It seems like this might be a good time to start this thread ... Two things to keep in mind about My list: a) it was developed over the course of several week-long visits to Venice, and b) it's subject to change!
10) The Arsenale - I love the lions guarding the gates, and the scale of the place and its long history awe me.
9) View from the San Marco or San Giorgio Maggiore Campanile - unbeatable! If you visit San Giorgio, check out the nearby Cini Foundation - their exhibits are always superb.
8) The Scala del Bovolo - Elegantly Unusual Exterior Staircase.
7) The Church of Santa Maria Miracoli - A small gem of a church, restored by the Save Venice organization.
6) Dawn at the top of the Accademia Bridge looking towards the Salute, or in the center of Piazza San Marco.
5) Coffee - or cocktails! - at Quadri or Florian. I especially like being there at sunset.
4) Riding the #1 vaporetto on the Grand Canal - by moonlight is particularly special.
3) The Church of the Frari - So Many Wonders! But Titian's 'Assumption' is the cream of the crop.
2) Wandering. Window Shopping. People Watching.
1) Basilica San Marco. The entire church, inside and out, is just a marvel. Look up, look down - the mosaics will blow you away. Visit the glazed bronze horses upstairs. Don't miss the Pala d' Oro altar piece.
Here are some of my other Venetian favorites, in no particular order:
The islands of Torcello, Burano, Murano, San Michele
The Guggenheim Museum
The Scuola San Rocco
The Church of Santa Maria Salute
The Church of San Pietro in Castello
Secret Itinerary Tour at the Doge's Palace
Stalking the city on a 'Lion of St. Mark' photo safari
Visiting Gianni Basso's print shop
Now, what are YOUR favorites?
Colleen in California
This message has been edited. Last edited by: Kim,
Posts: 14515 | Location: The Beautiful San Francisco Bay Area | Registered: 06 August 2001
Great List, Colleen. Here's mine. No particular order.
*Hanging out at Campo S. Margherita in late afternoon with a drink, watching the kids play soccer, the mamas gossip, the students preen, and the vegetable vendor talk with everybody.
*Exploring the lesser-known churches in Cannareggio- S. Alvise, Madonna dell' Orto, Gesuiti, followed by a good lunch at L' Anice Stellato. Burn off calories by walking down the length of Fondamenta de Orsemini and Fond. de Sensa. Watch boats get hauled in and out of the tiny opening in the repair shop.
*In the Basilica San Marco, looking at the wonderful things in the Treasury and Museum; the interior view from upstairs. Seeing the exterior and the Square at dawn.
* Getting a calcio politics lesson from the old guy at Osteria Vini Padovani in an alleyway in Dorsoduro.
*Shopping with local residents early morning at the Rialto Markets. Sea creatures I coundn't identify.
*The Museo collections and Synagogue Tour at the Ghetto. The Museo also has a good bookstore.
*Gelato late at night from Il Doge in Campo S. Margherita. Find a bench and people-watch.
* Explore the far reaches of Castello. Take in the Naval Museum, if that interests you. Find the floating market at the end of Via Garibaldi in Castello. Get panini and cheap wine at the cafe on Via Garibaldi, then walk through the park, and up to the Biennale. There's a nice playground here for kids.
*Get a Chorus Pass, and pop into as many of the small neighborhood churches as you can.
*The gorgeously renovated Ca Rezzonico. Don't miss the world's ugliest, biggest glass chandelier. Money didn't always buy taste.
*Sitting at the pizza place at the foot of the Accademia bridge, watching the groups of tourists in gondolas videoing each other.
* A long vaporetto ride at night- take the no. 1 the whole way, change lines, circle around.
* A morning at the Accademia with a good guidebook so you can pick and choose rooms, and not get overwhelmed. After, explore Dorsoduro. See the boatyard on rio San Trovaso. Walk up the Zatarre, get hazlenut gelato at Nico, go grocery shopping at Billa supermarket.
*Getting lost in San Polo, having cichetti and wine in some nameless bar, then wandering back to Dorsoduro for pizza.
* Chatting with Leslie Genninger at one of her shops.
* watching the huge cruise ships come up the Giudecca Canal early in the morning, from a bench on the Zatarre with espresso from the one cafe (at the Calcina) which opens early.
Ah, Amy - you and my friend Lisa reminded me about the early morning Rialto fish market. That's where I first saw 'seppie' - a small white blob of a sea creature - that I'd heard about and seen beforehand only on menus. You've given me some more ideas for 'next time.'
And Sally's post nudged me to remember that while I love listening to Vivaldi anytime, anywhere, *where* could be better than in an intimate church in Venice? I particularly like the group Interpreti Veneziani, and think they do a fine, fine job with Vivaldi's and other Baroque composers' work.
Colleen in California
Posts: 14515 | Location: The Beautiful San Francisco Bay Area | Registered: 06 August 2001
quote: Amy did you take your kids with you to Venice?
