Where to go

 

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Here is a list of things I recommand to my friends who come 2, 3 or more days in Venice. Ladies, prepare your walking shoes: summer or winter the action happen outside.

Venice is a very well kept secret. There is LOT TO SEE. Here a quick selection classic museums and 2 Ballads, on the map below. One on the north part of town starting at Ca d’Oro Museum (Vaporetto Station L1) and ending in Campo santa Maria Foromosa. And the other on the south part starting from Rialto Mercato until Punta della Dogana.

DISCOVERING VENICE WALKING // GETTING LOST

BY BOAT:

What about cruising in Venice with your own rented Classic Boat Venice ; drive a handcrafted venetian boat with electric engine. Contact Jean-Paul on our behalf.

BY FEET:

First time in the city -here for a short trip-, prefer the walking ballads than spending time visiting the museum and Palazzo. It's according to me the best may to get familiar with the city and its charms. Have a map with you and take your camera out. YES you'll have to take your time and experience your way into the small canals, isn't it what you came for? Don't worry there is at almost every corner a sign showing the direction to San Marco or Rialto.. you will get lost but not for long: thrilling!

At every corner the direction of main points are shown : Rialto, San Marco, Accademia.

Roughly I would advice you to avoid San Marco Area, full of touristic shops and thus mass tourists (as you are going anyway to pass there). Dare to go in Dorsoduro (just the other side of the gran canal) to have another atmosphere; it's then more about "culture and silent".

Dorsoduro:

(the contemporary art area: Punta della Dogana, Guggenheim. Plus Galleria del’Accademia, campo San Margherita):

It goes from the "Punta della Dogana" (one of Francois Pinault two museums 'Punta della Dogana' & 'Palazzo Grassi') to a beautiful walk when weather is sunny along the Zattere facing the island Giudecca. There is the Peggy Guggenheim collection quite near. On sunny day (sunday!) walk along the Zattere and have lunch there.

Cannaregio:

North Venice is quiet. Three parallel wide canals (Fondamenta della Misericordia, Fondamenta della Sensa & Fondamenta dell'Orto) are made for a poetic ballad. They give an impression of forgetting the narrowness of the city revealing a different venice in terms of light and perspectives. Visit the jew ghetto in the middle.

What to see (culture)

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Great point of view on the city //

-#Rooftop #bestSelfieSpot. The new thing in town is the opening of Fondaco dei Tedeschi 10 meters from the Rialto bridge, in the ex Venetian post (a Palazzo from the 13th century), it's been rehabilitated by Rem Koolhaas, it consists of a beautiful inner courtyard with differents qualitative shops, with a cafeteria ran by Alajmo designed by Philip Starck, with a breathtaking rooftop terrasse to contemplate the grand canal turning down your feet.

-Absolutely have a drink (or dinner, but quite expensive) to the spacious Aman Hotel, over the grand canal.

Classic Museums (yellow on the map) //

You must at least enter a few classical monuments of the city, Palazzo, Museums, Scuola..

- La Scuola San Rocco (#1 in our heart!!)

- San Marco Basilic & Palazzo Ducale (bridge od whispers from inside and the jail).

- Palazzo Fortuny, Ca Rezzonico (only for XVIII), Galleria dell’Academia, and Ca D’Oro.

For Contemporary Art (yellow on the map) //

Don't forget the Palazzo Grassi, and check out for current exhibits. And Punta della Dogana (same website as Palazzo Grassi as there are two Museums By Pinault. You can even purchase a ticket for both places, it's cheaper). Guggenheim Museum -shall we mention it- is the first contemporary in Venice. Prada Fondation and Palazzo Fortuny are 2 museums

Way of life

 

Mercato Rialto et le Bar AL Merca.

Mercato Rialto et le Bar AL Merca.

 
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- Fish market on saturday morning at Rialto mercato.

SUMMER TIME

- Lido island: have a swim during summer in the Adriatic sea or rent a bike, or join the golf and Tennis clubs.

- Take a boat to the others islands: Burano, Murano, Torcello.

 

APERITIVO (Blue on the map)

- Have a Spritz at Rialto Mercato on one of the many bars/restaurants at around 19h-20h. You will see there some real venetians standing up sipping their drinks. (I would prefer Ancorra)

- Schiavi (in rio San Trovaso, near Accademia), taste wonderful tramezzini & finger food. It's also the Venetian wine bar!

- Ancorra (Rialto mercato) (Aperitivo & restaurant). Perfect to start an aperitivo & eat in the terrace outside during summer. Al Merca is a must (no seats, make friends around).

- Vino Vero (North near Scuola Grande della Misericordia), amazing bio wines, over a small quiet canal. Venice coolest low key spot! NO spritz at all served here, only good wines and futuristic cichettis.

 

DRINKS AT NIGHT

- For beautiful Hotel Bar: the new Venice Venice Hotel (near Rialto) has an outstanding bar, and the Aman Hotel is a must aswell.

- To have a drink at night: Campo San Margherita is the place where at night all students gather. It's a huge campo filed with restaurants and bars (also good for Aperitivo) (I would prefer Caffe Rosso).

- Fondamente della Misericordia (and its 2 parallel canals) are full or restaurant and bars. Best one is Vino Vero (read above). very small. Buy your drink and hang out in the streets.

- Watch the sun set from the Hilton terrace in Giudecca island. Have one of the highest point of view of the city.

 

 

 

Shopping // Jewelry

  • Codognato the famous antic unique jewelry shop.

  • LaggiaA. a few meter from campo san Maurizzio, Alfredo produces unique piece very Venetian style.

Shopping //Murano Glass

Shopping // Masks

Venice During big events:

The city is made for that, parties events, extraordinary things. First Carnival during the winter, then Biennale and the MORE Festival and Redentore, have a look at those videos when the city is on fire!