Venice

About
Climate
Getting there
Getting around
Things to do
Food
Shopping
National Holidays

Venice

Venice General Information

Venice, the capital city of Veneto region in north-eastern Italy, was founded in the 5th century and is spread across 118 small islands that are separated by canals. The capital city of Venice is an intricate masterpiece in which even the tiniest building contains works by artists such as Giorgione, Titan, and others. Venice and its lagoon illustrate the interaction between people and their environment over time linked by over 400 bridges. Venice is renowned for numerous important artistic movements including the history of symphonic and operatic music, and it is where Antonio Vivaldi was born.

Nature and history have always been closely linked since the 5th century when Venetians found refuge on the islands of Torcello, Jesolo and Malamocco by using the lagoon to escape barbarian raids. Eventually, the land-dwelling fishermen and refugees settled permanently on these islands and developed into a financial and maritime power during the Middle Ages and Renaissance. At the heart of the lagoon is Venice which stood as one of the greatest seaports and capitals in the medieval world due to its role as the commercial and cultural link between Europe and Asia. The city-state of Venice reached great prominence in the 14th century as an international financial centre and has made Venice a wealthy city throughout most of its history.

Climate

When to Visit Venice

Most visitors experience Venice during summer, from June to August, when temperatures average 29⁰C. Spring brings clear, bright light to provide relief from the heat which makes April and May a great time of year to visit with moderate crowds. Heavy rainfall is seen between October and February when much fewer tourists visit due to common flooding in some areas of Venice with ankle-deep water caused by exceptionally high-water levels.

Getting there

How to Get to Venice

Connections to other cities: There are many connections by train, bus, plane, and ferry from Venice to cities in Italy and in neighbouring countries.
By train: Santa Lucia Train Station is 30 minutes by water bus from St Mark Square in Venice and has direct highspeed trains to Verona, Bologna, Milan, Florence, Naples, Rome, and Bari. There are also multiple train connections from Venice to La Spezia and Siena.
By plane: Marco Polo Airport is located 8 kilometres north east of Venice where you can easily find direct flights to several cities within Italy and across Europe. If you are travelling from Australia or New Zealand, there are numerous carriers which offer connecting flights to Venice with one to three stops.
By bus: The main bus station is in Piazzale Roma which is located 30 minutes by water bus from St Mark Square where you can find buses to Mestre and Marco Polo airport. You can also find direct buses to Ljubljana, Slovenia from Venezia Tronchetto bus station which is located at the westernmost top of main Venice island and is approximately 40 minutes by water bus from St. Mark’s Square.
By ferry: Venice Passenger Terminal is 300 metres west of Venice centre where you can find ferries to Pula in Croatia and Igoumenitsa and Corfu in Greece. Venice Passenger Terminal sees cruise ships arrive and depart regularly as the pier is inside the Venetian Lagoon and is connected to the Adriatic Sea by a narrow entrance.

Arriving to Venice: At the western end of the Grand Canal is the arrival point for most visitors, either Santa Lucia Railway Station, Venice Passenger Terminal or Piazzale Roma where the bus station and car parks are located. From these arrival points, it is the end of the road from the mainland and you will either walk or take a boat of some kind. Piazzale Roma is the busiest water bus area with many water bus lines each with their own jetty, therefore it is important that you are waiting at the correct jetty.

The main airport for Venice is Marco Polo airport which is located 8 kilometres north east of the city. The best mode of transport is by water bus with limited stops or private water taxi with stops closer to your accommodation in Venice. The Alilaguna water bus service runs from the airport dock to main stops in Venice and other main islands such as Murano, Burano, and Lido. You can buy water bus tickets from the ticket office in the airport arrivals hall. Alilaguna water bus service operates every hour between 8am and 8pm. Alternatively, the ultimate transfer solution between Marco Polo Airport and your hotel in Venice is a private water taxi transfer with door-to-door service or meet and greet only. Please know that most hotels do not have direct water access and your water taxi driver will drop you off at the most convenient stop.

Getting around

Getting Around Venice

Venice’s framework of canals and narrow streets has prevented the intrusion of vehicles throughout the city. The easiest way to explore Venice is on foot where you will cross endless bridges over canals to reach your destination. A water bus, also known as a vaporetto, is the only means of public transport operated by ACTV throughout Venice where other means of transport include private water taxis and gondolas. Great points of reference are Piazzale Roma- the arrival point into Venice, St. Mark’s Square- at the other end of the Grand Canal and the Rialto Bridge- about halfway along the Grand Canal.