Nope. Our week in Venice was our first childless trip, thanks to some wonderful grandparents and accommodating friends. We do want to return with the kids- perhaps over an April vacation in a year or two. We wanted to fit in a few days on this summer's Gelato Run, but won't have the time.
Amy and Colleen - can I combine these and make a Travel Notes Page called "Things to do in Venice"? I will keep your lists separate - but have them on the same page for easy reference. PAULINE POST
Don't know if I can keep it to ten, but I will try.
Piazza San Marco at two AM, drinking wine (brought from elsewhere) at the empty cafe tables, when there is no one around but some cops. Bonus points if there is acqua alta and you have to jump from high spot to high spot to get to your table.
Seeing a movie at Campo San Polo during the Venice Film Festival.
The Church of San Pietro do Castello and also, the special secret courtyard next to it.
After that, Spritz at Bar Mio on Via Garabaldi, where you get to watch one of the coolest passagiati anywhere in Italy, much less Venice.
Late night vaporetto ride down the Grand Canal, front seat outside, regardless of weather. Bonus points if you are the only passenger.
Wine at my table at the Lowenbrau bar, leaning up against the Rialto bridge, any time of the day or night. But only at my table which is the one that you risk falling in to the Grand Canal to get to.
The Communist festival at the Erbaria (conveniently coincides with the Film Festival.)
Still life with journal, pizza and jug of wine at the Accademia Pizzeria, at the corner table closest to the Salute, that way no other tourists can obstruct that view. Make sure to spend at least four hours here.
Shopping at the Rialto Market on the first sunny, sort of warm Saturday of the year. Everyone is so happy! I also like shopping at this market pretty much any other day, but especially Saturday.
$5 prosecco at Harry's Bar. Yes this is the secret trick for everyone to be able to afford this place. Sitting at the bar at Harry's is great.
Oh well, that is 10. I could go on and on, but I'll spare you. Maybe I'll start a thread "My favorite guys in Venice" next.
Well, we have started to "copy" Venice "Stuff". I copy it to my Palm Pilot and we try to get to all the things we have missed on previous trips. Since we will be staying in an apartment I would love to get more info about the "sea creatures" at the Rialto market as we do intend to do our evening meals at home and only eat lunches out. Any cooking ideas?
Daniel and Priscilla in Fort Lauderdale
Posts: 643 | Location: South Florida | Registered: 25 July 2001
quote:Originally posted by daka: I would love to get more info about the "sea creatures" at the Rialto market
All sorts of fish, scallops in the shell, shrimp of all sizes, clams, mussels, calamari, octopus...One fish I loved in restaurants was Orata, which I believe is sea bream. Oh, and the tiny little sweet shrimp called Schie (I think) are sold in little containers already peeled.
I tried to email you some photos I took of the fish market, but your email addy listed here doesn't seem to be working. Let me know your current one, and I'll resend the pictures.
What a great post. all of us have some comonality but each list is distinct:
The pesceria at the Rialto. We love the "friendly fish" (our name), canocchie. Canocchie are mantis prawns and they look like slipper lobsthers. Their backs have a eye shaped patch at the end and they have 2 rows of tiny flipers on their stomachs. The fish mongers will dump out a box and then, one by one, flip them onto their backs so the flippers are waving at the customers! Scallops in shell, scampi bright with orange row, whole swordfish and the guys in the back skinning and gutting the dog fish all are favorites.
Nicola Tenderini's shop at the Erborea- young artist who is making a name for himself. He had his first international show revently in London. Water colors and oils of Venezia. Beautiful rich colors and painting of water that really captures the quality of light and flow. Misigalia's shop in Campo San Zaccharia is pretty wonderful too!
Glass shopping on Murano in the area close to the Colonna stop. Collezione Murano (Carlo Moretti, Boro & Tesovier and Vennini), F. Schiavon, Vininni, Boro & Tesovier, small shops specializing in real art glass and not just the Tchokes.
Torcello for the old Duomo and its baptisery.
Achiugette, Do Mori and other bacari where you can snack or dine on cichetti and glasses of wine cheaply and well.
The Frari for Titian's Assumption.
The Carpaccio's at Scuole San Georgio.
Fiaschetteria Toscana for a wonderful seafood dinner. Da Pinto for a wonderfful, simple and cheap seafood dinner.
Spritz Aperol- cheap white wine, soda and a splash of Aperol, taken standing at the bar around 5:30p.m. is just the ting to tide you over till dinner.
The Peggy Guggenheim Museum after having had a dish of gelato (make mine melone) from Nico on the Zattieri.
Please don't notice that I managed to fit in 13 items on my top 10 list!
If life is an opera by Puccini... I want to be Calaf!
Posts: 4614 | Location: Casa del Fenicottero Rosa, Silver Spring, MD USA | Registered: 06 August 2002
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