Beautiful places near Venice. Venice neighbors: the best day trip destinations. Where to go from Venice for one day
If you decide to spend a week in Venice, then, of course, you may have a completely natural desire to combine your stay in the capital of the Most Serene Republic with a tour of the surroundings. Fortunately, there are a lot of interesting things near the city of gondolas.
Today I will tell you where you can go from Venice for one day, and at the same time I will share information on how to get to interesting places without spending extra money.
ISLANDS OF VENICE: MURANO, TORCELLO, BURANO
The most obvious is to ride on the islands of the Venetian lagoon: Murano, Torcello and Burano. The tour takes a day, and this is more than enough to explore the three most famous islands of Venice. First you will be taken to Murano- for my taste, the most uninteresting of all the islands on the list of the mandatory program, but nevertheless, you should not miss it, because Murano glass is a full-fledged landmark of Venice, and here there is its museum.
The name "Torcello" often causes a smile among Russians, but in vain - it comes from the word "torre", which means "tower". Interestingly, there is no tower on the island, although, according to an ancient legend, it was she who helped the Venetians discover this place many centuries ago. According to legend, in the fifth century AD, the ancestors of the modern inhabitants of Torcello were from the now defunct city of Altinum. They feared the invasion of the barbarians, led by the formidable Attila, and therefore prayed to God and asked him to protect them from the enemy. A sign was sent to the Venets, saying that they should climb the highest tower in the city, and from there see a safe haven. Which was done, the inhabitants climbed the tower and from its top they saw the island on which they escaped.
In the photo: the Basilica of Santa Maria Assunta
Venetians live on Torcello to this day, however, there are very few of them. According to statistics, depending on the season, the population on the island ranges from 30 to 300 people. The main local attraction is the Basilica of Santa Maria Assunta, where Byzantine mosaics have been preserved: one depicts the Virgin Mary, and the second depicts the Last Judgment. The second church of the island is the octagonal Santa Fosca. By the way, these churches are the oldest of the Venetian churches, their construction began as early as 638. Unlike other churches in Venice, Santa Maria Assunta and Santa Fosca have never been rebuilt, so they are rare examples of early Christian architecture.
There is also an archaeological park near the basilica. Fragments of statues, sarcophagi and a monumental stone throne are exhibited here in the open air. It is believed that this is the throne of Attila himself, who nevertheless reached the city of Altinum and wiped it off the face of the earth - you see how correctly the Veneti did that they fled to the island of Torcello. True, the throne did not pass the test of historians, it was established that Attila did not get to Torcello, therefore this stone artifact has nothing to do with the legendary leader of the Huns. Nevertheless, a curious belief is associated with the throne, it is believed that if a girl sits on it, then in the same year she will certainly get married.
In the photo: architectural park near Torcello
And on Torcello there is a charming cafe where it makes sense to stop for lunch. Here you can taste grilled fish and battered seafood. They are served on a plate of bread, which is also supposed to be eaten. There is only one cafe on the island, so you won't miss it.
In the photo: seafood on a bread plate
Third in the list of islands - Burano, the one with colorful houses. By the way, the houses are painted in bright colors for practical reasons, it's just that the island is often shrouded in dense fog, so in the old days the multi-colored buildings played the role of a kind of signal lights. They were guided by them in order to safely moor to the shore, and it was easier for the residents of Burano to find their house by color in the fog.
In the photo: the colorful island of Burano
Of course, many have heard of the famous Buran lace. On the island, to this day, several shops selling it have been preserved. It makes sense for girls to buy lace collars - they can always be sewn onto a black dress and you get a variant in the style of classic Yves Saint Laurent outfits - like, for example, Catherine Deneuve wore in the movie "Day Beauty".
HOW MUCH DOES A TICKET TO THE ISLANDS COST? In order to visit all three islands in one day, buy a ferry ticket in Tabakeriya (traghettij/ traghetto) for 24 hours. It is called Biglietto turistico 24H and costs 20 euros. .
PADUA: FRESCOES BY GIOTTO, THE LARGEST SQUARE IN EUROPE AND THE FAMOUS UNIVERSITY
Padua is one of the most curious cities in Veneto, where you can spend the whole day with pleasure and profit. The easiest way to get to it from Venice is by train, and the travel time is less than half an hour. When you arrive at the Padua train station, immediately go towards the center - the direction will be indicated on the brown signs with the inscription Centro.
