Experiences that will make you fall in love with Venice
At Traveler we want you to enjoy this World Heritage Site and, for this reason, we propose the nine mandatory experiences that will remain in your memory long after you have returned from your venetian getaway :
1. Have a bellini at Harry's Bar by Cipriani
A Venetian getaway should begin with this exquisite cocktail in the enchanting setting where characters such as Ernest Hemingway, Orson Welles, Truman Capote, Georges Braque or Peggy Guggenheim . Order one of these concoctions with prosecco and peach puree and teleport to another time. This unbeatable cocktail created in the 30's will surprise you; but don't expect glamor everywhere, or flute glasses for bellinis. Harry's Bar it's a tiny bar next to the Grand Canal with old wooden tables and chairs, a bar and some pictures hanging on the wall. Sit in a corner and honor the great writer by leafing through The Old Man and the Sea.
Other drinks you should try are the spritz aperol with bitters and sgroppino, a cocktail with lemon sorbet, vodka and prosecco. Savor them mid-afternoon on the charming Terrace of the Hotel Danieli and be amazed by the views of the San Marcos Bay . And if you get hungry, nothing better than their risotto with champagne, fennel cream, prawns and truffle or their tasty tiramisu. Their prices are high but, without a doubt, this should be one of your stops on the trip.
Cocktail, views and Venetian delight
two. Dance in the middle of Piazza San Marco
Yes please. Do it. Thus, the pigeons will disappear from around you. If you go just when there is high water, splash through the puddles and take interesting perspective photos of the Campanile and the Basilica.
Piazza San Marco
3. Savor Italian culinary delights
Venice is like a good, filling Italian meal where you won't want to skip the antipasti or dolci. These are the places you should go to enjoy its exquisite cuisine: in castle , is the Osteria Antica Sacrestia . A restaurant that seems to be taken from a medieval story due to its decoration and for being so mysterious and practically hidden. Try their risotto alla marinara, their splendid lasagna, their fried squid and prawns and, for dessert, their sweet Antica Sacrestia-style mousse. They also have a varied selection of the richest fish from the Adriatic Sea. It is essential to have an aperitif at noon on its beautiful terrace.
The best fish in the Adriatic
Another must-see is the contemporary yet sophisticated Burned near Ca d'Oro . Its spectacular interior design, its beautiful chandelier and its cool atmosphere will be the ideal set for antipasti and cocktails. And for Rialto, the Bancogiro osteria will be a very successful option with its incredible fusilli rossi to pistachio pesto. Don't forget to leave room for the excellent Pear and chocolate panna cotta seasoned with raspberry sauce. Another good alternative near the Rialto is the Osteria Naranzaria . Highly recommended the swordfish carpaccio accompanied by a very cold prosecco.
In Giudecca, you will have the most varied options such as tasting the wonders of Harry's Dolci de Cipriani with views of the canal. Do not miss its mythical risotto or its Sunday brunch. In addition, you can buy their precious products on the spot to bring them home and surprise your guests like little cooks.
In this sestieri, you will also be able to succumb to the dishes of Osteria ae Botti. This old tavern used by sailors has wonderful views of the canal and the Gesuati Church. It is the perfect bacari in which to breathe peace and tranquility in the distance from the crowd that concentrates on Castle and its surroundings. Try their spaghetti al nero di seppia or a la amatriciana, their ricotta and spinach cannelloni, their tagliata di Manzo, and their carpaccio di Piovra (octopus) for antipasto.
The Rialto Osteria to eat swordfish carpaccio
And at the stately Hilton Molino Stucky hotel, you'll have a plethora of choices you'll love. In this old mill now converted into a hotel, you can sample Mediterranean delights at the yacht club-inspired Aromi restaurant or classic cicchetti (tapas) at the elegant Bacaromi. In addition, fans of chocolate and Nutella will find their earthly paradise in their P iazzetta Nutella with an endless multitude of tasty desserts and delicacies. Without a doubt, the perfect place for the little ones. Don't miss the view from its rooftop pool terrace either.
Those with a sweet tooth can surrender to the best ice cream parlors where they can have a good gelatto like the tiny and delicious one La Boutique di Gelatto in Castello, Paolin in San Marco or Nico near Zattere.
The ultimate height pool
Four. Admire its art and architecture
feel like Canaletto or Tintoretto and be amazed by its canals, its buildings and its masterpieces. In Dorsoduro, it is essential that you go to the Peggy Guggenheim Museum and let yourself be seduced by its exhibition For your eyes only: A private exhibition from Mannerism to Surrealism with works by Dalí, Miró, Pollock, Magritte or Picasso.
