Do you want to be guided around Venice? We offer you an excellent guide that you can download here in PDF format. For you to print out at home. It’s the perfect complement for your trip. Here you will find a description of Venice, its history and art, extensive descriptions of the most interesting monuments and advice on where to eat and walks around the city.
At the end of the guide you will find a selection of the best, most exclusive and most interesting Restaurants, Bars, Clubs and Shops.
Click here to get it: http://venice.theperfecthotels.com/?download=430&lang=EN
VENICE: THE QUEEN OF THE ADRIATIC
Cinema, romance, music, palafitti, carnival, art, mist, gondolas, palaces, canals, water. Venice grew from the destruction of the Goths and was destined to become a romantic and monumental city that distils a sweet decadence. Frozen in time and besieged by tides and tourists, it attempts every day to survive the success and the advance of the sea, which threatens to turn it into a modern-day Atlantis. A city without streets, also known as La Serenissima, it is made up of over 100 islands joined together by some 400 bridges and is regarded as one of the most unique cities in the world. Cars are banned in the centre, and even the police and the postmen use barges to get about. Its name is closely associated with other such illustrious names as Tintoretto, Bellini, Vivaldi and Marco Polo, while its past is enveloped in silks and imbued with aromas of the most varied spices. What was once a mighty commercial and seafaring power in the Mediterranean still retains its splendour in the eyes of the visitor, to the point of having been reproduced in a Las Vegas casino, yet it is a giant with feet of clay, standing as it does on a muddy lagoon in northeast Italy. Venice invites visitors to quell their hurry and let themselves be hypnotised by the eternal lapping of the Adriatic. Who could possibly resist being bewitched by such charm!
A practical guide
The information given here does not attempt to cover the whole of the city but is simply limited to the most interesting sights from a tourist’s point of view. The metropolitan area of Venice has some 170,000 inhabitants and is spread over countless islands, which can complicate some sightseeing, especially if you do not have a lot of time. The Veneto region is liberally sprinkled with attractions, such as the cities of Padua, Verona and Vicenza, Lake Garda and the Dolomite mountains. In this guide, however, we will be looking at both the best known sights and the hidden corners that perhaps go unnoticed but which allow visitors to capture the essence of Venice and get under its skin in its everyday life. The city is divided into six old administrative districts (sestieri) and the centre is riven by the Grand Canal, or Canalazzo, as the Venetians call it.
A BRIEF HISTORY
Although by the start of Christianity the marshy Veneto coastline had already been settled by fishermen and hunters, the true origins of Venice date back to the fifth century, when inhabitants from the hinterland moved to the islands to escape the devastation of the Goths as they cut a swathe to Rome. The inhabitants subsisted in the salt flats of the Po estuary by fishing and extracting salt. The constructions of that age were simple huts built on piles. In the beginning, Venice enjoyed great independence with regard to its neighbours, thanks to the natural barrier formed by the chain of islands, which prevented cavalry or infantry attack. However, over time, the settlements in this area fell under the rule of the Byzantine Empire. Constantinople granted Venice privileges because it was an important trading point between East and West. When Charlemagne and the Byzantine emperor signed the Treaty of Aquisgrán, the city’s influence was greatly reduced, a fact which as is borne out when in 828 the Venetians stole the body of Saint Mark from Alexandria, whom they named the patron saint of the city, replacing Saint Theodore. Venice saw its power greatly increase, thanks to the Crusades, particularly the fourth, in 1204, when the Venetians used the Christians as mercenaries to destroy Constantinople. After this victory, Venice was assured control of trade and became one of the most important powers of the age. Unlike most of the Mediterranean, Venice had a highly organised administration that was governed by the Doge, an elected leader whose powers were clearly set out in the Constitution. Venetian naval supremacy in the Middle Ages was based on the trireme, a swift and easy-to-handle ship that would sink enemy craft with its pointed prow and bow cannon. A drum on the stern beat out the rhythm to synchronise the dozens of oarsmen.
