Lost in Venice: Navigating the Canals of Italy’s Floating City

When the city of Venice comes into our minds, our mental pictures of it are the same – a city of canals. This unique setting brought it to fame and recognition all over the world and the consequence of that is the consistent number of annual visitors. 

While Venice may seem a dream-like city, it is more than just the awesome gondola rides. 

What Makes Venice a Popular Destination

There are aspects, other than the obvious existence of canals, that make Venice a popular destination for tourists. Given that the city is located in Italy, the predominant religion is Roman Catholic. 

This means that the city is expected to have magnificent and massive churches. Aside from that, you can also expect that the city offers good Italian cuisine.

Canals

If you are wondering why such a city like Venice existed, it is because of the circumstances that the people encountered during its founding. The city is built on top of over 10 million tree trunks and not on soil. Due to the unusual water conditions, the massive wooden foundation seems to be immune to rotting. 

The gradual rising of sea levels makes Venice appear floating. Instead of physical highways, canals serve as the pathway from one major location or district to another. 

To navigate across the canals, gondolas or small boats are used as modes of transportation. This unique situation alone is what attracts the majority of foreigners to visit Venice. 

Architecture

As a city of canals, it is given that bridges can be found anywhere. Even though they primarily serve as shortcuts for residents and tourists, excellent architecture was still being implemented. Venice is made up of more than a hundred little islands and has over 400 bridges built. 

Great Venetian architecture is not only seen through the existence of bridges but also in the numerous churches and museums all over the city. 

Whenever you are in Venice, you have no shortage of magnificent structures as your backgrounds if you take pictures for your social media profiles.

Food

Given that Venice is an Italian city, many expect that it is rich in Italian cuisine. Although it is true, Italian cuisine is so diverse. Since Venice is surrounded by water, fish, and vegetables majorly comprise authentic Venetian cuisine. 

Fortunately, due to the ever-booming tourism sector, varieties of eateries and cafes exist and maximize the city’s unique setting. 

Unique Festivities

Festivals are also common in Venice. The most famous of them is the Venice Carnival, which is thought to have been started between the 11th and 12th centuries. 

The Carnival is a unique festival wherein everyone is encouraged to wear any costume and mask they want. It is such a popular event that draws around 3 million visitors annually. 

Best Spots In Venice

In order to maximize your time visiting the beautiful city of Venice, here are the best spots that you must prioritize exploring: 

Grand Canal

The Grand Canal is one of the most iconic places in Venice. This 3.8-kilometer waterway at the heart of the city is used by tourists to travel from one attraction to another through relaxing and romantic gondola rides. 

The best part of riding gondolas along the Grand Canal is not only the viewing of the sunset or admiring the intricate facades but the whole trip itself. 

St. Mark’s Basilica

As mentioned, Venice has a lot of churches all over. One of the most well-known is the St. Mark’s Basilica. 

This amazing structure is heavily decorated with the best artworks and treasures since the Byzantine era. Amidst all of the astonishing mosaic artistry, there lies the golden altarpiece, the Pala d’Oro. 

St. Mark’s Square

Right outside of the St. Mark’s Basilica is the St. Mark’s Square. The large, open area serves as Venice’s “living room” wherein numerous people gather casually while admiring the beauty of the surrounding architecture. 

Moreover, all of the government offices are located nearby. That adds to the reasons why St. Mark’s Square is one of the most crowded places in the city. 

Doge’s Palace

Just near the St. Mark’s Basilica and St. Mark’s Square is the gorgeous Doge’s Palace. This place is the very symbol of Venetian architecture. 

Once you step inside, you cannot miss viewing the most important attractions such as the Porta della Carta, Scala d’Oro, Scala dei Giganti, Sala del Collegio, and Tintoretto’s Paradise, which is the world’s largest oil painting. 

Rialto Bridge

Rialto Bridge is one of the bridges built over the Grand Canal. It existed way back in the 16th century and had undergone a few major renovations. 

This stone arch not only gives you an overlooking view of the Grand Canal, but it also serves as a pathway to a busy food market and the stunning San Bartolomeo Church. 

Teatro La Fenice

Although a lot of the architecture of Venice serves as facades, there are also that has specific functions besides churches, museums, and offices. 

A perfect example of this is the Teatro La Fenice. It is a very popular Italian opera house that has hosted performances of world-class composers such as Rossini, Donizetti, Bellini, and Verdi. 

Scuola Grande di San Rocco

The Scuola Grande di San Rocco is a white marble heritage building built in the 16th century. Currently, it serves as an artwork museum but the majority of the place serves as a showcase of Tintoretto’s grand artistry. 

From ceilings to walls, the place is filled with Tintoretto’s religious paintings. The most incredible among them is The Crucifixion in Sala dell’Albergo. 

Santa Maria della Salute Basilica

Santa Maria della Salute Basilica is one of Venice’s largest churches. From the awe-inspiring exterior to the jaw-dropping interior, it is impossible not to be filled with amazement when you visit this church. 

It features some of the finest works of the Baroque era. Also, don’t miss out on the best attraction there besides the large dome – the Sacristy. 

Murano

If you haven’t noticed from the pictures, the magnificent mosaic glass windows of some of the most beautiful structures of Venice are attributed to the excellence of the city’s glass industry. 

If you are interested to discover how impactful the trade of glassblowing or making is, make sure you visit Murano, which is a collection of islands within the Venetian Lagoon.  

Gallerie Dell’Accademia

The best place to explore and appreciate the best of the Venetian art scene is the Gallerie Dell’Accademia. It hosts the most prestigious Venetian artworks from the medieval period until today. 

The majority of the most important works from the 15th century to 18th century can be found here. 

Conclusion

You may run out of positive adjectives to describe the city of Venice once you get there. Not only is the city’s architecture pleasing to the eyes, but the uniqueness of its setting can truly make you relaxed and inspired.