In the photo: one of the city canals of Padua
The first curious object that you will meet on the way - ancient roman arena. Of course, this is not the Colosseum of Rome and not even the Arena of Verona, but it’s still not worth passing by, because near the Arena in the same park is the famous Scrovegni Chapel- the church, the walls of which are completely covered with frescoes of the great Giotto.
In the photo: the ancient Roman Arena in Padua
For some reason, it is believed that getting into the chapel is difficult, and tickets must be ordered in advance, but in fact this is not so - just go through, buy a ticket (it costs 15 euros) and go inside. They let visitors into the chapel in groups, inside it is painted like a magic chest, and the greatest attention of visitors is attracted by a fresco depicting Hell, in the center of which sits a pot-bellied blue devil eating a sinner. By the way, it is this image of the Last Judgment, along with the fresco in the Bologna Cathedral of San Petronio, that is considered canonical.
After visiting the Scrovegni Chapel, continue down the street and you will inevitably find yourself in the city center, where the beautiful building of the city court is located. Palazzo della Ragione, the old Jewish district of the Ghetto, Herb Square (Piazza delle Erbe), where the market is still located, as well as the Pedrocchi cafe - one of the oldest in all of Italy.
Well, don't forget to look into the University of Padova, whose walls are decorated with coats of arms of eminent families whose offspring studied here. By the way, this is the second university in Italy after Bologna, it was founded in 1222, and Copernicus and Galileo taught here - the department of the latter is still preserved at the university.
In the photo: a statue of a Trojan horse in the Palazzo della Ragione
Having examined the center, go further in the direction from the station and in 10 minutes you will find yourself on the largest square in Europe - Prato della Valle. It is surrounded on all sides by statues of eminent residents of Padua, and after walking along it, go to Cathedral of Saint Anthony- the second most popular Catholic church in Italy after St. Peter's Basilica in Rome.
In the photo: Prato della Valle - the largest square in Europe
Entrance to the cathedral is free, but photography is prohibited inside. From the outside, the building looks extremely non-trivial, because its architectural appearance reflects both the features of Romanesque basilicas and Catholic churches, and many people associate the high towers of the temple with minarets. The interior of the cathedral is stunning with luxury and wealth, here are sculptural compositions, and gilding, and a chapel with the relics of the Saint, which are sharpened in gold and crystal.
Well, after sightseeing, go for a walk along the streets of the city center, most of which are hidden under numerous arches, they are another feature of the architectural appearance of Padua. By the way, restaurants and cafes in Padua are much cheaper than in Venice, and the quality of the food served here is many times higher, so it makes sense to linger for dinner here.
Photo: Observatory of Padua, where Galileo observed the stars
HOW TO GET TO PADUA? The easiest way is by train. regionale veloce, they depart every half an hour from Santa Lucia Station at 12 and 42 minutes. Padua is the second stop after Mestre, travel time is 25 minutes. The cost of a one-way ticket is 4.15 euros. The main thing is not to forget to stamp the ticket in the machine at the station.
THERMAL POOLS OF MONTEGROTTO
Near Venice is one of the largest thermal zones in Europe, where the resorts of Abano Terme and Montegrotto are located. And I have good news for you - from Venice there is an opportunity to go to the baths for one day in order to swim heartily in outdoor pools with warm and healthy water. I must say right away that do not focus on Abano, it is problematic to get there by public transport, but there is a railway station in Montegrotto, and the road here from Venice Santa Lucia station will take about 40 minutes if you take the regionale veloce.
True, not all Montegrotto hotels allow guests who do not live with them into their pools. One of the loyal, and even with an excellent pool - Mioni Royal San. It is located next to the railway station. Just get off the train at the Terme Euganee-Abano-Montegrotto stop, cross the street to the left and you will immediately see it. There is a huge outdoor pool, and there are also saunas and a jacuzzi. In order to get to the hotel, you need to call +39 049 891 1711 in advance and book a visit. Bathrobes and towels are given to guests of the thermal baths, but slippers, swimwear and hats (they must be worn in the pools) must be taken with you.