Other highly recommended enclaves in this sestieri are the Punta della Dogana and the church of Santa Maria della Salutte. And at the **Palacio Grassi,** don't miss the photographic exhibition of the famous Irving Penn.
Peggy Guggenheim also leaves her mark on the Grand Canal
Obviously, the must that you should visit are the Basilica of San Giorgio Maggiore with facade by Scamozzi, the incredible views from the top of El Campanile, the works of Titian in the Basilica of Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari , the Fortuny Museum , the Correr Civic Museum , the impressive Ducale Palace, the Clock Tower, the Accademia and even the Archaeological Museum. Its architectural charm will make you vibrate with emotion. If you love the streets full of color, be amazed by the very different colors of the houses that cradle the Burano canals.
5. Thrill to the music of Vivaldi
Whether at the Vivaldi Music Museum observing all kinds of instruments or having an espresso on a silver tray in Il Caffè Florian while you listen to the orchestra, you see passers-by pass by and read one of his mythical clients, Marcel Proust. Let time fly, relax and enjoy the last rays of the sun on the square before nightfall. And all this with just one condition: don't look at the clock. Another musical corner that you should go to is the La Fenice Theater where you can marvel at his opera and his ballets. Now, it is Verdi who resounds through the interiors of this invincible theatre.
Burano (Venice) : Color between the waters.
6. Shop the latest trends
This is a paradise for shopaholics: Prada, Dolce & Gabbana, Bottega Veneta, Salvatore Ferragamo, Fendi, Gucci, Burberry, Tod's, Louis Vuitton, Pomellato... And a long and intense etcetera that will make you sigh at its windows. Shoes, bags, glasses, trendy looks, antiques, jewellery, books... Venice has boutiques for everyone from fashion victims to geeks. Other shops that you cannot miss are leaf c with very swag models of glasses made of wood and colored lenses or the Moncler store with other luxury brands. For books, nothing better than going to the cosmopolitan Mondadori or Old World Books with the most precious antiques in terms of literature. Or the "flooded" Acqua Alta, a bookstore with supreme charm.
More mandatory stops on your Venetian getaway will be the Fortuny House Museum with its magnificent prints on the Giudecca; and, for crystals and embroidered fabrics, you should go to Murano and Burano , respectively. Border its canals and walk along its bridges with your best look. Because, do not forget that this is Italy, the cradle of fashion.
high water
7. Forget the map and get lost in its sestieri
Getting lost in the alleys is essential to get to know its six sestieri (neighborhoods) ** and run into magical works of art, be it street art, a monastery or hidden palaces, a hidden bacari (bar)… But, above all, to be dazzled by this unique city treasure. Don't be like Marco Polo and make your own route. D discover the Public Gardens in front of the Lido or the splendid Venetian palace Ca' d'Oro with its gothic façade.
But if what you want is relaxation, get away from Piazza San Marco, get on a vaporetto and head to the Giudecca for a walk without stress or hustle and bustle. In this Venetian labyrinth, it will be mandatory to get lost. That is the only possible formula to find all those treasures that its unique city hides.
8. Fall in love on the Bridge of Sighs
This Veneto city is the right place for a romantic getaway so don't hesitate and fall in love: either in a gondola, on the Bridge of Sighs or by getting married at the Casa di Giulietta (Price: €600, for residents; €800 , for EU members) . Other bridges to yearn for crossing as a couple, friends or alone are the mythical Bridge Rialto by Antonio da Ponte and the Constitution Bridge by the famous architect Calatrava. Of course, do not try to count them all because there are 455 bridges in the entire city.
Bridge of Sighs (Venice) : the magic of goodbye.
9. Feel like the protagonist of your own movie
Scene of many films like death in venice (1971) by Visconti, Mr. Ripley's Talent (1999) , The merchant of Venice (2004) or Royal Casino (2006) ; this is the right place to develop your own script and plot: boarding the first vaporetto of the day on the Grand Canal watching the sunrise or even running in the middle of Saint Mark's Square at night when the city is sweetly asleep. Don't be a Casanova and truly fall in love with La Serenissima. He deserves it. And you know what Peter Clemenza from The Godfather would say in this situation: “Leave the map, take the bellini” (Leave the map and take the bellini) .
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