Vivatious Venice!

If I said to you…picture Venice for 10 seconds, what do you think of?

Beautiful buildings along narrow streets, charming canals, elegant bridges, classic Italian washing lines amid traditional window shutters, the sound of accordions floating past on gondolas and delicious food…

Well it is exactly what you have imagined and so much more!

It really is like stepping back in time, as you meander through the small streets, getting lost in the stunning architecture and charming old buildings, you can’t help but smile… aaand take pictures of course!

Things to do~

There is so much to do in Venice…something to satisfy every interest possible…from the arts and cultural experience buff, the true romantic, to the inner foody!

Venice on the whole isn’t cheap, however you don’t have to spend lots of money to enjoy and appreciate this unique place.

I would recommend spending some time simply wandering through the streets of Venice, getting lost in its unique beauty, capturing a glimpse of the local way of life.

Of course you must stroll through the iconic areas and visit; the magnificent St Mark’s Square and St Mark’s Campanile. You must witness the sheer beauty of the Basilica, walk amid the hustle and bustle of The Realto Bridge, experience the wonders of Doge’s Palace and The Bridge of Sighs. You haven’t been to Venice, unless you have experienced these!

The Islands around Venice ~

Exploring the Island’s around Venice is a MUST! They are stunning and each one is completely unique. I took a tour of the 3 Islands for 20 Euros, which included a guide and about 1 hour to explore each island. However for 20 euros you can get a water bus that will stop at each Island too.

Murano is the island famous for its glass blowing. It was fascinating to watch the traditional glass blowing technique in a short, but free display at the Murano Glass Factory.

The picturesque island of Burano was my favourite! From stepping foot off of the boat, the vibrant colours of each building, entice you to explore. It is simply stunning!

No two houses next to each other are painted the same colour, creating a unique array of rainbow streets.

According to the locals the fishermen started the tradition of painting their houses in unique colours so they could see their homes from the sea, even in the thick fog!

The island is known for its traditional lace making techniques, and as you wander through the streets you will see shops selling beautiful lace garments and linen, so delicate. The white lace creates a beautiful contrast to the vibrant colours of each building!

Here are some of the beautiful rainbow streets of Baurano...

Beautiful Burano is also famous for its ‘Bussola of Burano’ or also known as ‘Buranelli’. A doughnut type cookie… if you have a sweet tooth like me, they are a MUST TRY! For more information about these traditional sweet treats from Burano, check out my Bussola of Burano blog for the recipe!

Chiesa di San Martino can be seen from the water and has a leaning 17th-century bell tower.

I just LOVE this picture! A local man and his cat, in the streets of Burano…

Torcello is another beautiful Island. I took the opportunity to walk up the Bell tower to witness the beauty from above! For 10 Euros, of which supports the historical buildings maintenance, the stunning views are definitely worth it!

Getting around Venice~

From landing in Marco Polo airport, there were plenty of options for getting into Venice and around it, depending on your preferences and budget too.

From water buses, which can vary in price. The local buses are 1 Euro and transfer buses cost 15 Euros return.

Hidden Gem Experience~

I always dreamt of embracing the cultural elements of Venice and so decided to immerse myself in an opera.

I went to one of the most unique Opera performances I have ever seen at Musica del Palazzo. It was beautiful. With a maximum audience capacity of 50, the opera is intimate and charming. The performance moves around the palace with each act taking place in a different room.

The experience was quite pricey, at 85 Euros per person, however for me, the experience was sensational and definitely worth it!

Hints and Tips~

I would highly recommend a visit to Casino Di Venizia, the world’s oldest casino, just North of the Lido! It was originally opened in 1638 and depicts true Renaissance design.

A little highlight for me was getting the free Casino Di Venizia boat along the Grand Canal to the casino itself! Watch my video of the boat ride arriving at the beautiful casino.

Food~

Italy is renowned for it’s delicious food and Venice is no exception. There is no shortage of delicious restaurants and a wide range of dishes to choose from.

The restaurants offer Primi and Secondi courses and often offer a set menu for around 12-15 Euros.

For me learning the traditional recipe used in Burano to create the cookie known as ‘Bussola of Burano’ or also known as ‘Buranelli’, was a definite highlight. Find the official recipe here.

Trinket~

For my adventure to Venice, I created a little treasure hunt challenge to complete whilst there. I made a list of things that I needed to get photographs of in order to complete the challenge… a complete range of things to photograph, including: