Overview
The Story
What to Know
In/Around Venice
Boutique Hotels
Venice’s culinary tradition
Eating Out
Night Clubs

• Overview

• Venice, Italy has everything a seasoned or novice traveler could ever want or need scenery, shopping, history, culture, fine and casual dining, entertainment, lodging, and all the charm of a beautiful Italian city.
  
  Visiting Venice is easy from many locations, and by a variety of different travel modes. If you are arriving by car, parking in one of the extended stay lots will give you easy access to the city using one of the many water taxi services. Parking can be found at Tronchetto and Piazzale Roma. Terminal connections link the city with the mainland, and provide convenient access.
  
  What better to way to arrive in the canal laced city than by the channels that give it its character. Have your camera ready for if this is your first trip into Venice you won’t want to miss any of that first “date” allure. Water transportation is just a step away for those travelers arriving by rail at the Saint Lucia station.
  
  Air travel into Venice is available from many Italian cities, with a wide variety of sources. The servicing air transport providers include Meridiana, Alitalia, Easyjet and Windjet, all landing directly at the Venice Airport. Whichever mode you choose, the experience of seeing Venice for the first time will be not only memorable but breathtaking.

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• The Story

• Venice, one of the most famous city in the world, was probably founded in 726 on the isle called Rialto (or Rio Alto).
  
  In the course of centuries, while its might increased, Venice developped in the lagoon carrying its name on a group 119 islands, which are divided by 160 canals and linked by about 369 bridges. Venice was called the Serene Republic, and its history is glorious and magnificent; glory and magnificence, of which Venice retains a sign in its wonderful buildings and in the masterpieces of its museums and churches.
  
  Its lights and matchless colours make of it a city of poetry admired by everyone all over the world.
  
  
• Saint Mark Square
  In Saint Mark Square, the very centre of the town's life, you can find the most different touches of originality.
  
  The shape itself is an oddity, being like a trapezium (it is 192 yards long, 90 yards wide on the Basilica side, while the opposite side i about 61 yards). There is, then, the imposing and fabulous façade of the Basilica, in Eastern-Romanesque style, faced, on the three other sides, by the Fabbrica Nuova westwards, the Clock Tower and the Procuratie Vecchie northwards and the Procuratie Nuove southwards, all in classical Renaissance style.
  
  At last, on the south-east side, almost in front of the Basilica, you can see the Romanesque Bell-Tower, mighty and majestic. In ancient times, the square was only a meadow, in the middle of which the Batario river was flowing. Towards the end of 1200, the doge Sebastiano Ziani filled up the river, and the square began getting it modern aspect.
  
  At first, it was paved with bricks and only towards 1770 it was paved with trachyte and Istrian stone. Also nowadays, as in the past, it is the meeting place preferred by both citizen,. and tourist, crowding almost unceasingly the arches, the shops and the well-known coffee-houses. A kind feature of the square is constituted by the pigeons, which are called Saint Mark's pigeons because they live in the capitals, pinacle in dome, and under the arches of the Basilica.

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• What to Know about Venice Italy

• Timing your trip to Venice may not be flexible depending on other travel concerns or desires, however the best time to see the beautiful canal city is the spring and summer. Spring, summer and often fall travelers, can take advantage of the gorgeous beaches of Lido, or take in some boating or fishing for a more energetic activity.
  
  Fall provides pleasant weather, with slightly chillier evenings – plan accordingly. Winter does have some fog, and higher water levels in the canals, however cool weather travelers should not skip the opportunity of seeing Venice just because they need a sweater or coat. You can’t go wrong regardless of what time of year you spend in Venice, it is Italy after all.
  
  Plan at least a 3 or 4 night stay in the city; this gives you ample opportunity to explore the many districts and quarters within the city of canals. Art lovers may choose to extend their stay to 5 or more days allowing for leisure time spent in one of the many galleries that dot the city such as the Center for Contemporary Art Punta della Dogana, in the Dorsoduro district.
  
  Be prepared for lots of walking, yes there are plenty of water taxis available but some of the best sites are seen on foot. Good walking shoes are a must, appropriate dress for weather conditions should always be part of a pedestrian’s day in a city by the sea. Spring and fall travelers should have a light windbreaker or sweater for a cool evening walk.
  
