Venice, Italy

Venice is made up of 118 small islands that are separated by canals and linked by over 400 bridges. The main island is split in half by the Grand Canal and contains most of the big tourist sites. The main island and its surrounding lagoon are listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We visited Venice in September of 2016. It was only a two day visit so we are planning a return in September of 2019 to better explore the island and surrounding areas.

WHAT TO SEE

Venice is crowded by day but empties out in the evenings, offering visitors a much more intimate view of island. St. Mark’s Square is located at the south end of the Grand Canal and is usually packed with visitors. Adding to the congestion, the square sometimes foods during high tide, forcing visitors to walk along raised catwalks to keep dry. However, a visit to the square in the early morning or late evening you will find it nearly empty and much more enjoyable. The square is surrounded by Campanile di San Marco, Doge’s Palace and the Basilica San Marco. We took a boat tour of Venice the afternoon of our arrival. It was the perfect way to see the island and familiarize ourselves with the layout of the island. Our tour ended with a climb up the bell tower of Church of San Giorgio Maggiore where we had amazing view of the island and lagoon. 

WHERE WE STAYED, WHAT WE ATE

We chose to stay on the main island. There are more affordable options on the mainland and gusts can walk across the causeway to see the sites. Our option was pricey but well worth it given our short stay. We booked  suite in a converted palazzo with a balcony on a small canal off of the Rio di Noale in the northern part of the island. While wandering the island looking for a place to have dinner, we got lost (that’s a good thing!) and came across a restaurant with tables set up along the edge of a canal. We both ordered Prawns and they were delicious! Eating fresh crustaceans by candle light on the edge of a canal while drinking wine made this meal the perfect end to our day. 

All in all, we had a wonderful time in Venice and would recommend you visit without hesitation.