What can I say about Venice that hasn’t already been said? Not much, I am sure. So for today’s Postcard, I am simply going to present you with five fascinating facts about the city, followed by five top tips for visiting, before sharing some of my favourite images from our trip there back in July of this year.
Five Fascinating Facts about Venice
- Venice is built on a total of 118 small islands within the Venetian lagoon.
- The city of Venice was capital of the Venetian Republic for over 1000 years: from 697 to 1797 AD.
- The foundations of the city’s buildings are constructed on top of piles made from water-resistant wood, sunk into the mud and sand of the lagoon down to the more solid layer of clay which lies beneath the water.
- The city of Venice is sinking at a rate of 1-2 mm per year, while floodwaters are rising: in 2019, The chambers of the Regional Council of Veneto began to be flooded around 10 pm, two minutes after the council rejected a plan to combat global warming.
- As a result of subsidence, Venice has not one, but three leaning towers (two of which are pictured below)
Church of Saint George ‘dei Greci’ San Stefano – one of Venice’s 3 leaning towers
Five top tips for visiting Venice
- Often voted the most beautiful city in the world, Venice is a living museum, but threatens to become a tourist attraction all-but abandoned by its native population. Practice responsible tourism: respect the natural environment and customs, visit the quieter areas, visit off-season. You will see the city at its best if you do.
- See Venice from the water: Venice is expensive; make no mistake. Any activity within the centro storico is likely to have a relatively high price tag. If you’re going to spend on anything, make it a trip on a traditional gondola or water taxi. Seeing the city in this way really brings the magic to life.
- See Venice by night: this is when the city is at its romantic best, from twilight when the streets begin to fill with locals, to the early hours of morning when the moon is high and the city quiet.
- Avoid eating in the main tourist hotspots: one thing I’ve discovered about eating out in Italy is that all of the restaurants are good, except the overpriced ones aimed at luring in tourists with their iconic city views. Look for small local restaurants, and you can’t really go wrong.
- Stay on the Island: leave the car in the Tronchetto car park (or, better still, at home) and see the city on foot and by boat. Don’t waste time trying to commute from the outskirts every day: the hotels may be cheaper, but you’ll miss out on so much magic, it’s not a worthwhile trade-off.
Close-up of the Doge’s Palace The Rialto Bridge seen from the water
Side view of Saint Mark’s Basilica St Marks Basilica at sunset
San Giorgio Maggiore across the Grand Canal Basilica of Santa Maria della Salute
Venice waterfront Venice Arsenal
I hope you enjoyed this Postcard from Venice! You can find more images from my trip on Instagram. You might also like my poem ‘The Lullaby of Venice.’
Good morning, Ingrid! Here’s one place I actually have visited, though it was with daughter’s high school trip. It is such a beautiful city, and my favorite thing was just wandering about (always ending in finding a gelato shop). We were there in April, and got caught in the rain and had to wade through flooded streets to get back to our group to take the vaporetto back to where we were staying. I believe Venice is where the word “ghetto” originated.
I’ve just read a bit about that, Merril, it’s interesting. So often Jews were forced to live separately 🙁
Yes. Sections within cities and parts of countries. In eastern Europe it was “the pale”–where my grandparents and great-grandparents came from (now Belarus and Ukraine).
Thank you for your photos – they bring back lovely memories. I visited Venice in December – very cold but hardly any tourists, so no queues. My over-riding memory is seeing the Grand Canal for the first time at sunset when we first arrived – stunning.
Oh yes – that is a sight to remember! Thank you Marion 😊
Amazing photos Ingrid …but I won’t be going anywhere for a while … Geelong has begun another lockdown today … the city has gone so quiet, I can hear the snails climbing my bedroom window … !! Oh … if anyone is so inclined, I would love to receive some “Post Cards” .. Ivor Steven, .. unit 2. 89 Rollins Rd. Bell Post Hill. Victoria. 3215. Australia .
… and I shall happily reply … seems like I’ll have plenty of time to do so …
“Framed (a Haiku)”
A painting is framed
An artist assigns his name
The creation claimed
Oh, Ivor: this seems to be going on forever! I will send a postcard, and place a bet that you will be out of lockdown before you receive it 😅
Hope your bet is a winning one !! … but they are tiring and trying, on a 70 year-old living by himsef … 🙂😘
I can imagine 😳 hope you, too, get some happy news soon! Have you seen that Spillwords Halloween is open for submissions? 🎃
Thank you for the Info Ingrid ..
Might be something to pass the time!
It’s on my bucket list Ingrid, but it is now going to have to wait until I get to see my son in Melbourne again. It’s been over two years already. 😢
That is a long time! But hardly surprising given everything that’s happened 🙁
Yep. We’ve booked for Christmas 2022, but even then there are no guarantees. 😒
I hope you get there!
😂 Me too!
That’s splendid! Thank you for sharing.
I am glad you enjoyed it, Gabriela 😊
I did. The post is beautiful.
Thank you so much, Ingrid, for this share. I will file these Venice tips for future reference. 🥰
Omg I loved this Ingrid! So direct and now I get why it’s sadly sinking. Just sent it to my husband and said “this sealed the deal”. We’ve gotta finally go! However have we missed it.. such beautiful pictures my friend.. your husbands? lol 🤣🙏🤗
LOL no these are all mine 🤣 I should work for the tourist board…thanks Cindy 💕
hahahah oh YAY!!! good job. Yes, another new profession.. lol🤣 NOT!! 👏🙏
Beautiful. It’s good to get a vicarious visit (I’m sure I will never go there). (K)
Glad you enjoyed the photos, thank you Kerfe!
And thanks for all your travelogues. (K)