HOW MUCH COSTS TO VISIT THERMAL POOLS? The cost of a single visit to Mioni Royal San is from 35 to 40 euros per person, depending on the day of the week. You can get there, as I wrote above, by train regionale veloce, these are the same trains that go to Padua, they depart from Venice station every half hour. In short, get on the same train, but get off at a stop later at the station Terme Euganee-Abano-Montegrotto. The ticket price is 4.90 euros one way, most importantly, do not forget to stamp it before boarding the train in the machine on the platform.
In the northern part of the lagoon, you can relax on Cavallino Beach. This is a beautiful place surrounded by lush vegetation. The sand on the beach is white and soft, with comfortable conditions. Nearby are campsites, hotels, restaurants, nightclubs. This area is suitable for families with children. The average cost of a day's stay at the hotel will be 4500 rubles.
In the south of the Venetian lagoon, on the peninsula, there is another beach - Sottomarina. Sand extracted from the seabed is regularly poured onto both beaches. Many beaches belong to hotels, but there are also municipal ones. A sunbed and an umbrella are paid: from 8 to 20 euros per set, depending on the season. You can sit on the beach for free, on your own towel, as the locals do here. The entrance to the sea is gentle, you need to go 50 meters to the depth. Probably, it is convenient for families with children, and there are also amusement parks nearby for them. The beach is interesting for its spit going into the sea and a lighthouse. A three-day stay in a studio near the sea will cost about 6,000 rubles. Hotels here for every taste and budget, you can rent an apartment, it is easy to find it, ads are posted everywhere.
There are many cafes and restaurants on the beach where you can have a cheap meal. Dinner for two will be about 2000 rubles. Dinner will cost more - around 3000 rubles. You can also provide yourself with a snack: inexpensive fresh fruit in a box - Macedonia dessert, the famous Italian gelato - ice cream. Nearby is the ancient town of Chiaggia with interesting ancient quarters.
The beaches of the Lido
Lido Island has beautiful beaches, 13 kilometers long and 1 kilometer wide. The local resort is considered the most fashionable among Italians; the famous Venice Film Festival is held here. From Venice, you can get to the island by vaporetto, on the other side of the island there is a beach. Behind the church of St. Nicholas is a clean, well-groomed municipal beach. Sunbed and umbrella will cost 14 euros. On the beach you can have a bite to eat in numerous cafes and bars.
You can get around the island by bus or rent a bike. The main attraction of the island is the Church of St. Nicholas, which houses part of the relics of the saint. There is also an old Jewish cemetery on the island. On the Lido, you can walk along the beautiful green streets, admire the ancient Italian courtyards. The central alley of Santa Maria Elisabetta leads from the vaporetto station to the beach. There are many shops, cafes, boutiques.
Resort Lido di Jesolo
In the northeast of the Venetian lagoon is the resort of Lido di Jesolo (Jesolo). The beaches here are wide, comfortable, equipped with everything you need. The swimming season lasts from May to September. On the beach you can do volleyball, water sports. Fans of fine entertainment will appreciate the fact that the resort has a golf club and a riding school. You can rent a bike. Some hotels provide this service free of charge.
Various competitions and relay races are organized on the beach. You can visit the water park, aquarium, trampoline park, amusement park and karting track with children. Numerous spas offer their services at the resort, where you can get massages, wraps, get a yoga session and other treatments. In the resort, you can visit numerous cafes, restaurants and night bars in the evening. Lido di Jesolo during the day is a calm, quiet Italian town with narrow, very pretty streets, villas, courtyards.
Sights and entertainment in Venice
Tired of a beach holiday, a tourist may want to visit iconic cultural places. Of course, it is best to go to Venice itself.
The heart of the city is Piazza San Marco. On it stands the majestic Gothic Doge's Palace, striking in its size, beautiful both outside and inside the Cathedral of St. , and you can walk along it for hours, just looking at the buildings, and even if you visit them!
- Carnival masks;
- Murano glass: dishes, jewelry;
- Venetian lace;
- wool products;
- natural homemade cosmetics;
- puppets on strings;
- works by local artists - who knows, maybe this is a future masterpiece;
- coffee, olive oil, pasta;
- Bellini champagne.