The Columbus setback
Venice had to maintain an exhausting struggle against the Ottoman Empire, which had become a world power. Although initially Venetian merchants kept their privileges awarded by the Byzantines, war was inevitable due to Ottoman terrestrial expansion after 1470. The invasion policy on the Italian Peninsula brought the Venetians into conflict with the Pope, who summoned the League of Cambrai in 1508. This included Louis XII of France, Emperor Maximilian I of Austria and Ferdinand II of Aragon, and the struggle culminated in the crushing Venetian defeat in May 1509 at the battle of Agnadello, which stopped all Venetian attempts at expansion on the Italian Peninsula forever. The Republic held on to its independence through territorial cessions to Spain and Milan, and because its destruction meant the elimination of a potential ally against the Ottoman Empire. Despite these serious setbacks, at the end of the fifteenth century Venice still had 180,000 inhabitants and was the second most populated city in Europe, surpassed only by Paris. In 1453, Constantinople fell into the hands of the Turks and the Venetians lost numerous possessions. With Christopher Columbus’ arrival in America in 1492 and the new sea route to the Indies in 1500, the Adriatic enclave began to lose its monopoly on trade. In the centuries that followed, the alliance between Spain and Portugal, the commercial expansion of Genoa and defeats to the Ottomans weakened the Venetian Republic even further, although it still managed to maintain its independence until the arrival of Napoleon in 1797. This milestone marks the end of an era of glorious decadence, during which the Venetian aristocracy devoted itself to squandering its fortune on sumptuous parties and games of chance, maintaining itself as a closed community, which prevented the necessary social rise of the bourgeoisie. Later, with the Treaty of Campoformio, Napoleon delivered the city to the Austro-Hungarian Empire and its possessions were divided up. Venice became part of the Kingdom of Italy following the Third War of Independence in 1866.
A gateway to hope
The city awoke from its lethargy and began to develop quickly thanks to the opening of the Suez Canal (1869), which greatly shortened the journey by ship between Europe and Asia. A port for transatlantic ships was built and Venice became the preferred point of embarkation for well-to-do colonial and European administrators who wanted to travel east. The fashion for sea bathing and the patronage by high society sponsored the resurgence of this enclave. Since then, Venice has been closely linked to the Arts – especially music and the cinema – with the Biennale as its ultimate expression of this. And there have been a few scares, such as 4 November 1966, when it suffered the worst floods in its history. If the flood line is normally 110 centimetres, the flood that day reached 2 metres. Since then, a number of steps have been taken to protect its exceptional heritage from the tides.
GETTING AROUND IN VENICE
Handy tips
Venice is in the same time zone as the rest of central Europe, in other words GMT + 1 hour, the same as Spain and France. Any time of the year is ideal to visit the city of canals; even the winter fogs add a romanticism to the monumental urban setting. However, it is a good idea to avoid the busiest tourist times, such as Carnival (February), Easter, Christmas and the months of July and August. The city boasts a Mediterranean climate with alpine influences. It is characterised by cool winters – an average temperature of 2°C in January – and fairly hot and humid summers (average of 24°C in July). The sea and the mountains combine to provide Venice, and the Veneto in general, with more rainfall than is considered normal in the rest of Italy. The driest months are February and July.
Venice is a fairly small city, so the easiest and cheapest way to get around is on foot. Walking is a pleasure as there is no vehicle traffic and it only takes 40 minutes to cross the whole woven fabric of alleyways, bridges and canals from north to south. The only obstacle may be the masses of tourists that sometimes clog up the paths through. To find your way around and not get lost amid the many alleyways and canals, you should check a detailed map from time to time. The most romantic, and the most expensive, form of transport is the gondola. There are many moorings where the gondoliers wait for trade, especially in Saint Mark’s Square, the Rialto, Piazzale Roma and the railway station. It is advisable to haggle before getting on board as the gondoliers will always try to make the most from each trip. The official fares are around 60 euros for a 45-minute trip, although after 8 pm this price goes up to 80 euros. One way of saving is to get on with a group of people, although remember that a maximum of only five or six people are allowed on a gondola. Renting this type of boat for yourself is, without a doubt, rather expensive, but it is also a special and unique experience of a lifetime; the sort you never forget. By contrast, if you want to get to one of the many islands around the city (Burano, Giudecca, Murano, Lido, Poveglia), the quickest way is by one of the taxi launches. They are white or wooden and get from one part of the city to another in a matter of minutes. They are also pretty expensive too, and the price goes up if you’ve got suitcases, if the boatman has to wait or if it’s at night. The traghetti (public ferries) are genuine gondolas that cross the Grand Canal at seven different points and which provide an inexpensive and continuous service for tourists, who very often have not even heard of them. Yellow posters with small black gondolas show the points where they are moored. A trip costs only fifty cents per person and allows you to savour a gondola trip, even though it does not last long. The vaporetto is like a water bus and is regarded as the typical means of transport for getting around in Venice or for heading for the other islands in the lagoon. There are 15 lines with different types of boats, such as launches or motorboats. The most famous line is No. 1, which runs slowly along the Grand Canal, where all the palaces can be seen. It takes 45 minutes from Sant’Elena to Rialto (it takes half this time on foot). If you’re in a hurry, Line 2 is quicker and it also goes along the Grand Canal but with fewer stops. The company in charge of the transport service is ACTV (www.actv.it). The routes of the lines are often changed, so if you do not have a recent map, ask the staff on board where you should get off. On the main lines, the vaporetti usually run every 10-20 minutes during the day; at night (9.45 pm-11.45 pm), there are fewer boats and Line 1 misses some stops. Between 11.30 pm and 4.30 am, there is a night service that runs every 20 minutes. Tickets can be bought at any vaporetti stop or in bars and tobacconist’s displaying the ACTV sign. Remember that many ticket offices close in the afternoon. Tickets can also be bought on board, informing the staff immediately. The Venice Card offers discounts on public transport and museums.
