First time in Venice, Italy
Photographer: Siza
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Route: San Marco, Venice, Italy
Travel Story
Venice sits atop sediments deposited at the ancient mouth of the Po River, which are still compacting and settling. But despite the sinking, with global warming, it is less than the sea is rising. Underwater "mobile" gates (a project known as MOSE) are being built on the floor of the sea at the three inlets where the open sea enters Venice's lagoon. When the seawater rises above a certain level, the gates will rise and shut out the Adriatic, however, mussels, corrosion, and other complications have thwarted efforts to protect Venice. We wanted to make sure we included Venice on our travel itinerary before it was too late. Despite all the changes and crowds, Venice awed us with its ethereal beauty and lovely views. If you get up early you enjoy a different and it seems more real, Venice avoiding the crowds. The one-of-a-kind wonder of this forever-unique city on the lagoon surrounded by the patina of faded elegance was a favorite stop.
Travel Tips
If it is your first trip to Venice, like it was for us, Piazza di San Marco has a lot to offer in a compact space. Venice was the center of trade and as a result, The Piazza and most notably, Saint Mark's Basilica is an architectural and artistic hodgepodge of different cultures. The mosaics were done over 8 centuries, mostly in gold, A lot of treasure was shipped to Venice, and installed in St. Mark’s Basilica—including the four bronze horses, an icon of the Madonna Nicopeia, enamels of the Golden Altar-piece, relics, crosses and chalices. The Campanile of St. Mark’s dates back to the 9th century… but it had to be rebuilt in 1903. The reason? It collapsed. Formerly the Doge's residence and the seat of Venetian government, the Palace is the very symbol of Venice and a masterpiece of Gothic architecture. Most every meal we ate in Venice was delicious and not as expensive as we thought. We just wandered and found places without a reservation. Marchini Time is where you will find the best ever rice pudding tarts which we had never tasted before. They are little creamy puddings, scented with vanilla and orange, baked in crisp, crumbly shortcrust pastry shells. The Bridge of Sighs, the name coined by Lord Byron, known as the Ponte di Sospiri in Italian, is one of the most famous bridges not just in Venice, but in the world. The bridge passes over the Rio di Palazzo and connects the Dogi's Palace to the Prigioni, the prisons that were built across the canal in the late 16th century. Once sentenced, the prisoners would sigh as they took one last look at freedom and crossed the bridge to the prison. Gondola rides seem touristy but are a must and give you a chance to see the city up close. Although we did stay on an island away from Venice at the JW Marriott (about a 20 minute boat ride away) I think it would be fine to stay within Venice too.
