DK Travel : Venice

The uniquely romantic city of Venice was built entirely on water and has managed to survive into the 21st century without cars. Narrow alleyways and canals pass between sumptuous palaces and magnificent churches, colourful neighbourhood markets and quiet backwaters, unchanged for centuries. Few cities possess such an awesome line-up of sights for visitors.

For guided tours around Venice (see Guided Tours)

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Ristorante Cantina Canaletto

As seen on Passport to Europe with Samantha Brown: This restaurant is known for great food and huge liter wine glasses. Located near San Marcos Square
A Vaporetto trip or gondola trip along the marvelling canals of Venice.

Venice is different, simply marvelling. And what makes marvellous this italian city? Its channels. The best moments of the italian tour those where you will be able to feel the marine breeze while you admire its palaces, churches, and all that different small world of Venice.
Al Pesador

As seen on Three Sheets: Owner's name is Nicola. Great little bar located near the Rialto Bridge
Cannaregio District: practical, budget minded, enjoyable place to stay.

Staying at the 3 star (good budget value) Hotel Tre Archi we were away from the very busy tourist parts of Venice and right next to the Cannaregio canal. The area is a wonderful one to stay in for both practical purposes and enjoyment of a unique, atmospheric, city.

On a practical level there are very handy vaporetto (waterbus) stops. The Tre Archi stop is on route 52 and can take you all the way around the city. The Guglie stop can take you to the airport in approximately 45 minutes. The train station is also just over the canal. There are useful shops like the Tabacchi (tobacconists/newsagent) on the Fondamenta Cannaregio (next to the canal). There is also a post office along a side street. The San Marcuola vaparetto stop (to take you to St. Mark's down the Grand Canal) is a short walk away, where the Cannaregio and Grand Canal meet.

The area is interesting and alive, yet not overwhelmed by jostling crowds and hordes of other tourists. You can see how life in Venice works as the boats carrying supermarket stock, building materials, flowers etc. pass by. Just past the Guglie vaporetto stop is the Rio Tera San Leonardo. This is a main street and has a wonderful market with good shopping. There are some great bars where you can stop for coffee in the morning and Spritze in the evening. This is a drink that involves Campari, white wine and soda/fizzy white wine. It can also be served with Grappa instead of Campari. Our favourite was the second bar on the left, as you enter the street from the Cannaregio canal. There are also some wonderful restaurants, especially in the streets off the main drag. Quality of food and service is, obviously, variable but you will always have an authentic experience and we were always charged fair rates in this area of Venice.

The best way to see Venice is on foot or by water, and being in the north of Venice in the district of Cannaregio means you get ample opportunity to do both. The very famous sights, such as the Rialto bridge, are 20-30 minutes walk away. However, the Jewish ghetto is right next to you through some back streets and across a bridge.

If you are willing to have a go and join in, then practice your bonjourno, and stay in the Cannaregio district!
Cantina do Mori

As seen on Three Sheets: Great wine bar with traditional tapas
Cantina Do Mori

Ancient bacaro [ opened in 1462 ] close to the Rialto bridge . Dark little bar , atmospheric with it's wooden beams and copper pots hanging from them . Serves an amazing assortment of mouthwatering cichetti . One Euro per nibble !....washed down with a similarly impressive assortment of wines . Very popular both with locals , workers from the market and tourists , this bar and " Al Timon " in Cannaregio are , for me , the top two bars in Venice . Highly recommended for it' s wine , cichetti and friendly staff . Attempts to speak Italian , as elsewhere in Venice , are appreciated , and , I have found , tend to ensure a better and friendlier service .
D'Or

delightful little restaurant just off the Corso Palladio in Vicenza, down Contra S Gaetano Thiene, not many seats, wonderful varied menu which the owner is quite happy to discuss and explain. Highly recommended.
Doges' Palace

The Doge's Palace, Venice, has facades which date from 1309-1424, designed by Giovanni and Bartolomeo Buon. The palace, started in the ninth century, several times rebuilt, and completed in the Renaissance period, forms part of that great scheme of town-planning which was carried out through successive centuries. The facades, with a total length of nearly 152 m (500 ft), have open arcades in the two lower storeys, and the third storey was rebuilt after a fire in the sixteenth century, so as to extend over the arcades. This upper storey is faced with white and rose-coloured marble, resembling ornate windows and finished with a lace-like parapet of oriental cresting.
Enosteria Al Timon

Tiny little wine bar on the Fondamenta dei Ormesini near to the Ghetto . Serves a good selection of wines , by the glass or bottle , as well as a good selection of tasty cichetti . Is a bit off the beaten track and so there are very few tourists present , mainly local venetians . The service is friendly - all the more so if you try and speak a little Italian . The name "Timon " means rudder , and there is one hanging on the wall . I really enjoyed spending time at Al Timon and will definitely return on my next visit . Well worth seeking it out . It is also very close to the Ristorante Anice Stellato , just over the bridge on Fondamenta della Sensa , another venetian delight , again not much visited by tourists .
Galleria S.Eufemia

A new gallery dedicated to contemporary art.