Explore Venice: The City That Dances on Water
Joyce Wanjiru Ciira
Joyce Wanjiru Ciira | Freelance Editor | Proofreader | Health and Lifestyle Writer | Ghost Writer | [email protected]
Venice is a marvel. A beautiful city built on water. It's a city of bridges, gondolas, and water buses. Venice has to be seen to be believed. So, pack your bags and discover this city that stands on fossilized logs.
?Venice is unique. Among other things, it’s the city of bridges, comprised of 118 islands linked by 417 bridges, 72 of them private. And what separates these islands? Canals. So, Venice is also a city of canals and a floating city. It’s beautiful, matchless, and so unique that it’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Venice is also a city of refuge, founded to host people driven from the mainland by conquering armies in the 5th century AD. The refugees had to find ways of strengthening and enlarging the islands to accommodate all the migrants. So, the settlers drained the islands, dug hundreds of canals, supported the banks with wood pilings, and used similar wood pilings as foundations for buildings.?
Venice stands on millions of fossilized logs driven into the ground. The logs were from the water-resistant alder trees, a species mainly found in river and lakeside forests.
Venice’s unique status of floating on water – not to mention its museums, breathtaking canals, architecture, cuisine, and shopping opportunities – all beacon the visitor.
?There’s a great deal to see in Venice, but below are a few of the attractions you may want to explore:
?Start at Saint Mark’s Square
?Piazza San Marco, as St Mark’s Square is known in Italian, is the central public square in Venice. For centuries, the square has hosted major events in the city.
?The square is a good place to start your tour of Venice. However, be warned, by about 10 am, the square is swamped with tourists. So, if you want to enjoy a peaceful walk around the square, ensure you get there just after sunrise. At that hour, you will only share the square with pigeons. Don’t be tempted to feed them, though; you might pay a hefty fine.?
?Some of Venice’s top attractions are on St Mark’s Square. These include the Doge’s Palace, St Mark’s Basilica, and St Mark’s Bell Tower (Torre dell’Orologio).
This gothic-style Venetian palace was the residence of the Doge, the supreme ruler of Venice. It was the seat of government, from where justice was dispensed. Even as you take in the magnificent interior of the palace, think of the wrongdoers who were imprisoned or even executed here. Enjoy excellent and unique city views from an elevated point as you tour the castle.
If you visit Venice on a Sunday, you are welcome to attend Roman Catholic mass at St Mark’s Basilica, after which you can tour the church. Marvel at the Italian Byzantine architecture of the building. Although entry to the basilica is free, you must pay to access the church’s library and treasury.?
Before you leave Piazza San Marco, climb the tower for extraordinary views of Venice. The bell tower is easily recognizable from a distance, as it is the tallest point in Venice.
?Explore the Bridge of Sighs
On leaving Piazza San Marco, you could next explore the Bridge of Sighs. Convicts used to cross the bridge on their way from the Doge’s interrogation rooms to the prison. They sighed with regret and sadness as they took a last look at the city before they lost their freedom.
?Appreciate the beautiful design of the bridge as you enjoy the unique views of Venice that the bridge offers.
?Watch Venice from atop the Rialto Bridge (Ponte di Rialto)
Once upon a time, this bridge was the only way to cross Canal Grande. Watch the city from the vantage point of the Rialto Bridge. It’s fascinating to watch Venice go by – the?vaporetto (water buses), gondolas, and ferries – from the top of the bridge. If you don’t want to share the space with hundreds of other visitors, go at sunrise or after sunset.
?Walk around San Polo
San Polo is a beautiful?sestieri (area) of Venice, not far from Rialto Bridge. Here, you can enjoy the relaxed atmosphere as you visit the shops and markets and take in the sights. Go to see the resplendent Basilica di Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari.
?Visit the Jewish District
You may want to call on the original ghetto, established in 1516. The Venetian government confined Jews to this part of the city. Today, a distinct Jewish population still inhabits the area. The district hosts a museum, many synagogues, and Jewish restaurants.
?Ride on a gondola
A visit to Venice would be incomplete without sailing the canals on a gondola, a traditional, flat-bottomed Venetian boat rowed by a gondolier. In days gone by, gondolas were the only means of transport in Venice.
How much will the ride cost? The city of Venice has set rates at €80 for a 40-minute ride during the day and €100 at night. A singing gondolier will cost more. Although the rate is fixed, make sure you agree with the gondolier on the price and length of the gondola ride before you start, or you could be in for a shock. Six is the maximum number of people allowed on a gondola.
?Final thoughts
To enjoy Venice, you need to be street-smart. That’s because the city receives some 30?million visitors a year, and the numbers were rising, at least before COVID-19. And they all want to see the sites you want to see, so can you imagine hundreds of people all heading to the same monument?
The crowds are legendary, so unless you enjoy being part of them, be smart and avoid them. Tour at sunrise and after sunset. But you could decide to go with the crowds as part of your experience.?