The Charm of Venice, A Well Earned Reputation

Venice, a city with Venusian charm

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Figure 1: Lastminute.com

Of all the beautiful destinations I’ve been able to visit, Venice always remains amongst the most enticing, charming, captivating… I’m lacking superlatives to describe it. I’ll tell you right now, the Serenissima’s reputation is not usurped.

How, therefore, is it possible to not succumb to its charm, because in this city each rock, each monument, each detail emits the universal vision of a romantic ideal.

Means of transport, the joy of being free from cars and pollution

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The first thing that strikes you when you arrive in Venice is the calm and the absence of both noise and air pollution. Not because this city isn’t full of life, quite the opposite, but as it is impossible to use any “classic” means of transport, the city is not full of traffic and you can stroll freely through the alleys without risking being crushed or breathing in exhaust fumes.

To get around quickly, the most common method is to use the city’s public transport system, essentially made up of taxi boats (see photo below).

So enjoy the sea air and the sun whilst allowing yourself to be guided from one area to another, from monument to monument, by the captain of the boat.

Architecture and monuments: Romanticism by the rocks

Everything in Venice resembles charm and seduction, including – and especially – its architecture. It’s no coincidence that the city and its lagoon are classed as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

The city is divided into 6 main parts:

On the left bank:

• San Marco
• Castello
• Cannaergio

On the right bank:

• Santa croce
• San polo
• Dorsoduro

As for the constructions, most of the buildings are built on stilts, raised above the level of the water.

The main monuments to see and to visit are obviously:

• St MarK’s Basilica

  

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• Basilica of Saint Mary Major

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• St Mark’s Campanile

  

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• Doge’s Palace

  

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Of course, it would be impossible for me to list all of the monuments, churches and basilicas to see in Venice, it has no less than 123 churchesand almost as many treasures and magnificent places to discover.

The Bridges of Venice, a fictional symbol

What would Venice be without its emblematic bridges? One thing we can be sure of is that a large part of the city’s charm resides in this multitude of passageways that overlook the water, whose beauty has inspired several works of art, films and books.

In total, there are 155 canals and 455 bridges in Venice. The most emblematic are:

• The Bridge of Sighs

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It connects the former prisons to Doge’s Palace

• Rialto Bridge

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The oldest and most famous bridge that crosses the Grand Canal.

• Gheto Novo Bridge

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Made entirely of cast iron.

The joy of wandering around the open squares in Venice

The squares in Venice, just as emblematic as its bridges, are places full of serenity where one can observe the beautiful monuments or sit out on a terrace to enjoy a cappuccino. It’s undoubtedly a tourist cliché but one that definitely has to be done, you’d be silly to deprive yourself of the opportunity!

The most emblematic squares are:

• St Mark’s Square

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Almost an institution in Venice that has been used as a set for several films.

• Campo San Polo

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The second most important square in the city.

• Campo San Travo

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Again, this list isn’t exhaustive, there are several squares in Venice, and I’m not going to list them all.

Murano and its glass blowers

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Located in the Venetian Lagoon, Murano is a wonderful island where you can see craftsmen working with glass, and creating multiple sublime pieces. They will be delighted to show you their art, which is truly captivating. The island is also admired for its gardens and its palaces. Take the time to have a walk around; this area really is magnificent. It’s definitely a place to visit if you’re in Venice, and you can also use it to visit Burano which is located a few minutes away by boat.

The cheerful colours of Burano

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Come and visit the Isle of Burano too, which is magnificent in itself with its pastel coloured houses. Historically, the island was known for its lace production as well as for its fishermen.

According to the legend, the houses were painted in pastel colours by the fishermen’s wives, who painted them in a single colour so that their husbands could recognise them from far away.

Sit yourself on a bench next to the water and breath in the air from the Adriatic Sea, it’s a little piece of paradise.

The Museums of Venice

Venice is equally known for its museums that evoke the Renaissance and an unrestrained love for the arts. I would advise the following main museums, which are splendid.

• Doge’s Palace
• The Guggenheim Museum
• The Accademia Galleries
• Grassi Palace

The restaurants in Venice: sophistication and ideal location

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How could we talk about a city in Italy without mentioning just a little about gastronomy?

If you’re looking for sophistication and typically local dishes, I recommend the Riviera restaurant, situated in an ideal location, you will even be able to hear the gondoliers singing traditional Venetian songs. Tasty, fresh, authentic and above all aesthetic dishes will be on the menu.

However, since it’s a gastronomic restaurant, the prices could be a little high, especially for students.

That’s why I recommend Da Mamo, considered by many as the best pizzeria in Venice, and how could you come to Italy without even tasting real Italian pizza? It’s unthinkable!

The city’s internationally famous culture and festivals

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How can we talk about Venice without mentioning its famous Carnival? This celebration that dates back to the Middle Ages is known, recognised and celebrated all over the world and attracts crowds from all continents. Originally, it was above all a way or demonstrating solidarity and power of the Venetian State.

The aim was also to abolish class differences and to free the people from class constraints. The rich were becoming poor, and vice versa.

The masks and costumes are used so that people can be anonymous, which facilitates the mixing of classes. The costumes are inspired by the Comedia Dell'arte, a world renowned theatre group that the public became very passionate about, enabling them to create an industry rooted in Venice.

The Carnival is spread over several days until Shrove Tuesday, and it’s a party where people can dance or mix with strangers, keeping their identity private.

The Venice Biennale, is another festival that is held every two years. It’s dedicated to contemporary art and takes place in autumn. On the even years, the Venice Architecture Biennale is held.

Another major event is the famous Mostra, an international Venetian film festival, equivalent to the Italian Oscars and another renowned festival.

Venice in popular culture

Venice is a symbolic city that has inspired many artists. For example: Jean-Jacques Rousseau, who even worked there as a secretary at the French embassy for several years; Nietzsche, who dedicates several verses to it and states that the city is the only place on Earth where he feels happy; William Shakespeare, who wrote an unmissable play: The Merchant of Venice; Georges Sand, Balzac, Musset, Proust, Hemmingway... all of them have written about Venice because it’s such a fascinating city.

In the world of cinema, several works have used this emblematic city as a setting, such as:

• Othello by Orson Welles in 1949
• James Bond, From Russia with Love by Terrence Young in 1963
• Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade by Spielberg in 1989
• Nikita by Luc Besson in 1990
• Casino Royale by Martin Campbel in 2006

This city is so symbolic that it’s even represented in several video-games, such as:

• Tomb Raider 2
• 007 Quantum of Solace
• Assassin's Creed 2
• Civilisation V

I hope that for all of these reasons you’ll be interested in, and want to come and visit this amazing city. It’s an experience that should be done at least once. Have a good trip everyone!