Grand Canal just before Sunrise
Unlike the Italian Job where the mobsters used high level expertise in safe cracking, code cracking, robbing, and technology, to gain access to some of the most wealthy homes in Venice, we arrived by bus via Austria and were just one of the many other tourists in this grand city.
While we did enjoy picking out the places featured in that movie, we didn’t have quite the exhilarating experience that the characters did. Nonetheless, we loved this charming city of canals just as much as the next tourist and were able to get away from the crowds to shape a unique trip.
We started off with the big sights- St. Mark’s Square, the Rialto Bridge, and the Grand Canal. Winding through the narrow pathways, we quickly understood why every other person stood turning a map this way and that. Not having a map ourselves, we winged it and got lost like the rest of them but didn’t worry about where we had to be or get to and just let the days unfold.
Gondolas seeing the first glimpse of sun
Upon our first visit to St. Mark’s Square we realized why it was recommended with some trepidation- full of tourists, it was hard to walk through the square at all. But the beautiful and unique architecture of the buildings was unforgettable and a must see. Wanting to get some people free pictures, we awoke one morning at 5:30am to make our way to the square. We weren’t the only ones but luckily only a few other people braved the streets that early. The sunrise was breathtaking and well worth the early morning wake up call.
A lone street sweeper
While there were plenty of restaurants to pick from, you had to hunt for the ones that locals went to or that weren’t overpriced. Using a recommendation from a couple of Italians we met, we happened upon a quiet little trattoria close to our hotel. With only 4 tables in the small room on a side street, we filled one of them and were served an abundance of food that came on the prix fixe menu. Paired with a house wine, we were sitting pretty. Another awesome find in Venice was when we stumbled upon what turned out to be a dinner fundraiser for the Italian Communist Party. Picnic tables filled a little plaza and a tent manned by mothers, grandmothers, fathers, and sons turned out some of the best food we had during our travels in Italy. A 2 euro bottle of not so great wine was just fine to go along with this one of a kind experience.
While Venice is a tourist hotspot with people visiting from all over the world, it is a city that can be enjoyed away from the crowds and hype. You just have to work a little bit harder to get that experience!
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