{"id":1466,"date":"2013-03-06T14:37:55","date_gmt":"2013-03-06T14:37:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.egeve.com\/up\/wordpress\/2013\/03\/06\/visions-of-venice\/"},"modified":"2022-10-29T15:51:24","modified_gmt":"2022-10-29T14:51:24","slug":"visions-of-venice","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.egeve.com\/en\/visions-of-venice\/","title":{"rendered":"Visions of Venice"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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One of the world\u2019s most jaw-dropping cities, Venice has been attracting the Euro
jet-set who are drawn to the cultural hub for its ground-breaking art scene, as well as its hedonistic carnivals and cultural celebrations for centuries. And this canal-crossed city, built atop wooden pillars sunk deep into the waters \u2013 and invariably dubbed \u2018The World\u2019s Most Romantic\u2019 or \u2018Most Beautiful\u2019 \u2013 has the distinct honour of being listed as a World Heritage Site in its entirety (as in, yes, the whole city is something to be treasured and preserved).<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Having been, throughout its long and chequered history, a superior maritime power; the setting for plenty of famous literary works, including many by Shakespeare; the birthplace of Vivaldi, and the place from which some of history\u2019s most enlightening artistic movements have emerged \u2013 including the Renaissance \u2013 no trip to Venice is complete without hitting both the tourist trail and the winding alleyways off the beaten track\u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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A slice of Piazza<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Every twist and turn in Venice will lead you past some of the most impressive buildings in the world, where Byzantine, Ottoman, Renaissance, Gothic and Baroque all combine with awe-inspiring results. Make your first stop St Mark\u2019s Square (Piazza San Marco) \u2013 which Napolean famously dubbed \u201cthe drawing room of Europe\u201d. Here you\u2019ll find attractions you\u2019ve long seen in the movies, including St Mark\u2019s Basilica, the 15th-century Clock Tower (Torre dell\u2019Orologio) and the imposing early 16th-century buildings that line the square known as the Procuratie Vecchie.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Take time to enjoy tea in the square (be warned: prices are extortionate, and if the caf\u00e9 has a quartet playing, you\u2019ll be charged a \u2018music fee\u2019 too), and soak up the atmosphere, before hitting the high-end stores that surround the Piazza, such as Gucci, YSL and Chanel. Moving through the Square into the adjoining Piazzetta di San Marco \u2013 it connects the south side of the Piazza to the waterway of the lagoon \u2013 you\u2019ll find the famed Doge\u2019s Palace, with its Gothic arcades and red Verona marble pillars. It\u2019s an elaborate residence-turned-museum where you can view works by Venetian masters, including Titianand Calendario.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Crossing the bridges<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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The water-way filled city is as famous for its bridges (there are 409) as it is for its glassware and masks, of which you\u2019ll be sure to leave with many. And the most recognisable bridge is of course the iconic Rialto, which crosses the Grand Canal, and is home to rows of tiny shops on either side (unfortunately selling the usual tourist tat).<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Also be sure to cross over \u2013 and then under \u2013 the Bridge Of Sighs, which connects the old prison rooms to the Doge\u2019s Palace. Interestingly, famed British poet, Lord Byron, gave the bridge its name, saying that convicts being taken to their cells would no doubt sigh at their last view of Venice. And local legend has it that lovers who kiss on a gondola at sunset under the Bridge will enjoy eternal love \u2013 although this \u2018legend\u2019 may be a bid to encourage tourists to shell out the non-negotiable Dh700 you\u2019ll be paying for a basic 30-40 minute ride.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Famous fine dining<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Having attracted so many famous (and infamous) visitors over the years, it\u2019s no wonder that drinking and dining at some of Venice\u2019s bars and restaurants will see you sitting in very celebrated seats. Among the best places to visit is the legendary Harry\u2019s Bar on Calle Vallaresso, which, since it was opened in 1931, has hosted the likes of Orson Welles, Truman Capote, Noel Coward and Charlie Chaplin. It\u2019s also home to the classic Bellini cocktail, and the delicate dish, Carpaccio.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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The Hotel Cipriani is another gem, harking, as Harry\u2019s does, back to the golden age. And editor, Gemma, highly recommends a spot on the terrace at the hotel\u2019s laid-back yet beyond chic, Cip\u2019s Club, which has unique views across the lagoon of the panoramic St Mark\u2019s Square (the hotel runs its own boat service across to it) \u2013 oh, and she also spotted actress, Leelee Sobieski staying there. Alternatively, for a chilled-out trattoria, head to the Osteria di Santa Marina on Castello 5911, Campo di Santa Marina, where a bistro-like vibe pervades, and you can enjoy both great food and top service.