Ode to Venice

There are so many articles and guides written about Venice, that one lives with the impression of knowing the city, without even seeing it. And yet this eternal city will still surprise you, if you let it. 

My few hours visit to the floating city was such a pleasant surprise. I decided to go for a walk, without any map or city guide in my hand. It was the Sunday of the Carnival anyway so the crowds were inevitably leading me to Rialto Bridge and Piazza San Marco. But despite the thousands of tourist, I discovered a city where time seems to hold still, where people live their lives simply and quietly, besides being in the spotlight of all travel magazines. The quiet alleys, the well dressed nonas that go out for a walk in the afternoon, the local pastries where all Italians stop for a quick espresso, even late in the evening, the laundry hanging outside every window, already a classical Italian scenery. 

I used to think that Venice was all about the glamorous hotels and restaurants with overpriced Bellinis, always full of tourists. But there's more to this charming city then you will ever imagine. Here's my short guide for a few hours walk in Venice, and for discovering the city in a cold month, when its beauty is even more mysterious: If you're there in the morning then you should wake up early and go to the fish market in the early hours, when there are no tourists around. Grab a cappuccino (allowed only before 10 o'clock, as my Italian friends told me) and watch the old Italian ladies do their shopping. You can have breakfast at one of the Rosa Salva pastries and then continue your walk on the narrow streets. Go to La Gabbianella for some beautiful Italian ceramic souvenirs. It was so hard to leave this small shop without a box full of plates, so if you're a fan of kitchen props you should not miss this. The misty weather will be a good excuse to stop for a drink more often, and you can choose any of the local bars for the famous venetian snacks, cicchetti. 

Catch an amazing view from the rooftop terrace of Fondaco dei Tedeschi and make sure to watch the sunset from Piazza San Marco. The beautiful architecture, the sound of the water splashing and the colors of the sky offer a dramatic and breathtaking scenery. The crisp breeze might wanna convince you to order a mulled wine, while enjoying the breathtaking view. 

At dawn the narrow streets will seem even more mysterious, but thats the best time for some street food, and for admiring the city without all the crowds. If the sun was up even for few days, then you might find some tables outside at many of the restaurants, and enjoy a Spritz (a typical venetian cocktail) on the terrace, with a heater and a blanket to keep you warm. 

There are of course a lot of places to visit in Venice, from museums to art galleries and the famous Libreria Acqua Alta, but I was there only for a short time and I decided to just walk around the canals and feel the local spirit as much as possible.  If you prefer documenting your trips in advance, you should read the lovely stories that Emiko Davies and Valeria Necchio shared about Venice!