| | Overview (Source: Frommers) |
Lord Byron called Venice (Venezia) "a fairy city of the heart." La Serenissima, "The Most Serene," is an improbable cityscape of stone palaces that seem to float on water, a place where cats nap on Oriental marble windowsills set in colorful plaster walls. Candy-striped pylons stand sentry outside the tiny stone docks of palazzi whose front steps descend into the gently lapping waters of the canals that lace the city. In Venice, cars are banned -- every form of transportation floats, from water taxis and vaporetti (the public "bus" ferries) to ambulance speedboats and garbage scows. Venice is a place where locals stop at the bacaro (wine bar) to take un ombra (literally "a little bit of shade," in practice, a glass of wine) and munch on cicchetti (tapaslike snacks) or linger over exquisite restaurant seafood dinners. It is also a city of great art and grand old masters. Venetian painting featured early masters such as the Bellini clan -- Jacopo from the 1420s, sons Giovanni and Gentile from the 1460s. By the early 1500s, Venice had taken the Renaissance torch from Florence and made it its own, lending the movement the new color and lighting schemes of such giants as Giorgione, Tiziano (Titian), Paolo Veronese, and Tintoretto. So much for Venice the Serenissima. There's also Venice the insanely popular and overcrowded. Certainly, the tourists can seem inescapable, and prices can be double or triple here what they are elsewhere in Italy. But visito
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| History (Source: WCities) | Top | According to official historical accounts, one of the first important events in the history of Venice was the election of the first doge, a type of magistrate, by the Byzantines in 697. His name was Paoluccio Anafesto. The domination of Byzantium is much talked about but has little factual basis. However, the city was already established in 811 when it moved to the Rivoalto, which is now called Rialto , from the islands around Torcello and Malamocco. Agnello Partecipazio was the doge at this time. The remains of San Marco were brought to the city in 829, rescued by two fishermen. The city had more or less taken on its current appearance by 1000, when it was governed by Pietro Tribun. The ordination of power took place in 1177, when Alessandro III met with the Emperor Federico, to negotiate relations between the papacy, the council and the empire. However, in 1204 the situation changed when, after providing ships and equipment for the fourth crusade, Venice first received help to re-conquer Zara. This unusual crusade started out to conquer Jerusalem, but ended up sharing out the remains of the Byzantine Empire; Venice won control of a huge part of the spoils. Thanks to a commercial policy that also set up a strict military stronghold, the territories became their rightful property. The state evolved with the decree of the Great Council in 1297. This act only permitted citizens to participate in the Council if their ancestors had served on it. As a result the number
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| How To Get There (Source: Frommers) | Top | You can fly into Venice from North America via Rome or Milan with Alitalia or a number of other airlines, or by connecting through a major European city with European carriers. No-frills carrier Ryanair (www.ryanair.com) flies direct from London much more cheaply than the major airlines, as does easyJet (www.easyjet.com). Flights land at the Aeroporto Marco Polo, 7km (4 1/3 miles) north of the city on the mainland (tel. 041-260-9260 or 041-260-9250; www.veniceairport.it). There are two bus alternatives: The special ATVO airport shuttle bus (tel. 041-541-5180 or 041-520-5530; www.atvo.it) connects with Piazzale Roma not far from Venice's Santa Lucia train station (and the closest point to Venice's attractions accessible by land). Buses leave for/from the airport about every hour, cost 3€ ($3.90), and make the trip in about 20 minutes. The slightly less expensive, twice-hourly local public ACTV bus no. 5 (tel. 041-541-5180 ) costs 1.50€ ($1.95) and takes 30 to 45 minutes. Buy tickets for either at the newsstand just inside the terminal from the signposted bus stop. With either bus, you'll have to walk to/from the final stop at Piazzale Roma to the nearby vaporetto (water bus) stop for the final connection to your hotel. It's rare to see porters around who'll help with luggage, so pack light. A land taxi from the airport to the Piazzale Roma (where you get the vaporetto ) will run about 30€ ($39). The most fashionable and traditional way to
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| What To Do (Source: WCities) | Top | Venice is quite a sleepy city, especially when you compare it to other major cities of the world. There are several reasons for this. The first is the high average age of its citizens is one of the highest in Italy. The second is the relative difficulty getting around. This is not a place for cars and other private means of transport, and a boat ride is not really ideal for an evening out. Finally, there is a lack of space for new development in Venice. Cannaregio Besides, by nature Venetians do things differently. They enjoy entertaining friends in the privacy of their own homes. As a consequence, there are very few restaurants which stay open until late—to the point where going for something to eat after the cinema would be a major feat. It is only relatively recently that some restaurants with live music have reopened: Il Paradiso perduto , in the Misericordia district, is noted for its ambiance and its endless disputes with local residents. Dorsoduro & San Polo Campo Santa Margherita in the summer is an exception to this rule. The presence of hundreds of students on break transforms the square into a pleasure pavilion, with restaurants, live music and extemporaneous art exhibitions. Amongst the most popular are those at Margaret Duchamp , the Caffè Rosso and Ai Sportivi . Another exception is during the Carnevale in February. In September, Campo San Polo houses an open-air cinema, where you can sit under the stars and watch recently films at t
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| Getting Around (Source: Frommers) | Top | The various sestieri are linked by a comprehensive vaporetto (water bus/ferry) system of about a dozen lines operated by the Azienda del Consorzio Trasporti Veneziano (ACTV), Calle Fuseri 1810, off the Frezzeria in San Marco (tel. 041-528-7886 for both offices; www.actv.it). Transit maps are available at the tourist office and most ACTV stations. It's easier to get around on foot; the vaporetti principally serve the Grand Canal (and can be crowded in summer), the outskirts, and the outer islands. The crisscross network of small canals is the province of delivery vessels, gondolas, and private boats. A ticket valid for 1 hour of travel is a steep 6€ ($7.80), while the 24-hour ticket at 15€ ($20) is a good buy if you'll be making more than two trips spread out through the day. Most lines run every 10 to 15 minutes from 7am to midnight, and then hourly until morning; most vaporetto docks (the only place you can buy tickets) have timetables posted. Note that not all stations sell tickets after dark; if you haven't bought a pass or extra tickets beforehand, you'll have to settle up with the conductor onboard (you'll have to find him he won't come looking for you) for an extra .50€ (65¢) per ticket or risk a stiff fine, no excuses accepted. Also available are 48-hour tickets (25€/$33) and 72-hour tickets (30€/$39). If you're planning to stay in Venice a while, it makes sense to pick up a Venice Card, with which you can buy 1-hour vaporetto tickets for 1€ ($1.30)
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