Traveling to Italy was one of the most memorable trips of my life. Among all of the cities that we visited, Venice was my absolute favorite. This is no place like it. So, I thought I’d share my favorite things about the city.
No Cars!
If you’ve ever spent any amount of time in a large tourist destination in Italy like Florence or Rome you’ll notice one thing right away. Traffic. These cities are like any other, they are full of people and those people have places to go.
One of the most relaxing things about Venice is the lack of traffic. And the lack of cars all together. There are canals, yes. But we don’t walk on the canals.
The streets of Venice are most often narrow lanes shaded by the two and three story buildings on either side. Some times they are packed and others you won’t see another human being for minutes at a time. That leads me into my next favorite thing about Venice.
The Artistry of Masks
There is an abundance of masks through out the city from shops and street stands. Along with the amazing array of different styles and shapes, there is a mask for every budget, which is great for a girl who spends a little too much money on gelato.
No where else in Italy or the world is there place so associated with the artistry of masks. Many companies, especially in America, want to copy the Venetian style of masks. But there is no way to match the ancient tradition of handmade masks.
Canals
Ah, Venice. The one thing that makes Venice truly unique? The canals, of course! There is nothing in the world like floating through the city on a gondola with a few close friends or that special someone. It has always been my absolute favorite part of being a tourist in Italy.
Now everyone rides down the Grand Canal full of taxis and waterbuses. Almost like the streets of Rome. But it’s the side streets in Venice that I love. They twist and wind their way all over the city.
Hidden Surprises
Look around! Explore the city! That’s how you find some of the most unexpected things. You really never know what you will find.
Probably one of my favorite surprises was the children. There are children in Venice if you know where to look. They’re often in more secluded places, little piazzas away from St. Mark’s. Sometimes they’re playing hide-and-seek or soccer. And other times, they’re just sitting and listening to their grandparents tell stories.
You’ll also find little surprises in the way of eateries. Italy is famous for good food, as we all know. So everywhere you go, there is food. I like to go down little side streets and alleyways to find cafes or pizzerias. They’re usually small and often much cheaper than the bigger places near the square. We found the most adorable pizzeria tucked a few blocks from St. Mark’s. There were two stories and little seating, but it was so nice and quiet.
Atmosphere
Anyone who has visited Venice will tell you, it is unlike anywhere else in the world. There is just something about this city that is magical. It’s not just the canals and the gondolas, or the enormous basilica and square. The atmosphere is so full of romance and anticipation.
I love strolling around St. Mark’s square after the sun goes down, listening to music wafting out of the restaurants.
There is always something to inspire you. Whether it’s the architecture or gently bobbing gondolas or an elderly Venetian couple on a stroll, there is never a shortage of beautiful things.