Venice Journals

The Jewel of Italy

A travel journal to Venice by Library Dragon

Carnivale Photo - Venice, Italy More Photos
Quote: Few cities have influenced the Western world as much as Venice. It was a vast merchant city providing links between the East and the West.

The Jewel of Italy

Overview

Quote:
Avoide Summer in Venice if possible. It can be very hot and the numbers of tourists overwhelming. The attitude towards tourists is quite different between Summer and the other seasons. In the "off" months you can wander the calle (alleys) of Venice and enjoy the quiet.Quick Tips: Don't be afraid to wander Venice. The alleys can bring many treasures. The church with art overlooked by most tourists. In the Spring, the carefully tended trees and shrubs flower in gardens. The city's shops continue the merchant tradition by providing the finest designer labels at the highest prices. Best Way To Get Around: Obviously you can't drive in Venice. You can drive to the train station an...Read More
The Apartment Photo - Apartment from Holiday Rentals, Venice, Italy
Quote:
Our apartment was located on a quiet street just 5 minutes walk from either St. Marks square or Rialto. Fully furnished, with private sunny courtyard, the ideal base from which to explore Venice. Much better than most hotel rooms it has 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, and sleeps 4.

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on December 14, 2000

Apartment from Holiday Rentals

Venice, Italy
44 (0)20 8878 9626

Villa Graziella Hotel

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Hotel

Quote:
The age-old question...To stay in Venice or outside of Venice? On a recent trip, leading a group of 10 people, we opted to stay outside of Venice. We found a small hotel in Marghera, the first town on the mainland from Venice.The Villa Graziella is a charming, small hotel. It has only 14 rooms. This means no large, noisy school groups to disturb your sleep. The neighborhood is quiet, but convenient to public transportation.Each room has its own bathroom (with shower or tub), television, telephone, and air conditioning. Many Italian hotels charge extra for air-conditioned rooms, a must for the summer months. The shower is classic Italian--a showerhead in the middle of the bathroom, with a ...Read More

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on April 21, 2004

Villa Graziella Hotel
Via Coletti 6
Venice, Italy
+39 41921655

Rosticceria San Bartolomeo

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Restaurant

Quote:
A glorified snack bar serving low-priced full meals. Good if you need to refuel quickly and cheaply. Virtually every restaurant in Venice advertises a set-price Menu Turistico, which can be a cheap way of sampling Venetian specialities, but the closer you are to the main sights the lower the quality and quantity. Seafood is the specialty. Be aware that if you order mixed seafood you probably get shrimp, calamari, and small fish with the head and bones included. A basic rule in Venice, NEVER, NEVER, order wine with a cork. The cost will equal or surpass the rest of the meal. Order the house wine. It is usually of a better quality then the corked wine. If the waiter brin...Read More

Member Rating 3 out of 5 on December 14, 2000

Rosticceria San Bartolomeo
Calle della Bissa, San Marco
Venice, Italy

Saint Mark's Basilica

Attraction | "St. Mark's Square and Basilica"

The Basilica Photo - Saint Mark's Basilica, Venice, Italy
Quote:
In the ninth century all the best cities had relics of great saints. The merchants of Venice wanted relics of their own, for the glory of their city. So, off they went to Alexandria to steal the remains of the Evangelist Mark.

The symbol of St. Mark, the winged lion, became the official symbol of the Venetian Republic. Until 1807, when it became a cathedral church of Venice, it was beside Doge’s Palace, and served as Doge’s Chapel.

Its design is of a Greek cross, surrounded by five domes, in a Byzantine design. Sculptures, mosaics, and ceremonial objects have been added over the centuries, making it even more rich in beauty.

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on December 14, 2000

Saint Mark's Basilica
Piazza San Marco
Venice, Italy 30124
+39 0415225205

Venice in Winter

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Story/Tip

Carnivale Photo - Venice, Italy
Quote:
In winter Venice is cold and shrouded in mist. Most gondoliers have packed away their gondolas. This is the city at its most romantic, with fogs of mystery and beauty. It is also in winter that Venice's Carnivale turns the whole city into a vast theatrical stage, where splendidly costumed figures glide through the cold streets in masked anonymity.

Carnivale in Venice is not the drunken free-for-all of Mardi Gras. It is more art and history. School groups often plan field trips to Venice in coordinating costumes (a pack of cards, sections of a centipede, etc.).