Venice in a Day
Have you ever wondered if it’s feasible to do the City of Love in a day? Can you experience the splendour of this magnificent historic city in just 12 hours?
Well, in actual fact you can and we did but more due to poor planning than by choice. This was our first road trip as travel novices. On a number of occasions throughout our journey we underestimated the time required to fully appreciate our destination.
At the time we visited a few years ago we were oblivious to the current day controversies surrounding the issues and challenges of over-tourism facing this UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Obviously when we were there the island was heaving with tourists but the crowds did not detract in any way from our enjoyment of this awesome place. We didn’t have to queue to eat or for tickets for our gondola ride. These are now issues and are clearly evident in current news stories.
Years later we are much more aware of our impact on the destinations we travel to. We’ve created our own hashtag #theresponsibletraveller and now actively promote this as a concept. If we were ever returning to Venice we would do it differently.
Getting to Venice
However, on this occasion we went, we loved and we imbibed the Renaissance-inspired architecture, public squares, narrow canals and gondolas of Venice city.
Filled with charm, history and romance, Venice is the city of love. Incredibly built on more than 100 small islands in a lagoon in the Adriatic Sea, this unique city is capital of Northern Italy’s Vento region.
Although we were travelling by car on our road trip around Italy we chose to travel by train to Venice. From Vicenza where we were staying it was around a 45 minute journey. Train travel in Europe is so easy to do and in locations like Venice is a far more sensible way to arrive than by car. This is a small way to be a more responsible traveller and take the pressure off destinations struggling to cope with excessive tourist numbers.
A word from the wise though if travelling by train in Europe — ensure you validate your ticket before you board the train. We didn’t and were forced to purchase another ticket after a heated discussion with the conductor. This was a costly mistake at €8 each.
Arriving in Venice by Train
As the train approaches Venice the sight of this magnificent city is overwhelming. Water, water everywhere, and a first sighting of the famous and iconic Basilica di Santa Maria Della Salute cathedral. Sitting majestically on the Grand Canal Santa Maria exudes history and presence. On this overcast, rainy day her massive domes set against a dark and stormy sky were spectacular.
Exiting the railway station you are immediately at the water’s edge. Hundreds of water taxis and buses ferry people all over Venice from here.
As our visit was mostly unplanned a self-led walking tour was the order of the day. On this particular occasion though we spied an organized tour gathering outside the station and decided to ostensibly gatecrash. So, off we headed pretending we were part of the group and their flag waving leader.
This was a great decision as the group led us over a bridge across the Grand Canal and through miles and miles of narrow streets of residential Venice. Charming streets of apartment buildings adorned with beautiful window boxes absolutely bursting with colourful flowers.
Walking Tour of Venice
As we continued wandering on our walking tour of Venice, through tiny streets and alleys, it was almost inconceivable to us that people were actually living in these centuries old buildings.
It’s truly fascinating the way they live their lives and have done for centuries.
There are no cars in these streets as the alleyways are way too narrow and in some places we had to walk in single file.
Goods are moved on the canals by boats and on dry land on steel trolleys. There were hundreds of blokes pushing trolleys containing everything from televisions, to boxes of shoes, to food items; all servicing the hundreds of shops and apartments.
In the picture below you will see an apartment entrance door in a centuries-old building. However, spot the modern-day high-tech keypad entry, quite the juxtaposition. This apartment entrance was right on the street. Hundreds of tourists would stream past every day.
You have to wonder what it must be like living here and now in hindsight can acknowledge the impact of tourism on the locals.
As we wandered the tiny narrow streets on our walking tour of Venice we revelled in the architecture and history, and the fascinating wee shops dotted along the streets and in the piazzas.
Shops like this one below selling nothing but gloves, were quite common. Who knew that gloves were such a big thing in this elegant city? We wonder if this wee shop has survived the impact of over-tourism over the past years.
