Unique City of Venice

Let's go to Venice! After a day's tour in Rome, I left for Venice by the night train. Venice is a magnificient, unique lagoon city with several islands interconnected by bridges and canals. It's amazing to note how a swampy region could become a world famous tourist attraction destination.

Picture Source

After I left the railway station, I came to a huge terrace with youths loitering around the steps. I looked at some sovenir items, got a Venice tourist map and then strolled on my own because it was already too late to join a tour.

The map below will give you a bird's eye view of the city of Venice and the waterbodies around it. Map Source

For those who are interestd to know about the Origins and History of Venice click here.

I lost count of the number of bridges and churches. I walked a long way to look for food, got lost after I found it as I was mixed up with the bridges. Rice and pasta were sold by the weight (in grams). The pasta was pretty good. I did not like the rice too much.

The buildings are quite close between certain stretch but boats can still make their way through the narrow waterways.

This section is broader and different kinds of boat berthed at the sides. A boat selling fresh fruits came by. I saw some strange fruits for the first time in my life.



There are many monuments such as the San Marco Square, the Rialto Bridge, the St. Mark's Square, the Doge's Palace and the prison adjoining it, some churches and their heritage, etc. St. Mark's Basilica is a popular tourist spot in Venice. It has a Byzantine architecure (picture below).
Picture Source

It would have been better to join a tour so that a tour guide would explain more interesting story about the history, buildings and monuments. Most tourists like to take a boat cruise on the Grand Canal or gondolas. The gondola rides are known to be pretty costly. Below is a picture of the gondola.

Find more information on Gondolas and other Boats

In the evening and at night, the atmosphere was very romantic. The lamp lights, the bright stars in the sky, the romantic lighting on the gondolas, the sound of the music coming from the gondolas in line, the sight of well-dressed rowers on "red carpet" entertaining couples on each gondolas were like a festival beyond description. I took some pictures but none of the night shots turn out. I can only share the vivid memory in words.

I would like to go back to Venice for a night's gondola ride with my husband some day. For couples who would like to enjoy the music and romantic evening or night ride on the gondolas, you can go ahead of us and come back to share the photos. Have fun!