| Ahhh, Venice..sounds of Andrea Boccelli | | | | |
| resonating from open balcony windows. Two | | | | A discussion of Venice would not be complete |
| young lovers comfortably embraced while | | | | without discussing the pre-Lenten festival of |
| savoring a nice gondola ride through a quaint | | | | Carnevale. Carnevale, from the Latin |
| canal. Couples strolling down the narrow | | | | meaning "farewell to meat", is Venice's |
| cobblestone streets mano-a-mano. Romance is | | | | version of masquerade balls, costumes, |
| in the air. And there's no better place for | | | | parades, grandiose events, etc. The idea, |
| romance than a trip to Venice. | | | | of course, is similar to the Mardi Gras in |
| | | | New Orleans or the Carnevale of Rio de |
| Venice's main waterway is the Canale Grande | | | | Janeiro, where Christians celebrate one last |
| (Grand Canal) which snakes its way through | | | | "hurrah" prior to Lent. |
| the city for approximately 2 miles. Other | | | | |
| canals will feed into and out of this one. | | | | Another famous Venetian tradition is to visit |
| The Grand Canal is the "Main Street" of | | | | a "cicchetteria", a little restaurant-bar |
| Venice. | | | | establishment usually hidden in many of the |
| | | | alleyways of Venice. On Saturday mornings, |
| A good vantage point to see the Grand Canal | | | | prior to lunch, you will see Venetians |
| and its activity is from the Rialto Bridge | | | | visiting the "cicchetterie" to sample "gli |
| (Ponte di Rialto). The Rialto Bridge is one | | | | spuncioni", or hors d'oeuvre type appetizers. |
| of only three bridges to cross the Grand | | | | Similar to the tapas used in Spain. Don't |
| Canal. The original wooden drawbridge | | | | forget to wash it down with some refreshing |
| collapsed and was rebuilt a few times | | | | "cicchetti", or the local wine (red or white) |
| culminating with its current day stone | | | | served in these establishments. |
| structure in the late 1500's. | | | | |
| | | | If you like to gamble, Venice has the most |
| Piazza San Marco is really the heart and soul | | | | renowned casino in all of Italy. There are |
| of Venice. This is the main tourist focal | | | | actually two that operate alternatively at |
| point of the city. It is a place where | | | | different times of the year. You will |
| people (and pigeons) congregate to | | | | usually find one of them open, except for |
| people-watch. The place to be seen sipping | | | | holidays. |
| some cappuccino or to people-watch outside | | | | |
| one of the cafés overlooking the piazza. | | | | Despite the above, Venice is not |
| | | | problem-free. Flooding and polluted canals |
| On the Eastern side of the Piazza lies the | | | | have been a concern for some time. Some of |
| Doge's Palace (or Palazzo Ducale). This was | | | | the world's brightest engineers have been |
| the seat of the government during the glory | | | | working on a system to alleviate the "acqua |
| years of Venice. Housed inside are artistic | | | | alta", or flooding that can occur after a |
| treasures and masterpieces by the famous | | | | heavy rain or during an extraordinarily high |
| renaissance artists Tintoretto and Veronese, | | | | tide. Piazza San Marco has been known to be |
| among others. | | | | flooded for a few hours at a time. And of |
| | | | course, during the summer tourist season, |
| Next to the Doge's Palace lies a former | | | | Venice can become quite crowded. It is best |
| prison. From here, prisoners were led | | | | to make your plans well in advance. |
| across the Bridge of Sighs (or Ponte dei | | | | |
| Sospiri), as a final walkway prior to their | | | | However, Venetians are very resilient. The |
| execution. Today, the bridge is used in | | | | town was basically built by trying to defy |
| another manner young lovers are promised | | | | Mother Nature's sea. It is this resilience |
| eternal love if they should kiss in a gondola | | | | that has served the people well for many |
| underneath the Bridge of Sighs. I told you | | | | centuries. Venetians are a special breed |
| Venice was a romantic city! Where else can | | | | that live life to the fullest. They are a |
| a grim bridge connotate romance? | | | | people that know how to perservere. And |
| | | | persevere they will for many more centuries |
| Murano glass-making, craftsmanship and | | | | to come. |
| artistry that dates back to the 13th century, | | | | |
| was originated and perfected in Venice. It | | | | A trip to Italy would definitely not be |
| is definitely worth it to see these craftsmen | | | | complete without considering Venice on your |
| at work. They usually have tours where you | | | | agenda. It is easily accessible by train |
| can see them in action. There are hundreds | | | | (about 4 hours from Florence) or just a quick |
| of shops, particularly on the island of Lido. | | | | flight from Rome. Ciao! |