Cuisine in Venice
Venice is full of various cafes and restaurants, and not necessarily the best ones are located in the very center - the owners of the local establishments are tired of tourists and it’s not a fact that they pay worthy attention to their dishes.
Wealthy tourists can visit real Michelin restaurants. And economical ones - choose a diner where you can dine at the counter and save on a table, because sometimes they charge a separate fee for a table.
An interesting place is located on the main square. This is the Florian cafe, where drinking coffee will cost about 700 rubles, but such historical figures as Lord Byron, Casanova, Brodsky drank coffee in this establishment ... To sit and enjoy the atmosphere is worth the expense!
What are the popular dishes in Venice? These are seafood appetizers - cicchetti. Oysters, cuttlefish, octopuses... For meat lovers, it is worth trying a liver dish or famous Italian ravioli (by the way, they come with vegetables, cheese and even chocolate, not only with meat). Naturally, Italian ice cream is a must - no other country makes it like this. And of course, it’s worth drinking wine with dinner, because Italy is a country of a wonderful wine-making tradition.
So, Venice: it has something to offer both culture lovers and those who want to combine it with a soft relaxed holiday. Beaches, parties, cuisine, beauty - all this awaits those who travel to Venice in 2020.
8 interesting places where you can go from Venice for one day. Self-guided day trips from Venice: Verona, Padua, Trieste, etc.
Many come here to see the city's incredible architecture, gondolas and canals. And, of course, have a great time. However, to explore the city, even such an extraordinary one as Venice, one or two, maximum three days are enough. This makes the inquisitive traveler look for day trip routes from Venice. Ventilate and explore other fascinating places in the Veneto region. If possible, independently, inexpensively and with the prospect of a safe return to the hotel that evening.
Private tours in Venice
If you have not fully explored the city and are not ready to organize leisure activities on your own, it makes sense to agree with an individual guide and do not spend time visiting other places for now. Why private tours? Firstly, no matter how much we want to seem independent and know everything in the world, getting to know the city with a local resident is exciting.
Secondly, a limited number of participants on an individual tour (up to 4-5 people) is the only chance to hear at least something, remember and not get lost. Especially in such a "cramped" city like Venice.
What excursions to look for beginners? You can limit yourself to popular hits - or, which are ideal for a first acquaintance with the city.
Having been on sightseeing tours, you can go further and look towards the original, but no less busy routes - or. In the latter version, the guide will take you to the most amazing places and bakari (bars).
Day trips from Venice
We invite everyone else to independently explore the city and its environs. List of the best places to visit from Venice for a day.
Excursion #8 - Verona
Day trips from Venice - Verona
Due to the fact that the action of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet takes place in Verona, the city has gained fame as the most romantic in all of Italy. Is this really so, to judge the locals, and the hearts of tourists invariably freeze with delight and anticipation. Yes, yes, in Verona at every step you can rub something to make a wish for love. The bright facades of houses in Piazza delle Erbe, the central Piazza Bra and the Arena di Verona built in the 1st century, where opera performances are still held, are the key places in the city. Besides Juliet's patio, of course.
The journey to Verona from Venice by car or train will take about an hour.
Excursion #7 - Ravenna
Where else to go from Venice? To Ravenna!
Traveling to this city is a good option for an independent excursion from Venice. Perhaps in one day you will definitely have time to return. What is interesting about Ravenna? First of all - Byzantine mosaics, examples of which can be found throughout the city. The most famous examples adorn the Basilica of San Vitale, Piazza del Popolo and the Mausoleum of Gallia Placidia.
By train from Venice to Ravenna can be reached in 3 hours. It will take a few more hours to explore the city.
Excursion #6 - Padua
The city of Padua is 25 minutes away by train, making it ideal for a day trip from Venice. You will see the sights and be sure to return to the hotel. According to the archives, the city was founded in the XII century BC. BC, making it the oldest in northern Italy. On top of that, Padua is also very beautiful. Of the sights, you should immediately remember the Basilica of St. Anthony and the grandiose Scrovegni Chapel, famous for the frescoes of Giotto of the 14th century. They stand apart in the must see list of this city. For the rest of your time, plan to visit the city's Padua Botanical Garden (it's also one of the oldest in Europe) and the old university.