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cMy tourist times were between the hours of 10pm and 2am. It was the only time I could really wander and have a look around. It\u2019s beautiful, really a magnificent place. That\u2019s the sort of Venice I like to see, as opposed to the going into the gondola and putting a flower in my teeth or something. I like the nighttime Venice, I like the quiet Venice, where it feels like the ghosts are around.\u201d Johnny Depp<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Trip notes<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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To gondola or not\u2026?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\u2026That is the question. Travellers on a budget may balk at the fixed price of around
Dh700 (\u20ac150) for a 30-40 minute ride on what, at times, can be, crowded canals.
However, the ride will take you past gorge buildings, abandoned palaces that have been left to the tides of water and time, and will also make for some fantastic photo opportunities. Spread the cost by sharing \u2013 although it is far better a deux.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Treat your ears<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Vivaldi\u2019s home town is keeping his memory alive, and there are plenty of classical
concerts to be found throughout the city. Be sure to check out the programmes at
La Fenice, the Teatro Malibran and the Teatro Toniolo. Oh, and catching the Gregorian chanting on San Giorgio is another must.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Go for carnevale<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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One of the events that Venice is most famous for, the annual Carnevale, sees the city don its ornate masks and head off in a social whirl to a myriad of dinners, events and balls \u2013 as well as join parades throughout the city. <\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Stay here: Budget – La Calcina<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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About as budget as you\u2019ll get in Venice, La Calcina is right on the Giudecca Canal but in the quieter area of Zattere, and the familyrun pensione offers great value for money. The 29 rooms boast polished parquet flooring, traditional furniture and a mini bar, and you can enjoy a daily breakfast and dinner at the in-hotel restaurant<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Stay here: Mid-range – Hotel Continental Venice<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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A nobleman\u2019s home-turned-hotel, this historic three-star option on Lista di Spagna, is well-placed, and you can stroll into the heart of the city. With 93 rooms \u2013 some with views over the Grand Canal \u2013 you can request accommodation with a living room, and dine on Venetia, Italia and international cuisine at the in-house restaurant<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Stay here: Luxury – Hotel Danieli<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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With opera legend, Maria Callas, Grace Kelly and Greta Garbo all serving as muses for the interiors of the hotel\u2019s Historic Suites, a stay at the 221-room Danieli, which is made up of three palaces, is a lesson in high-class Euro-luxe. Dine at the Terrazza Danieli, with its views across the Grand Canal, enjoy the marble column, chandelier and stained glass surroundings, and take time out from the bustle of the city at the Venice Lido<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

One of the world\u2019s most jaw-dropping cities, Venice has been attracting the Eurojet-set who are…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1465,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[56,22],"tags":[107,1771,1770],"class_list":["post-1466","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","category-travel","tag-of","tag-venice","tag-visions"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.egeve.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1466","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.egeve.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.egeve.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.egeve.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.egeve.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1466"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.egeve.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1466\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3216,"href":"https:\/\/www.egeve.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1466\/revisions\/3216"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.egeve.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1465"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.egeve.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1466"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.egeve.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1466"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.egeve.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1466"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}