  At the opposite end of the city from San Marco stands the new Calatrava Bridge in Rialto, an evocative and by many considered erotic structure that is equally art as it is architecture, designed as a symbol of the old red light district, this is a photo op you don’t want to miss. You can overlook the Grand Canal or take in the 18th century museum Ca 'Rezzonico.
  
  Get ready for a really special holiday in Italy, where you can celebrate a festival really close to the hearts of the Venice people. The Festa del Redentore is held each year on the third weekend of July. It celebrates the city’s recovery from the plague in the 16th century, where almost a third of Venetians died – including the great painter Titian.
  
  It’s a true party on the water, with a special bridge constructed each year and hundreds of locals enjoying the party on decorated festive boats, admiring the fireworks sparkling on the skyline of this splendid city.

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• In/Around Venice

• Venice is not all canals and art museums, wine and food as with most Italian cities plays a big part in history as well as in contemporary culture. Exploring outlying islands such as Burano or Torcello is quick with one of the many tour boats available. St. Erasmus Island showcases the beautiful vegetables of the region. The island of Murano has a captivating glass bead facility, be sure to have your camera handy for some great photo ops from the boat of all the islands.
  
  Valdobbiadene can be reached by road and offers picturesque landscapes of lush vineyards and small farms. Wine tasting, shopping and fine dining abound, go hungry, leave full. The blend of Eastern and Western therapeutic traditions can be found in Abano at the hot thermal baths, don’t miss the chance to have a little relaxation time while in and around Venice.
  
  Winter visitors can make a day trip to the Dolomites for an afternoon of classic Italian skiing suitable for families with children, or beginning to notice level skiers. Regardless of your skiing ability the trip is worth the day away from Venice just to see the majestic Pale Mountains, or spend time in the many shops and taking pictures of the exceptional views while in the cosmopolitan ski resort village of Cortina.
  
  Venice is not a sleepy little village, there are events and activities to suit even the most discriminating of world travelers. September is a busy month in the active city with public screenings from the Venice Film Festival, The Historical Reggatta, classic Venice all the way with a parade of 16th century styled boats through the city canals, culminating with a race of the historic vessels, First Sunday of September.
  
  Exhibits and other activities abound, February offers Carnival which includes parades, masked balls and special access to some of the city’s less public historical buildings. The architecture of Venice never leaves your side, so if the hustle and bustle of a large event is not to your taste a leisurely stroll will provide solitude and reflection in the ancient city.
  
  Teatro La Fenice provides music loving visitors with an unparalleled symphony orchestra.
  
  You won’t have to go far for unique finds for gifts, mementoes or creature comforts within Venice. There are shops or every kind in each of the quaint districts. Handmade shoes for the gentleman, Venetian glass beads strung with silver for the ladies. Gondola related art and sculptures and be found, alongside the ornate and beautiful traditional Mondonovo masks. Dorsoduro offers a wealth of workshops containing handmade pottery and other classic Italian art pieces.
  
  Elegant women’s clothing and other fine accessories are available in many of the districts small shops.
  
  The dining experience in Venice can be anything from a fine dining restaurant in one of the city’s chic hotels to a sidewalk vendor offering traditional street food all with a decidedly oceanic influence. Seafood classics such as creamed cod in bigoli sauce are available in most of the local eateries. Enjoy a glass of local wine while eating al fresco or enjoy the views from one the many restaurant terraces. The food is simple with complex flavors and the history of a seaside village.
  
  Whenever you choose to visit the city that never sleeps, take a moment for a classic Gondola ride, replete with wine and roses, and you will never forget your time in Venice Italy.

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• Boutique Hotels

• 1) Palazzetto Pisani Boutique Palace
  San Marco 2814
  Venice
  Amazing location, Amazing services, Unique experince.