Things to do

What to Do in Venice

Lido: Sheltering the city of Venice from the sea, Lido provides spectacular views and award-winning beaches but is most known for hosting Venice Film Festival. Lido is a great day trip from Venice as it is avoided by mass tourists and is known for its Art Deco architecture and resorts. Known as the recreational and sports centre, the Oasis of Alberoni is a must-see protected natural reserve located on the south end of Lido island. The oasis is made up of a pine forest and a complex dune system which measures up to 9 metres where you can rent a bike in the centre and explore the western shore along Via Malamocco to Alberoni.

Saint Mark’s Basilica and Square: The construction of the Basilica of St. Mark began in 828 and was made to the house the body of St. Mark the Apostle brought from Alexandria to who they named protector of the city. The construction of the current basilica began in 1603 in Byzantine style to represent the powerful force of the Venetian Republic with five large domes and a specific mix of ancient and oriental art. Over time the Basilica has undergone many modifications such as pointed Gothic arches, sculptures of the main facades with over 4,000 square metres of mosaics. You can understand why this basilica became the cathedral of Venice in 1807. The Basilica of San Marco remains the centre of public and religious life in Venice which welcomes millions of visitors annually and holds great historical interest as it was here where the Dukes of Venice were consecrated. St. The only way to reach St Mark’s Square is by water transport or an hour’s walk from the train station. The size of the square is a big contrast to the narrow alleys and lanes within Venice. Piazza San Marco is surrounded on three sides by public buildings including Dodge’s Palace

Rialto Bridge: Famously known as the Lover’s Bridge, the Rialto Bridge is a masterpiece connecting the districts of San Polo and San Marco. Since its construction in the 12th century, Rialto Bridge has been modified several times to maintain its title as the best bridge in Italy. Rialto was the first ever district of Venice to have developed as the commercial and financial hub of the city and is where the 500-year-old bridge gets its name from. The Rialto Bridge was originally the only place to cross the Grand Canal on foot, therefore it was built with a 7.5 metre arch to allow boats to pass underneath. The Rialto Bridge is brimming with stores and cafes on either side of it which means it can get quite crowded on both sides of the steps. The prime time to take photos on the Rialto Bridge is during sunset when the atmosphere comes even more stunning and romantic.

Bridge of Sighs: The Doges Palace was home to a notorious prison and interrogation rooms where the Bridge of Sighs was constructed to connect the old prison in the Doges Palace with the new prison across the river of Palazzo. The story is that those who crossed the bridge were likely to be incarcerated for a very long time and the view from the Bridge of Sighs was the last sight of freedom that convicts saw before their imprisonment. The name given to the bridge suggests that prisoners would sigh at their last view of Venice through the window, however in reality the cells were mostly occupied by small-time criminals and not much can be seen from inside the bridge due to the stone grills.

Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute: One of the most important religious buildings in Venice is Santa Maria della Salute Basilica which was founded in 1631 and constructed to celebrate the end of an outbreak of the plague which killed a large portion of the Veneto population. The basilica was completed in 1687 and was dedicated to Our Lady of Health, translating to Salute in Italian.

Accademia Bridge: The Ponte dell’Accademia crosses the Grand Canal and links the San Marco district with the Accademia gallery in Dorsoduro, offering the best views of the Grand Canal in both directions. The appeal of this bridge is its simple architecture and organic wooden material which sees a steady flow of pedestrians and makes it easy to find a peaceful moment on the bridge.

Teatro La Fenice: Venice is home to a majestic opera house that dates to the Venetian Republic that was built in 1792 and continues to satisfy music fans and socialites, the Teatro La Fenice. It is noteworthy that fenice is Italian for phoenix and the theatre has seen three fires over different centuries. La Fenice was rebuilt after all three fires and the present-day Gran Teatro La Fenice combines perfectly restored building details with modern behind-the-scenes stage technology.

Food

What to Eat in Venice

The Venetians hold many traditional dishes close to their heart which are still prepared today and are a must taste during your visit to Venice. Sarde in Saor, deep-fried sardines marinated with onions in a sweetened vinegar, is a special dish that is served in many restaurants across Venice. Polento e Schie, also known as shrimp with polenta, is another must try dish when you are in Venice which is an appetizer that will kick start your taste buds. Fegato ala venesiana, Venetian liver and onions, is customarily made with calf’s liver and is one of the most traditional dishes known all over the world. Bigoli in salsa is a pasta dish made with whole-wheat bigoli pasta, onion, and salt-cured fish such as anchovies or sardines which is considered one of the signature dishes of Venice. Baicoli is an Italian biscuit originating in Venice and gained their name from their shape which resembles sea bass, called baicoli in local dialect. The biscuits were made for long sea voyages by Venetian ships and are commonly served with zabaglione and coffee.