Excursion #5 - Treviso
Just half an hour from Venice by train is the medieval city of Treviso, which has preserved its defensive walls, city gates and the old moat in its original form. The city center is small, but quite nice, with brick-walled buildings and good coffee shops. In addition to coffee, be sure to order a glass of prosecco in Treviso and (to walk - so walk!) - both of which are the pride of Italy.
Excursion #4 - Vicenza
One of the best (albeit little known) day trips you can think of from Venice. The city is only 45 minutes away and is known for its stunning architecture, especially the buildings that were designed by Andreo Palladio. Among the most famous are the Teatro Olimpico and the magnificent Villa Rotunda, the main highlight of Vicenza. The historic center is beautiful, like almost everything in Italy. You can just walk around, but it will be more interesting to visit local art galleries.
Excursion #3 - Sirmione, Lake Garda
Day trips from Venice - Lake Garda
Sirmione is located on a narrow peninsula that juts out into Lake Garda. The trip there will take two and a half hours, but the magnificent lake, the aroma of lemons that permeate the air, and the unique city on the water will block all the possible disadvantages of a one-day trip. What to see in Sirmione? 14th century church and 13th century Scaliger castle. The rest of the time can be devoted to leisurely walks around the city, since it is tiny.
Excursion #2 - Trieste
Trieste is a two-hour train ride from Venice, making the trip to the city quite lengthy but exciting. Outside of Italy, the city is known as the residence of James Joyce. Interestingly, Italian, Austro-Hungarian and even Slavic influences have merged in the cuisine, architecture and language of Trieste. What came of it, decide on the spot, if you dare, of course, organize a one-day excursion from Venice. Among the interesting places we note the old town and the neoclassical Austrian district. The most magnificent sea views of Trieste open from the Castello di Miramare - a castle located in the vicinity of the city.
Important: to visit Trieste and visit the Miramare castle, one day may not be enough.
Excursion #1 - Venetian Lagoon Islands
Excursions from Venice - Burano island
The waters near Venice are full of islands, the most famous of which are Burano, Murano and Torcello. Murano is famous for glass crafts, where travelers can visit private shops and watch glassblowers at work, as well as explore some of the old churches. Burano is a fishing town famous for its lacework and colorful houses. The island of Torcello stands alone on the list. Once it was even more significant than Venice, but at the moment the glory has faded. This is a beautiful quiet place, famous for ancient Byzantine churches, in particular - the Cathedral of Santa Maria Asunta.
A walk to the nearby islands is the most popular excursion from Venice. You can travel from island to island by vaporetto. One day is just enough to explore three islands at once, if you are fully equipped - you are guided by the terrain and read a lot before the trip.
Excursions in Venice and surroundings
The best excursions in Venice are not mass "gondola rides", but unusual routes from local residents. They are created by people who love and know the city. All tours are conducted in Russian.
In the two airports of Venice itself, Marco Polo and Treviso, you can sometimes find cheap, although not very convenient flights from Russia, for example, via Kyiv with Fly One from 5000 rubles. one way or through Chisinau by Moldovan Airlines 10,000 rubles. There and back again. An hour away (from 8 euros by train) is Verona Airport, where there are more options from budget airlines (direct flights from S7 - 8000 rubles in both directions). And two and a half hours by train (from 20 euros) are the airports of Milan, where the choice of cheap flights is even greater, for example, flights of the Pobeda low-cost airline.
Where to live
Absolutely all hotels and b&b in Venice are too expensive to be considered a reasonable option.
Ways to save on Airbnb:
- travel from mid-October to February (by the way, Brodsky did this every year, although for other reasons - he considered Venice much more beautiful in winter, and not without reason)
- settle on the coast in Mestre, from where trains (10 minutes) and buses run to Venice, including night buses (10-20 minutes)
- go for a month and bargain with apartment owners - this is how the author managed to live a month in September-October for 800 euros / room in a beautiful apartment in Cannaregio with a common living room overlooking one of the canals
Either way, your tools are Airbnb.com and patience.
