Venice Journals

Venice on foot (and boat)

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A December 2000 trip to Venice by Todd W.

Quote: Venice is everything people rave about and more, definitely worthy of the attention. You'll never again have so much fun getting lost. The canals get all of the publicity, but the streets and alleys of San Polo, Santa Croce, and the other areas of the city are just as beautiful.

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Venice on foot (and boat)

Overview

Piazzeta San Marco Photo - Venice, Italy

Quote:

Get lost. It won't take much effort. There is so much to see, and you don't have to worry about getting run over by a rabid taxi driver or vespa rider if you stop and gawk. Try to visit the market on the north side of the Rialto Bridge on the weekends - no, not the cheesy baseball cap and cheap mask market, the antiques market one block east (facing north). You'll find all kinds of fascinating stuff, from old Italian LPs to fifty-year-old postcards to fine antiques and linens. Also keep an eye out for special concerts; my fiancee and I got tickets for a performance of Vivaldi's Four Seasons held in a small cathedral on the day of the show; it was one of the highlights of the trip. (The other was askin...Read More

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Hotel Dalla Mora

Hotel

Quote:

If you want to stay in Venice and not pay a lot for a room, this is an ideal place. A nice walk from the Rialto Bridge, Dorsoduro, and Piazza San Marco, the Dalla Mora is about a ten minute walk from the train station (in other words, far enough to get out of that neighborhood). The room we had was small but nice, with a spotless bathroom attached. Our window was literally about four feet above water level on one of the smaller canals; there was a boat docked right outside. The furniture is nothing to write home about, but the bed was firm and the room was quiet. Breakfast (a few pastries, bread, and drinks) was included in the price. The hotel also has a second-floor deck overlooking the canal. The s...Read More

Member Rating 3 out of 5 on January 3, 2001

Hotel Dalla Mora
Salizada San Pantalon Santa Croce, 42
Venice, Italy
39 041 710703

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Cafe Noir

Attraction

Quote:

Café Noir is a great (and popular) place to spend a few hours over coffee, tea, or alcohol. They do have beer on tap. In Santa Croce, near Dorsoduro, Café Noir gets very crowded late; after about 11 pm, the clientele spills outside into the narrow street. If you get there early enough to get a table, however, you’ll find yourself surrounded by low-key locals relaxing for a drink, ranging in age from 20 to 40 or so. There is Internet access in the back, so you can have a drink while you check your messages. It is smoky, though, so if that bothers you, consider yourself warned. (However, if smoke bothers you that much, you probably won't last long in Italy.)

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on January 3, 2001

Cafe Noir
Dorsoduro 3805
Venice, Italy

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Gran Caffe Chioggia

Attraction

Quote:

The music is cheesy and the prices are outrageous, but it’s worth it for the view. The Café is right on Piazzeta San Marco, across from the Palazzo Ducale. We paid $7 for a beer and $6 for a cappuccino (!), but sitting outside looking at San Giorgio Maggiore made it worthwhile. There is a piano and bass duo, but unfortunately they play nothing but bad cover songs (“Day-O” is probably the last thing you want to hear in Venice on a cool December night). While you’re there, you’ll most likely hear every language but Italian; it’s not a local place by any means. They serve desserts as well.

Member Rating 2 out of 5 on January 3, 2001

Gran Caffe Chioggia
Piazzeta San Marco
Venice, Italy

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Burano and Murano

Story/Tip

Quote:

Burano is a beautiful island about 30 minutes from Piazza San Marco by vaporetto (ferry). There were few tourists there the day we were there, so it was perfect for exploring. The houses of Burano are all brightly painted; it reminded me of a rural version of La Boca in Buenos Aires. The island is mostly made up of quiet residential areas and canals, with one main thoroughfare where you’ll find shops selling the famous Burano lace and Carnivale masks. One thing you’ll want to notice are the intricate doors on many of the houses. It’s a great place to wander for an hour or two. Murano, an island just off of of Venice famous for its glass, was a bit of a tourist trap. Watching the glass blow...Read More