Shopping

<What to Buy in Venice

The Rialto Market is a treat for the senses with piles and piles of seasonal fruits, vegetables, and fish. You will come across locals and tourists at the Rialto Market which is located at the north-west of the Rialto Bridge, alongside the Grand Canal, in the district of San Polo. You can visit the fresh produce market Monday to Saturday and the Fish market Tuesday to Saturday, both from 7:30am to 1pm.
Le Mercerie is a shopping destination made up of a series of streets and is located between the Rialto Bridge and Piazza San Marco. This is a prestigious shopping area where you can find timeless luxury staples from Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Gucci, and more. As you head in the direction of the Campo San Stefano, you will also come across hundreds of other shops selling handmade stationery, Murano glass, art supplies, and clothing.
There is a high concentration of galleries, one-of-a-kind boutiques, and craft stores in the San Samuele area where locals gather to snatch up exquisite Italian fabrics. If you are looking for unique jewellery, look no further than San Samuele district where you are bound to find striking pieces.
In Cannaregio district, close to the railway station, you will come across the wide pedestrian thoroughfare of Strada Nova with a mix of souvenir stores and essential shops used by Venetians such as one of Venice’s best supermarkets, Billa.
The island of Murano is the centre of the glass making industry where you can visit glass blowing demonstrations or the Murano Glass Museum and purchase locally crafted souvenirs. A short ferry ride away from Murano is the picturesque island of Burano known as the traditional lacemaking centre where you can purchase lace, linens, clothes, and do not forget to buy the local butter cookies called “bussolai buranei”. These two islands offer specialised window-shopping opportunities which are much more concentrated than what you will find in Venice.

National Holidays

Celebrations in Venice

Venice Carnival: This festival on 30 January to 16 February 2021 is famous for its extravagant and intricate masks worn during the event where up to 3 million people attend annually. The carnival ends with the Christian celebration of Lent on Shrove Tuesday, also referred to as Mardi Gras, the day before Ash Wednesday. According to legend, the Carnival of Venice began after the military victory of the Venetian Republic in 1162 and in honour of this victory over the Patriarch of Aquileia, the Venetians gathered and celebrated in San Marco Square. It is believed that the festival began in that time but became official in the Renaissance and encouraged pleasure without future anguish. Wearing masks and costumes allowed the Venetians to hide their differences in class and status and enabled them to make fun of the aristocracy during that time as a controlled social outburst. This was a way for the Republic of Venice to maintain control and order throughout the rest of the year. During the celebrations there were public shows with musicians, dancers, and many more entertainers as well as private parties and performances in homes and cafes. It was in the 18th century when the Carnival of Venice achieved great fame during which the famous writer Casanova spent his time in Venice between parties and love affairs. At the end of the century, the tradition of wearing masks was strictly forbidden after the French conquest of the Republic and then the Austrian occupation that followed. The carnival still survived and was later restored in 1979 in the form we see today. One of the most important must-see events of the carnival is the contest for the most beautiful mask which is judged by a panel of costume and fashion designers.

Festa della Sensa: The Festa della Sena, meaning the Feast of the Ascension, takes place mid-May in Venice and relives the history between the Serenissima Republic and the Sea through different events including Venetian rowing competition and water parade. This festival celebrates two important events for the Republic, firstly the 9th of May 1000AD, when Doge Pietro II Orseolo aided Dalmatian inhabitants who were being threatened and secondly when Pope Alexander III and Emperor Frederico Barbarossa gathered in Venice to stipulate a peace treaty in 1177AD which saw the end of a century-old rant between their two establishments. The Wedding ceremony of the Sea is still in held annually to commemorate when the Doge would sail and meet the Bishop on board a gilt-ended boat to be blessed and highlight the dominance of the Serenissima over the sea.

Festa del Redentore: The Redeemer’s Feast is a traditional celebration that marks when Venice overcame the plague in the 16th century. Held on the third Sunday of July, 18th July 2021, this religious holiday is an event much loved by the locals, especially the fireworks display on Saturday night. The festivities are hosted on the island of Guidecca such as Venetian regatta boat crews and a Votive Mass at the Church of the Redeemer.

Venice International Film Festival: The Venice Film Festival is one of the oldest film festivals in the world and is one of the “Big Three” which maintains worldwide acclamation for giving artistic freedom to the creators. The festival will be held from the 1st to 11th of September 2021 on the island of Lido in the Venice Lagoon to screen Italian and international cinema in the historic Palazzo del Cinema. It remains to be one of the world’s most popular and fastest-growing festivals.

Venice

Venice General Information

Climate

When to Visit Venice

Getting there

How to Get to Venice

Getting around

Getting Around Venice

Things to do

What to Do in Venice

Food

What to Eat in Venice

Shopping

National Holidays

Celebrations in Venice

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