Rick Steves' Europe: Venice, Italy
Piazza San Marco—the storied square punctuated by its 11th century basilica, looming bell tower and flocks of pigeons—endures as an awe-inspiring portal to the city’s many splendors
- By Rick Steves
- Smithsonian.com, May 01, 2010
(Atlantide Phototravel / Corbis)
Getting around by gondola --- whether passing under the 400-year-old Rialto, the city's oldest bridge, or gliding on narrow waterways -- offers a chance to synchronize with the tranquil Venetian tempo.
More from Rick Steves and Smithsonian.com
Seeing Venice Via Gondola
Used mainly by tourists, the gondolas carry a history of craftsmanship that is as interesting as the city itself
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Getting Around Venice by Vaporetto
Forget the gondola, the quickest and most convenient way to see Venice is via the public-transit vaporetti
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Crawling Through Venice’s Cicchetti Pubs
A trip to Venice would not be complete without a giro d’ombra, or a tour through the city’s many small wine bars
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St. Mark’s Square Walking Tour
For an overview of this grand square and the buildings that surround it, start from the west end of the square and follow along with this guide
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Comments (4)
As one of thousands of ex-pats living in Italy, I can tell you that Venice is one of the most expensive cities here. It is always better to travel to Venice by train. Parking all day in the single available parking garage is very expensive. Also the cost of gasoline is higher than the US! The journey by train from Milan to Venice is about 3 hours and costs less than taking a car. Rome and Florence are also stops on the national train service. You can Google "trenitalia" for schedules and prices. There are many little restaurants and bars tucked away all over in Venice. You can go where the gondoliers eat. Under the Ponte Rialto the gondoliers gather over traditional Venetian meals to discuss the day. Or walk to the Campo San Polo to watch the local children play as their "nonne" exchange gossip and culinary tips. Campo Santo Stefano near the Ponte Academica hosts several bars that serve delicious meals. The quiet neigbhourhood of Santa Croce, not too far from the train station, has many small "trattoria" that offer reasonably priced meals. Create a picnic meal with the goodies from the deli Aliani Gastronomia, Ruga Rialto 654. For beautiful antique Venetian style jewelry, I recommend a small jewelry box of a store near the foot of the Ponte Rialto on the side opposite San Marco.
Posted by Melissa on March 31,2012 | 02:34 AM
Visited Venice over Five times, stayed in Venice two times! Always exciting! A great day trip by train from Venice under 2hrs. Trieste!
Posted by Tom Noble on April 10,2011 | 03:29 PM
I visited Italy a couple of years ago when the Euro was worth twice as much as the Dollar. The price of a Pizza and a couple of glasses of wine was about $100.00 in Venice. I'm planning a trip next spring back to Italy and was wondering what to expect when it comes to the price of food. Also, what would you advise when traveling through Venice, Rome, Florence... for a novice in Italy - rental car or train?
Posted by Tanya Barraza on June 8,2010 | 08:50 PM
I have visited Venice twice and loved every minute in every nook and cranny whether by gondola, vaparetto, or walking-such a fabulously beautiful city!
Posted by Marie Emery on May 31,2010 | 06:39 AM