Venice is a safe destination. As happens in many other tourist cities, the main enemy are pickpockets, who usually take advantage of carelessness in the busiest areas, such as the railway station or the vaporetti stops. The best thing to do is leave your valuables at home or keep them out of the reach of thieves. At night, the alleyways are not always well lit, but don’t be afraid: crime in the city is very rare.
Almost all the businesses usually open from 9.00 or 9.30 am until 7.30 or 8 pm on weekdays and until 1 pm on Saturday, although as it is very much a tourist destination, there are businesses that serve customers at all hours. As for tips, they are not compulsory, although in restaurants it is usual to round the bill up if the service has been good.
GASTRONOMY
Fresh and light specialities
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). The most popular fish dishes are cooked eel, cod, black squid and rice. 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 oval-shaped 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 50-70 euros a head. Many restaurants 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.
MAIN EVENTS AND FIESTAS
New Year’s Day
1 January, the first day of the year. A mass dip in the water at the Lido is organised.
Epiphany
Children are the centre of attention on 6 January, which is when they receive their presents from the good witch Befana.
Carnival
One of the most famous in the world, this fiesta starts ten days before Lent and ends on Shrove Tuesday. During this time, Venice City Council organises huge processions and fancy-dress and masked balls. It is one of the city’s main images and the busiest time of year for tourism, so it is a good idea to book well in advance to ensure you enjoy its vibrant colours.
Su e zo per i ponti
On the second Sunday in March, a popular race is organised through the streets of Venice back and for across the bridges (su e zo i ponti) from Ponte della Paglia to Saint Mark’s Square.
Festa di San Marco
On the occasion of Saint Mark’s day, the patron saint of Venice, every 25 April there is a gondola regatta in the Saint Mark’s inlet, between Sant’Elena and Punta della Dogana. It is a tradition on this day for men to give their beloved a rose.
Mayday
Held on 1 May.
La Sensa
This is commemorated on the first Sunday after the Ascension of the Virgin, in May. This tradition, when the marriage between the Doge, the old governor of the Republic of Venice, and the sea is depicted, arose to celebrate the Venetians’ victory over Emperor Barbarossa in the twelfth century. To recognise this triumph, the Pope gave the Doge a ring that symbolised the power of Venice on the sea, which is thrown into the waters of the lagoon, together with a crown of laurels, during the celebration.
Vogalonga
One week after La Sensa, this 20-mile rowing boat regatta is held, from Saint Mark’s Square to the island of Burano and back. It was created in 1974 as a protest against the growing number of motorboats on the canals.
Biennale
In odd years, between June and September, one of the largest exhibitions of contemporary art in the world is held.
Festa di San Pietro e Paolo
Held during the week of 29 June, especially in the Castello district – where the church devoted to Saint Peter stands – it hosts a great variety of concerts, shows and events.
Festa del Redentore
The third Sunday in July recalls the start of the victory over the plague in the sixteenth century with a pontoon of boats stretching along the Giudecca Canal allowing access to the Redentore church. This is one of the Venetians’ favourite dates. On the Saturday night, many families organise dinners on board their boats waiting for the start of the fireworks that light up the city between 11.30 pm and midnight. The fiesta ends waiting for dawn to rise over the Lido beach.
Venice Film Festival
One of the world’s leading film festivals takes place between late August and early September at the Palazzo del Cinema, at the Lido, where the actors and directors appear before hundreds of photographers.
Historic Regatta
On the first Sunday in September, dozens of gondoliers and other boatmen compete in a regatta, which starts with a procession along the Grand Canal. Oarsmen and gondoliers from four mediaeval maritime republics – Venice, Pisa, Amalfi and Genoa – take part.
Venice Marathon
Organised in October, the 42-kilometre route starts on the banks of the Brenta river and ends in Venice.
Festa della Salute
The end of the plague is celebrated every 21 November by building a pontoon across the Grand Canal to access the Church of Santa Maria della Salute, built to mark the victory over the plague between 1630 and 1631. Venetians light candles in the church to give thanks to the Virgin.
