Traveling in Venice

With its canals, gondolas, and beautiful architecture, Venice is one of the most romantic and unusual cities in the world. Much of the historic center is completely pedestrian, with no cars moving through its narrow streets and canals. Most visitors arriving by road leave their vehicles outside the historic city and continue on foot or by boat. Crossing one of the large bridges into Venice was my first introduction to a city unlike anywhere else I’d traveled.

One of the most famous times to visit Venice is during Carnival, when elaborate costumes and masks take over parts of the city. The celebration has roots going back centuries to the days of the Venetian Republic, although the traditions have changed considerably over time. Today the most recognizable part of Carnival is probably the clothing and especially the masks.

Even outside Carnival season, Venetian masks are everywhere. Some are fairly simple while others are incredibly elaborate, covered with bright colors, gold, feathers, and detailed decorations. It was difficult to walk more than a few blocks through the tourist areas without seeing shops filled with them.

The variety of masks was one of my favorite things to see in the shops. Some looked more like works of art than souvenirs, and it was easy to understand why they’ve become such a recognizable symbol of Venice.

While I didn’t make it to Carnival, I did happen to be in Venice over St. Patrick’s Day. The city overall didn’t seem to do anything major for the holiday, but I saw a few flyers and events and the Irish bars were definitely having fun with it. A friend and I stopped at one where we each had a few green beers. They had some promotion where each pint earned you a different prize, starting with things like keychains and eventually working up to the ridiculous hat the bartender was wearing.

Exploring the Canals of Venice

Of course, one of the most famous things to do in Venice is ride a gondola. Both of my trips here were with friends, so I never felt a strong need to take the romantic gondola ride with them! I also learned on my second visit that gondola rides aren’t exactly cheap. They’re definitely something you should expect to pay a premium for if it’s part of the experience you want.

Even though I’ve never ridden in one myself, gondolas are part of the scenery everywhere in Venice. You’ll see them moving through narrow neighborhood canals as well as the larger waterways, and some of the boats are surprisingly elegant when you get close enough to see the details.

One of the buildings I seemed to notice repeatedly on both trips was the Basilica of Santa Maria della Salute. The church was constructed after the devastating plague outbreak of 1630 and dedicated to the Virgin Mary as Venice gave thanks for deliverance from the epidemic.

These two photographs are especially interesting to me because they were taken about eleven years apart. The first came from my original trip to Venice, back when I barely took any travel photos at all, while the second was taken more than a decade later. Somehow the same basilica ended up catching my attention both times.

These photos simply show what makes Venice so beautiful. Canals cut between historic buildings while bridges connect narrow streets that seem to turn in every direction. I took these on my more recent trip and was just as impressed by Venice as I had been the first time.

This photograph came from my earlier visit. Returning after such a long gap was interesting because Venice still gave me almost the exact same reaction. I have a friend who visited and didn’t like the city because she thought it was too touristy, and I can understand that criticism in some of the busiest areas. But if you wander away from the main attractions, there are plenty of quieter neighborhoods where Venice feels completely different.

San Giorgio Maggiore sits across the water from central Venice and is dominated by its church and historic buildings. I still haven’t actually explored the island itself, which gives me another easy excuse to return to Venice someday.

San Giorgio dei Greci was located close to where I stayed on one of my visits. The Greek Orthodox church dates to the 16th century and became one of my landmarks for navigating back to my room at night. In a city where nearly every canal and narrow passage can start looking similar after dark, having a recognizable church tower nearby was surprisingly useful.

Wandering Through Venice

Although canals dominate the image most people have of Venice, plenty of the city is explored through narrow pedestrian streets and small plazas away from the water. Wandering through these passages was probably my favorite way to experience the city because I rarely knew what I’d find around the next corner.

There are festivals, museums, tours, and famous attractions you can organize an entire Venice trip around, but for me the most enjoyable part was simply exploring on foot. One night I came across this crazy orange moon hanging over the city and later found a mime performing tricks in the street. Random moments like these were often more memorable than anything I had planned.

Some of my favorite areas were the quieter residential neighborhoods away from the biggest tourist crowds. These buildings appeared to be ordinary homes and apartments for people who actually live in Venice. I especially liked the entrance in the second photo, where what looked like a private residence had its own small bridge leading directly to the front door. Only in Venice!