If you ask the Venetian tourist office what you should definitely see in the city, then you will surely get a long list of museums and attractions that can be avoided in a few days. However, if time is running out, then only part of this list can be called what the bourgeois call “must see”. Therefore, BlogoItaliano will share exactly what it is better to reserve time, no matter how little you have.
Having a few days to explore Venice, you can discover some of its “hidden chips".
№8 Fun streets of the island of Burano
After visiting Murano Islands (see # 5) take a vaporetto and set off for Burano island. The main rule that applies throughout Venice is that the further you move away from the main Venetian islands, the fewer tourists you meet on your way. And Burano in this case is no exception: there are fewer tourists here than on the same Murano.
The main feature of the island of Burano is its colorful houses
The main feature of Burano is its colorful houses. You will probably see them in one of the many guidebooks on Venice, but often without a signature, where, in fact, this beauty is located.
Bright colors give the buildings a frivolous look. Besides the fact that the houses on Burano will be a great background for your photo from Venice, they still miraculously cheer up. Do not believe? Just walk here for half an hour and see for yourself.
No. 7 Elevator to the top of Campanila
You can get an excellent shot with a view of St. Mark's Square not only from St. Mark's Cathedral, but also from Campaniles - The bell tower, which is located here, just "a stone's throw" from the Basilica. Moreover, from Campanila you will see not only the Square, but also the Cathedral, which is already doubly pleasant.
Campanila also offers views of the domes of the Cathedral of St. Mark
In order to "try out" the view, you should buy a ticket for the lift, which will take you to the top of Campanila. In addition to the view, here you can also look at the very bells that you will hear from time to time throughout Venice.
However, if you want to protect your ears from shocks, then it is better to start your tour to the top long before the arrows indicate the onset of a new hour.
# 6 Visit Doge's Palace
Right next to St. Mark's Cathedral is the Doge's Palace - the second most famous landmark in Venice after the Basilica (unless, of course, the city itself is considered a “landmark”).
Although there are several good reasons to pay the rather big cost of the Doge’s Palace excursion (Palazzo Ducale in Italian), perhaps the main thing is the opportunity to go through Bridge of Sighs. You can admire the latter from the outside, without buying an entrance ticket, but the only way to go through it is part of the Doge's Palace tour. For more information about this and other reasons to visit there, see the Doge's Palace article: you should not miss it in Venice.
As part of a tour of the secret routes of Doge's Palace, you can walk along the Bridge of Sighs
By the way Doge's Palace tour (and not only) can be ordered in advance online. We wrote about the advantages of pre-ordering and ways to do this earlier in the article Sights of Venice, where you can buy tickets online. So if your time in Venice is limited, online tickets will help to save not only time, but also nerves.
No. 5 Visit the glass-blowing workshop on the island of Murano
A visit to a glass-blowing workshop in Venice is akin to a fur coat in northern Greece or an excursion to a leather factory in Turkey. So you can imagine what we mean by calling it a somewhat specific tour.
Nevertheless, having been to Venice, it’s really worth a look at the process of making such a famous Murano glass, especially if you have never seen how such masterpieces are created. In addition, it would be nice to somehow diversify your impressions and visit several islands of the Lagoon, and Murano is the closest and one of the simplest from the point of view of organizing a trip.
For centuries, Murano glass has been synonymous with quality.
If you want to avoid a tourist demonstration, then just use the Vaporetto going to Murano (instead of a boat booked by a hotel or a glass shop) and walk along the streets of the island until you find a relatively open studio.
Remember that not all glass-blowing workshops on Murano island serve as a tourist attraction, and therefore you have a good chance to combine business with pleasure, while avoiding someone’s attempts to sell you something.
Continuation: Things to do in Venice: TOP-8 ideas for travelers to Venice. Part II