Connection
SIM cards can be bought at the offices of Italian mobile operators, usually there are English-speaking employees there. It costs approximately 25 euros: 15 euros for a SIM card and 10 euros / month. for internet tariff. The operator WIND has an offer of 20 GB of traffic per month for 9 euros, which solves the problem of the Internet almost completely. There is free Wi-Fi in many cafes and museums, and in some places there is free municipal Wi-Fi, but you should not count on it.
You can drink everywhere in Venice What to drink and eat
The most famous local wine - prosecco, a sparkling brut that is produced in the Treviso region near Venice, it costs from 1-2 euros per bottle in a supermarket or per liter in a liquor store, where it will be poured into a disposable plastic bottle. You can drink anywhere and anytime, take it - go and drink, or rather sit on one of the benches on the Dzaterre embankment and pretend to be Brodsky
Chichetti is a Venetian contribution to the culture of street food: small sandwiches or snacks with wine from local delicacies like cod soaked in milk. Instead of dinner in expensive tourist restaurants, it is better to go to one of the bars in the Rialto area and collect 1-3 euros apiece near the cicchetti counter (pointing to the bartender with a finger behind a glass case) for 1-3 euros apiece and dine with prosecco.
The best chiquetterias in Venice:
Chichetti in Dai Zemei Piazza San Marco, crammed to the eyeballs with tourists, is a visual stereotype hackneyed to tears. The most expensive cafes, where the price of a simple cappuccino reaches 12 euros, are.
But few people know that after 12 at night, when the cafes on the square are closed, the tables remain standing, and everyone is allowed to sit there with their drinks and food.
A night picnic on the deserted San Marco - as if the mosaics on the facade of the cathedral and the portals of the Doge's Palace are illuminated only for you.
One of the cheapest bars in Italy, oddly enough, is located in one of its most expensive cities. Bacareto da Lele is a legendary place among local hard workers and thrifty visitors: a glass of chardonnay or cabernet - 60 cents, sandwiches - for euros. It is necessary to settle down like local students - on the steps of the neighboring church of San Nicolò da Tolentini - and watch how the professors of the best architectural university in Italy and the future Rema Koolhaas with Zachami Hadid come out of the gateway.
In Venice, despite the gloomy prophecies, there are still locals. There are not many of them, 55 thousand people for millions of tourists, but this means that there are still shops and services for their own in the city. In the back streets of Cannaregio and Castello, you can find cheap pastry shops and discount supermarkets Prix, and discounts at local branches of the COOP supermarket chain, and unfashionable bakeries with delicious bread and pastries, cheap bars, cheese and butcher shops with local products, and fruit and vegetable tents where everything is cheaper than on busy streets and canals. 18 minutes by train (1.25 euros) from the Venetian station, in Mestre, a suburb of Venice on the mainland, there is Auchan right next to the stop, where food costs 20-30% cheaper than in the city, despite all that same Italian quality and variety - do you feel how life in Venice becomes quite affordable?
A seagull with whom a croissant is shared A type of fast food that has spread in recent years in Venice is “quick service spaghetti”. Come to the free cash register, choose the type of freshly cooked pasta, the type of sauce and fillers - and you get all this splendor in a cardboard box for 5 euros.
Sitting on the promenade or on the bench of the nearest campo, you get a budget romantic dinner with a view.
The €1.5 vaporetto route 1 and 2 replaces the Grand Canal tours and gondola rides (which are insanely expensive and disappointing).
Picnic on St. Mark's Square at night with Venetian legend Gleb Smirnov Things to do
people watching: there are no cars in Venice, and despite the availability of water taxis for fabulous money and public sea trams for relatively affordable, the most convenient way to travel is on foot. Therefore, in the streets of Venice and the campos, the rich and famous mingle with the common people in one of the most interesting crowds on Earth.
People who can only be seen elsewhere in tinted limousines or at closed receptions walk the streets along with the townsfolk, making up a bright and extravagant assemblage: old millionaires in chanels and tiffanys side by side with port movers, movie stars from all over the world share the pavement with noisy Chinese tourists, and wealthy Silicon Valley startups with gray-haired art critics from Siberia.
This circumstance provides great opportunities for peoplewatching lovers and even greater opportunities for peoplewatching lovers with a camera and an Instagram account.
