Becks and the Cities

Most of my week in Venice consisted of walking, walking, and more walking. Thank goodness I brought comfortable shoes or I’d have a tough time getting around! There are no cars, no bikes, no scooters, and no skateboards (darn)!

Let’s just jump into it, shall we? Here are my top 10 things to do while visiting Venice, Italy!

1. Take a Private Walking Tour

My family and I arrived early for my father’s meeting, so we decided to take advantage of our energy before our jet-lag set in. Through our hotel, we were able to find and meet with an English-speaking tour guide; she was a local who had lived in the area her whole life. She knew the layout of the city quite well and showed us interesting places we might not have stumbled upon on our own. We came across Scuola Grande di San Marco, which was the city hospital. The facade was decorated in polished marble accents, grand arches, and detailed niches, collectively representing Renaissance, Byzantine, and Venetian taste. Our guide also showed us a craftsmen’s shop who was working on famous masks for Carnival de Venice. I learned about the variety of masks and what each one represented.

• Bauta: men wore this mask during political decision-making events to ensure anonymity.
• Medico della Peste: plague doctors wore the long, hollow beak that was often filled with sweet smelling items to ward off the disease.
• Volto: worn by those who wanted to remain mysterious (masquerades).
• Pantalone: the outgoing, joker of the group would often wear this mask with a hook nose.
• Colombina: A woman with personality would wear this mask, which only covered the wearer’s cheeks, eyes, and sometimes nose.
• Arlecchino: another joker-like mask for the prankster of the group
• Zanni: worn by the fun-loving individual who wanted complete anonymity.

2. Visit Piazza San Marco

It would be hard to avoid this square! It’s central and situated by a popular water-taxi location. When you first walk into the plaza, it’s overwhelming! Depending on the season you visit in (I went in September), there could be a range in the number of tourists running about! With that factor aside, this is also a breathtaking view of Venice! I’m a sucker for architecture and the gothic buildings were grand in stature! Every detail of the Venetian pieces were eye-catching- I just wanted to take pictures of everything! The three key buildings you see here are: St. Mark’s Basilica, Torre dell’Orologio, and the Doge’s Palace. I have another post here with more party facts and photos from each of these places.

3. Visit Ponte di Rialto

This is another bopping attraction in Venice and it’s easy to see why! After following the convenient street signs posted up on building corners (or getting lost and wandering your way there *like me*) you can find yourself at this massive bridge spanning the length of the Grand Canal. This is the oldest of four bridges that connects over the canal. Although it was first constructed in the 12th century, you don’t have to worry about the integrity of the structure. It has been rebuilt several times! I managed to grab a few shots by the water! Something you should think about when visiting: there is a high-tide!! The first time I stopped at this bridge, it was early in the morning and the waters were calm. When I went back to get photos in the afternoon, it was almost the complete opposite! Choppy water plus high water levels meant I had to dodge a few waves that hit the sidewalk. Worth it!

4. Ride a Gondola

YES it is touristy AF. YES the locals will laugh. YES the Gondola driver will hassle you for more money. YES it is a quick trip. And YES I would do it again and again. This is my second visit to Venice, and I don’t think the trip could be completed without a ride! It’s iconic! My favorite part about the ride was getting a new perspective of the area via the water canals! I captured fantastic shots while riding the boat. Side note: unless you’re a very vocal being, you don’t get to choose where you sit in the boat. OBVIOUSLY the head opposite to the gondolier is the ideal place to be situated for Instagram pictures. Yes, I know, I’m a millennial. Although I really can’t complain (it was a beautiful memory!), my dad definitely got the best spot!

5. Wander the Streets!

One of our favorite activities during this trip was walking around at night. The weather was perfect and there was hardly any wind! It was so relaxing to just meander through the streets and see what we came across. There was so many musicians around that the music would linger as you dipped into another winding path. The island itself is so small, that although you could walk for hours, you could never get lost! We found authentic restaurants tucked back in the city and we would never have found them if we had not become lost first! By the end of the week, I felt like I had a great grasp on the city map. (Dare I say I even felt *slightly* enough like a local to become irritated with the cruises that dumped thousands of passengers on the island a day??). Okay, Okay- I shouldn’t get ahead of myself. I was a tourist, too.

6. Sip on a Bellini

This sweet drink was invented by Giuseppe Cipriani, the founder of Harry’s Bar in Venice. The pink drink was named after Giuseppe saw a painting by Giovanni Bellini, which illustrated a saint wearing a pink toga. He was quite inspired!

7. Visit Libreria Acqua Alta

This is an important stop for those seeking bizarre photo- taking opportunities! This popular bookstore has an inventive way of dealing with annual flooding- put the books in gondolas! Of course, the boats here are simply a tourist attraction than practicality! If that wasn’t odd enough, the back garden has an entire staircase made out of books! Check it out! This was such a cool place to visit for my book-loving family.

8. Have a Sunset Dinner Overlooking the Water!

On our last day, we made a point to sit down, relax, and watch the sun set over a nice Italian meal. Off in the distance, you can see my hotel! After a week’s worth of walking, early mornings, and long nights, I was happy to just take a moment and watch. While the days are all about the hustle and bustle, the nights were calm and mellow. It’s easy to see why Venice remains a popular location to visit!

9. Visit a Genuine Leather Shop

During one of our rouge walking expeditions, we stumbled upon Alberto Valese Ebrû, an artist known for his hand-made marbled paper. After a trip from Paris to Turkey, he learned how to create the “ebrû” (cloud in Turkish) papers. He then reintroduced the lost art around 1977. I knew I wanted a souvenir to remember the trip by, but I didn’t want a tacky gift from the touristy parts of the city. It was refreshing to stumble upon a local artist with genuine art! I selected a blue leather pouch with a print from my favorite architectural pieces: the Doge’s Place. We picked out a red case for my sister who wasn’t able to come on the trip (college, man).

10. Eat Gelato!

Although this shouldn’t need to be explained, eating gelato is a must when you’re visiting! Sure, it’s touristy- BUT it’s hard to resist when there’s a shop tempting you almost every turn you take! I couldn’t go a day without it! #Treatyoselfbish