Venice's guide
Venice's guide
Venice's guide
Venice's city guide
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Venice  

With its magical and romantic atmosphere, Venice is one of the most visited and famous places in Italy. It 's a very particular city, built "on the water" at the center of the Venetian Lagoon: it covers a myriad of micro-islands crossed by about 150 canals and connected by more than 400 bridges.
Small and charming, full of masterpieces of architecture and art, Venice offers truly unique glimpses: a unique place for an unforgettable experience that attracts millions of tourists every year.

Grand Canal with the Rialto Bridge and Piazza San Marco with the Doge's Palace, the Basilica and the Bell of San Marco, must see attractions, are the heart of the city, now definitely characterised by the constant hive of tourists walking up and down the bridges, crowding the squares and roaming in the "calli" (streets), taking pictures everywhere. On the canals there is a bustle of ferries, private boats and gondolas (typical Venetian boats): a continuous flow of people, which is now an integral part of the city life.

The glorious past saw the birth in 1254 of the famous merchant, explorer and writer Marco Polo, who arrived in China through the "Silk Road", starting an era of trade with the East, in which Venice was the protagonist.
In the fourteenth century Venice grew enormously, establishing itself as a maritime power in the Mediterranean, excelling on the Maritime Republics of Pisa, Genoa and Amalfi.
Despite the plague in 1348 that halved the population, the "Serenissima" continued to expand its dominion over sea and land conquering Dalmatia, Istria and even the island of Cyprus.
The decline began in the seventeenth century and continued until the defeat by Napoleon in 1797 which involved the annexation of the city to the Habsburg Empire. Seventy years later Venice became part of the Kingdom of Italy.

Maritime history and contact with the East left their mark in the food culture: with polenta and rice, fish and white meat (chicken, goose and duck) still reign on the table of Venetians.

Another ancient tradition still alive is the Carnival, an extraordinary event during which a number of plays and dress parades, concerts and pageants, music and tastings events and shows for children are held all the city around: an experience for all, full of fun.

Among other important events taking place in the Laguna do not miss the Venice Film Festival in Venice Lido, the oldest film festival in the world, and the Biennale, an international exhibition of contemporary art.
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TOP OFFERS IN Venice
Venice: Doge's Palace Reserved Entry Ticket
Venice: Doge's Palace Reserved Entry Ticket
33 $
Venice: Bus Transfer between Marco Polo Airport and City
Venice: Bus Transfer between Marco Polo Airport and City
11 $
Venice: Marco Polo Airport Water Taxi Transfer
Venice: Marco Polo Airport Water Taxi Transfer
41 $

GETTING AROUND IN Venice

The small size and the considerable amount of interesting views at every turn of the road make walking the best way to visit Venice: moving into the so-called calli, campi, fondamente e salizzade is truly impressive.

It is however a good idea to use ferries, connecting all the city districts and neighboring islands: they are essential to reach some of the islands, but also very suggestive due to the point of view you can have on the city skyline.
The service is operated by ATCV; tickets (6.50 euro for 60 minutes) are sold in ticket offices near the main stops, but also in tobacco shops, newsstands and bars and must be obliterated before getting on board. You can buy the ticket on board too, but the rate is increased. The most convenient way to travel by boat is to request a time-ticket with unlimited travel valid for 12, 24, 36, 48, 72 hours or 7 days.

Ferry lines are grouped into four main categories: "Centro Città", crossing the city by navigating mainly along the waterways of the Grand Canal or the Giudecca Canal, from Tronchetto to Lido di Venezia (lines 1 and 2); "Giracittà" linking the outer perimeter of the lagoon city to Murano and Lido di Venezia (lines 3, 41.1, 41.2, 51.1, 51.2, 6); "Lagunare", connecting with the outer islands of the archipelago lagoon, as Murano, Burano, Torcello, Sant'Erasmo, S. Servolo and to the mainland, arriving at Marco Polo Airport in Tessera, Treporti, Punta Sabbioni, Chioggia, Fusina, San Giuliano (lines 12, 13, 14, 19); "Stagionale", active during busiest holidays or on occasions of important events.

Mobility in Venice is guaranteed 24 hours. From midnight until five in the morning there is a night service, marked by the line N.


Often ignored by tourists, but used by the inhabitants, is the collective taxi gondola: a "ferry" that crosses the Grand Canal from bank to bank, in order not to have to get to the nearest bridge, at a cost of 50 euro cents.


Definitely more expensive than public transport, but faster and more convenient especially if you have a lot of luggage, are water taxis, recognizable by the license number printed on a yellow band, at the height of the window. It's a good idea to check the rate before boarding in order to avoid surprises.


The gondolas, ancient traditional Venetian boat, is even less convenient, but it is definitely an experience that should be made during the stay in the lagoon, ideal for those looking for a romantic moment, perhaps at sunset or at night. The price of a gondola ride can be bargained with the gondoliers, but they hardly agree less than 80 € for 30 minutes.
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