Venice is not so much a museum city as city of museums. Almost every palazzo and church hosts exhibitions, cultural events, concerts and conferences from time to time. And this means that you can not only walk along the streets and look at the facades, but also get inside a huge number of houses, palaces and churches, and often - for free.
From May to November, Venice hosts the Biennale: an exhibition in even years - architecture, in odd years - contemporary art. At this time, many sites outside the main exhibition areas in the Arsenale and the Biennale Gardens host exhibitions accompanying the main project, and often the entrance there is free for everyone, which makes it possible not so much to see art, but simply to visit the many Venetian palazzos.
Prayer line at San Marco Cathedral (entrance on the left side of the building) If you have a press card (a laminated card with your photo, on which press is written in English, there is someone's signature and a round seal with Russian letters that are not understandable outside your homeland), then you will save a lot of money on a visit museums, which are very expensive here.
Half of the places are free for journalists, in particular, you can save 20 euros for two when visiting the Ca’ d’Oro palace with its impressive ground floor Gothic courtyard, balconies overlooking the Grand Canal and the absolutely stunning Saint Sebastian Andrea Mantegna. But they are not allowed to see Carpaccio in Scuola di San Giorgio degli Schiavon with a press card - you have to pay 5 euros from the nose (but it's worth it).
There is no need to stand in a long queue to the Campanile of San Marco - this is such a tall tower on the square of the same name - and pay a lot of money for the opportunity to look at the city from a height. The recently opened Fondaco dei Tedesci (a former 15th-century German merchant community restored in 2016 by a team led by Rem Koolhaas) has a great free observation deck with the best view of the Grand Canal in Venice and no queues.
View from the roof of the Fondaco dei Tedeschi It is logical to start diving into the Venetian theme not from examining the beauties of the city itself, but from the island of Torcello, as the art critic Ruskin did in the 19th century: there are the oldest temple in the lagoon (the ancient Basilica of San Marco), the most impressive Byzantine mosaics and, in general, the feeling the beginning of all this subsequent Venetian splendor. Then you can already go to San Marco and other churches of the city - to see how it developed and changed.
If you want to view the mosaics of the Basilica of San Marco not in 15 minutes in a crowd of groups of Chinese tourists, but comfortably, sitting and listening to organ music, then you can go to Sunday Mass (the schedule on the website of the Basilica of San Marco) by saying “per pregiera” to the guard , they say, to prayer, and in the company of the same life hackers, enjoy the Byzantine mosaics on the vaults of the church. This pleasure is, of course, free.
Venice is not a club city, for club life you have to go to Mestre or neighboring Padua. You can spend time in Venice among cheerful drunken youth at campo Santa Margherita, where students from local universities and visiting youth drink from evening until night.
Fun spills out of crowded bars onto the square, nearby embankments and bridges, and the entire city space becomes one big student party.
There you can also have a snack after midnight (which is a rarity in the city) at Al Volo pizzeria - an institution of local party-goers.
An alternative route for those who like to drink properly and in a local way: the Fondamenta Misericordia promenade in the north of the city, in Cannaregio, along an unexpectedly straight and long promenade, there are a dozen good bars for Venetians and visitors who know the city and the right places.
"High Water" in Piazza San Marco Venice, of course, is good in itself, but there are a lot of interesting things in its vicinity. In other words, a trip to Venice can be diversified with day trips to nearby places and places. One has only to take into account that living in Venice is not a cheap pleasure. Therefore, if you plan to thoroughly travel around the mainland, then it is advisable to stop not on the islands, but somewhere in Mestre, next to the corresponding railway station (for information on where it is better to stay during a trip to Venice, read the corresponding article), or even in Padua or Vicenza. If you do not plan frequent trips outside of Venice, then you can live on the islands, especially if you are lucky enough to find a hotel or apartment for reasonable money.
As for transport, you can travel from Venice both by rail and by road (again, if you plan to travel by private or rented car, it makes sense to settle on the mainland in order to save money). In addition, do not forget about water transport, which you can hardly do without if you want to visit the islands of the Venetian Lagoon. With them, perhaps, we will begin our review of destinations for trips from Venice.
