First time I have ever visited this Venetian land and I am already awed by how this city is encapsulated in opaque turquoise water. One thing you notice is that nobody drives here, it is really all about taking a boat or some sort of water transportation.
This Realto bridge is one of the four oldest bridges in this city, it even has markets on certain days and has some shops lined up all along the bridge. And yes the bridge does open up for larger ships to pass by.
The shops on the bridge, making the bridge a truly multi functional architecture structure.
Look how magical this floating building is, water really adds to the element of beauty to this
city.
Well here are 7 ’Secrets’ that I learn of after travelling to Venice, travelling is a means to learning as well, I dare say?:
1 THERE ARE HIDDEN TORTURE CHAMBERS AND PRISONS IN DOGE PALACE
Doge Palace is situated in the heart of Venice where top aristocracy used to live in but there are secret passages to prisons and torture chambers inside the labryinth of the palace. Who would have thought such a majestic building will have darker side? But nonetheless, see how enchanting the interior paintings is, it almost engulfed the entire room and I mean in each room that is.
Me sitting on one of the wooden chairs of Doge Palace, where they used to hold meetings and rulings as such. By the way, I am wearing ballad shoes as travelling shoes and at the end of the trip, I nearly ripped it all up from walking around so much!
The view outside Doge Palace is breath taking, imagine yourself waking up to this every morning!
2 TOURIST SHOPS VS WHERE LOCAL SHOPS
Beware of fake murano glass imported that are not made in Venice, usually the really cheap imitation glass art that can be bought in the city centre are not the real deal. However on the Murano Island you can find the real expensive work of glass art for a pretty sum.
Some glass art structures are truly like the art work of picasso as they look quite surreal. Know that the tourists shops stocks the generic items such as murano glass and venetian masks and are central whereas local shops are more on the outskirt of Venice such as Mestre and sell normal groceries.
3 LESS VISITED TOURIST ATTRACTIONS, FIND LOCAL GEMS?
A friendly local Venetian took us to this tourist attractions as it was hard to find on google map. Turns out you need to take several turns in a few alleyways to reach there. Scala Contarini del Bovolo has all the rare architectural compound featuring a combination of Renaissance, Gothic and Byzantine elements. With the winding staircase, it is almost a fairytale castle come true.
Pay attention to little details around the city and you might surprise yourself. A rich history still compasses the place and it can be observed from buildings.
4 TAKE THE TRAGHETTO OR HIRE A GONDOLA FROM THE GONDOLA SCHOOL FOR A LESS PRICIER RIDE
Me waiting for my gondola ride to pick me up.
As you know one of the biggest attractions would be a gondola ride riding into the sunset with your favourite person and maybe a glass of wine with some singing thrown in as well.
Well this could set you back €80 for a 40mins ride but not sure that the singing is included. So what is the alternative? I mean you could share this wonderful experience with a few other tourists that you can get along/ convince to boat with you to split the costs.
Or take a traghetto at €2 a pop, the boat is nearly exactly like the gondola boat minus the comfy seats with velvet linings. But this whole ‘shipping’ experiences will only last 2-3 minutes because all they are doing is crossing to the opposite side of the channel for you and you are sharing with some other tourists that are doing the same.
Lastly, hire a gondola from the gondola school, will most likely cost you less than €80 plus you get to have all the fun of learning how to stir a gondola, maybe you can become a gondolier yourself, don’t think life jackets are included but I mean the water level around the canal isn’t even that high.
This will enhance your experiences along the antique canals where you probably be already transported around with a viaporetto all day long with day or week passes which is basically like London Underground that takes you around the city.
5 WHERE THE LOCALS EAT VS TOURIST EATERIES
There was literally no public benches or seats so basically you usually pay to sit, the more expensive seats are in the tourists areas and city centre like Piazza San Marco. Avoid multiple languages menus as this denotes that it is designated for tourists to eat thus charging a higher price than normal local restaurants. Having a table to eat will be charged more as well for both locals or tourists.
Find yourself lost in the alleyways and you might find some truely local food eateries. There are mini coffee bars or tapas bars where you can buy and eat the food on the till or on some bar tables with no seats. This is usually a fast paced eating environment where you could be brushing shoulders with a local whilst you try to down your first Venetian coffee as it is quite packed sometimes.
6 MINIMALISM ON BURANO & MURANO ISLAND
Both Burano and Murano Island are famed for their coloured houses, think it was for fishers to see their houses clearer when they try to moor ashore as well to remind them of how beautiful their homes are so that they can get homesick instead of seasick?
They are both well touristed areas, with Burano offering laces as their speciality and Murano as the main producer of glass in various formats. Other than that I couldn’t find a lavatory on Murano Island but there were paid one's on Burano Island. Don’t forgot to take the last vaporetto back to the main city or you might get stuck on the islands for a night.
7 RELAXING SIESTA TIME
In Italy, siesta is called riposo and it means that businesses are usually closed down for anywhere from noon till late noon for some family time, nap time or some relaxation. I think this tradition is well known but I get to experience it first handed, as I find some parts of the city becoming really quiet during noon time and then I couldn’t see anyone walking around.
All in all, it was good to see this ‘Floating City’ and I hope the history of the city can be well presevered beyond for generations to come.