Venice Highlights
Piazza San Marco
After hours of wandering through streets, piazzas and Campos full of history, culture and architecture the likes of which we’d never seen before, we eventually came upon the magnificent Piazza San Marco. Napoleon affectingly named this piazza “the world’s most beautiful drawing-room”.
Piazza San Marco, is “the heart of Venice” and the social, public and religious centre of the city. The square is just spectacular and contains many of the most famous buildings of Venice including St Mark’s Basilica, the Doge’s Palace, the Museo Correr and the Campanile (the Basilica’s bell tower).
It was buzzing with tourists as we settled ourselves at a canal-side table at Caffe Florian to enjoy a leisurely lunch of truly authentic Italian lasagna, a glass or two of vino and to watch the world go by.
As it transpired Caffe Florian is the oldest restaurant in Venice, dating back to 1720. It is well-known for hosting famous people such as Lord Byron, Charles Dickens and Casanova.
Music plays a huge part in Venetian life. You’ll be able to enjoy the many small bands playing in and around the piazzas all adding to the unique atmosphere of the place.
Rialto Bridge
After lunch and people watching we headed to The Rialto Bridge, the oldest of the four bridges which cross the Grand Canal. The Rialto crosses the canal at its narrowest point. After the original structure was destroyed in 1310 the new bridge was constructed between 1588 and 1591.
We wandered across this amazing feat of engineering gazing in awe of the carvings in the white marble. Images of Saint Mark and the Angel Gabriel symbolize the history of Venice. Amazing stores whose rentals contribute to the upkeep of the bridge line the broad middle walkway of the bridge.
Stand on top of the bridge for the most amazing views and photo opportunities of the Venice and the Grand Canal.
On the opposite side of the canal as we passed over the Rialto Bridge we came upon the Rialto Market, a buzzing and colourful market packed with delicious looking food and produce. Fresh fruits and vegetables, meats, fish and seafood, cheeses, bread, anything and everything your heart desires.
Interestingly, this market is not only a popular tourist attraction but also serves the population of Venice. Since 1097 the locals have been shopping daily in the exact spot.
If you visit Venice in summer you will surely be tempted by the trays of fresh fruit on sale in some of the market’s stands.
Santa Maria Della Salute
The magnificence and splendour of the iconic Basilica Santa Maria della Salute is just mind-blowing. This 17th-century domed church is the first thing you see as you arrive into Venice and exit the train station.
‘La Salute’ is not only an architectural feat but is said to have mystical curative powers. History documents that in 1631 Venice survived. plague (which left 46,000 Venetians dead). It believed this survival was due to the divine intervention of the Virgin Mary of Good Health (La Salute). The basilica was named in her honour.
You’ll only have time to view her from the outside though if you’re doing Venice in a day!
Take a Gondola Ride
My greatest wish in life has been to cruise the canals of Venice by gondola. The €100 price tag at that time was worth every penny. Our gondolier took us through the back streets (canals) of Venice away from the thousands of tourists.
As our sleek long boat glided through the waters our gondolier delivered an informative running commentary on the canal’s history pointing out landmarks as we cruised.
Antonio Vivaldi the famous composer lived right on the canal as did Marco Polo. It was seriously cool to have those buildings pointed out to us. There is heaps of renovation work going on along the waterways.
Can you See Venice in a Day
Eventually after having arrived in Venice in the early morning our day drew to a close and soon enough it was ‘wine o’clock’. Fortuitously we came upon Osteria Enoteca San Marco. This is a gorgeous little wine bar where we whiled away an hour or two enjoying some marvellous Italian wine and the good company of the locals.
This was a great opportunity to connect and in halting Italian we enjoyed a long conversation with the local owner-operator and his clientele.
It’s definitely possible to enjoy the splendour and see Venice in one day.
We’d love to go back someday for a longer visit but we’re conscious of our impact on this beautiful but crumbling environment. Consequently we may just make do with our memories of this wonderful city.