• 2) Hotel Cipriani
  Giudecca 10
  Venice
  Very famous - High end
  
  
• 3) Ca' Pisani Hotel
  Dorsoduro 979
  Venice
  Art Decò hotel on Accademia Bridge area

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• Venice’s culinary tradition

• Venice’s culinary tradition is very ancient and includes oriental flavours (ginger, nutmeg, saffron, cloves and cinnamon) that are not usually found in dishes from other Italian regions. The Venetian table also offers the diversity of landscapes from the Veneto region, with its cattle pastures, farmland, mountains and coastlines that provide excellent products: meat, cheese, fish, seafood, polenta, rice, etc.
  
  Generally speaking, the cuisine is fresh and light, as it contains no heavy sauces.
  
  Fish, perhaps the star dish, is cooked on a grill or boiled with herbs, be it carp, cod or sardines. It comes from the Adriatic and the rivers and lakes of the region. Typical hors d’oeuvres are prawns, calamari, octopus, Murano crab and sardines in saor (fried and in brine with onion, oil, raisins and pine nuts).
  
  Other classical recipes include a wide variety of soups and polenta, which is accompanied by different products, such as Venetian- style liver (with onion). The most outstanding meat dish is veal carpaccio covered with Parmesan and guinea fowl with peverada. Biscuits, cakes and pastries, such as bussulai with cinnamon, the ovalshaped baicoli, mandolato with crunchy almond nougat, and tiramisu are the perfect culmination to any feast.
  
  Veneto wine, generally soft and fruity, is excellent, be it white or red. The ideal accompaniment to an appetiser of capers, anchovies, olives and seafood cocktail is a glass of wine (ombra), normally enjoyed at wine shops (bacari).
  
  After dinner, why not also try a typical grappa, eau de vie made from grapes, juniper berries or plums, or sgroppino, a liqueur of lemon sorbet, vodka and prosecco, sparkling Veneto wine.
  
  If you want to eat well in Venice, you need to be careful, as prices tend to be very expensive. To avoid any unpleasant surprises when it comes to paying, you need to remember that the quality/price relationship improves the further away you go from Saint Mark’s Square.
  
  In cheaper restaurants, the price of a meal of more than one course plus a drink may be around 30 euros per person, while in more upmarket ones it may be 50-80 euros a head.
  
  Many restaurants - especially in this world economic moment - have a set-price tourist menu, but the quality is usually worse than that of a two-course à la carte meal.
  
  It is more than advisable to reserve a table in the high season.

• Eating Out

• 1) Al Paradiso Perduto
  Fondamenta della Misericordia
  Cannaregio Venice
  Telephone: +39.041.720.581
  
  • Typical Venetian “trattoria” where Venetians go with their own boats to enjoy a selection of regional wines accompanied by a variety of traditional Venetian chicchetti.
    
    
• 2) Lineadombra
  Dorsoduro 19
  Zattere - Venice
  Telephone: +39.041.241.1881
  
  • It's a great restaurant! The Zattere area is my favourite place to go to when it's sunny and the weather isn't too chilly. And if you go to linea d ombra it's even better! the food is really at high levels and so is the wine list. The dishes were memorable and inventive: i had the passionfruit coquilles-saint jacques and the Rombo with the almond crust. And if you eat on the terrace you also get a beautiful view of Giudecca. It's a bit pricey, but what what can you expect when you have everything around you at high standards! Also, the staff and waiters are very friendly, I really reccomend this place and I'm Venetian.
    
    
• 3) Le Testiere
  Campo Santa Maria Formosa
  Venice
  Telephone: +39.041.522.7220
  
  • This very small Trattoria (only 8 tables) offers a very nice menu in which the chef has very cleverly fused Venetian cuisine with some of the spices that used to be so popular in Venice at the times of the Republic. Good wine list.
    

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• Night Clubs

• “Skyline” - The rooftop bar of the Molino Stucky Hilton Hotel
  Giudecca 810
  Venice
  Telephone: +39.041.272.311
  
  • The quality of the cocktails is superb and most importantly, the barman only uses fruit of the season and what he finds at the market. So don't go asking for a Bellini in January when the season for white peaches is over! The saturday afternoon Aaperitivo" is really worth it, the food is great and you get the usual great drinks. Needless to comment on the view, from the name "Skyline" we think the view speaks for itself. Go and see it yourself! One of the best bar and cocktails in Venice.
    
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