick flight
from Rome. Ciao!