When it comes to the islands of the Venetian lagoon, the first thing that comes to mind is Murano(Murano) And Burano(Burano) are without a doubt the most popular destinations for short trips from Venice. Strictly speaking, both Murano and Burano are part of modern Venice, but from the point of view of a tourist, it makes sense to consider them separately, since they are on the periphery in relation to all the main Venetian attractions. In addition, both islands have bright individual features and are quite different from Venice proper. Burano is especially distinguished by its colorful houses.
A visit to these two islands is usually combined within one day: first Murano (it is closer to Venice), then Burano. Both can be reached by water. The road to Murano takes only 10-15 minutes if you take a vaporetto, say, from the Santa Lucia railway station (Venezia Santa Lucia, the corresponding water transport stop is called Ferrovia) or from the Fondamente Nove embankment. Timetables can be found at actv.avmspa.it (see especially the following routes: Linea 3, Linea 4.1 and 4.2 and Linea 12). Burano next. And you need to sail through Murano. The fastest way to get from Venice to Burano is motorscapho number 12 (Linea 12) from Fondamente Nove: a one-way trip takes about 40 minutes (about 10 minutes to Murano and then another half an hour to Burano).
A trip to Murano and Burano can be supplemented by a visit to another island - Torcello(Torcello), which is located near Burano (Linea 9, swim 5 minutes). This is not a crowded and calm place, there are few sights here, but those that exist are worth seeing.
Lovers of peace and quiet can be recommended to pay attention to the island Sant Erasmo(Sant'Erasmo), a kind of garden in the middle of the lagoon (Linea 13, about 30 minutes from Fondamente Nove). The contrast is striking: in Venice there are usually crowds of tourists, but here, on Sant'Erasmo, the village is a village - beds, fields and vineyards. True, there is also an attraction - the Maximilian Tower (Torre Massimiliana), reminiscent of the time when Venice belonged to the Austrians - and there is even a small beach.
By the way, about the beaches. Venice can hardly be called a resort town, but you can find beaches here. From this point of view, the island looks especially attractive. Lido di Venice(Lido di Venezia) where all necessary infrastructure is available. You can get to the Lido by different routes from different parts of Venice: see, in particular, Linea 1, Linea 2 (in summer), Linea 5.1 and 5.2, Linea 6, etc. A good option for a half-day trip: in summer you can sunbathe and cool off , and in the off-season - just wander along the sand along the water. And the Lido also has its own sights. Read more about this and other interesting places from the point of view of a beach holiday in the article "Beaches of Venice".
Before leaving the Venetian lagoon, let's pay attention to another interesting town. Chioggia(Chioggia) located south of Venice. Due to the obvious similarity, it is often called "little Venice". The place is cozy, charming and not at all pompous. This, perhaps, is the value of Chioggia. It’s worth going here not for delights and pictures against the backdrop of beauty, but to see a cute provincial town living its modest life next to the “big sister”. In addition, there is a good fish market. Also in a nearby area Sottomarina(Sottomarina) there is a beach. And if we talk about a beach holiday in the Venice area, then Sottomarina is no worse (and perhaps even better) than the island of Lido di Venice discussed above.
To get to Chioggia and Sottomarina, you can use different types of public transport. The most convenient and fastest (about an hour drive) is a bus (Linea 80E - see). A less convenient, but perhaps more scenic route is to go through the islands of Lido di Venezia (Lido di Venezia) and Pellestrina (Pellestrina): first by bus Linea 11 (see) to the final stop on the island of Pellestrina, and then by vaporetto to Chioggia.
The above ideas are enough to organize a great trip under the conditional title "Venice and its lagoon." A good option for those who are not indifferent to Venice and want to know it from different angles. However, there are also many worthy places outside the Venetian Lagoon. They are worth a visit to get a better idea of northern Italy in general.
(Verona) deserves much more than a day trip from Venice. Here you can stay for 3–4 days, or even for a week, given that Lake Garda, Mantua and other noteworthy places are nearby (read more about travel routes from Verona). Nevertheless, a day is enough for a quick acquaintance, since it is not at all long to go from Venice: about an hour and a half by rail (see www.trenitalia.com) to Porta Nuova station, from where it is only 15– 20 minutes walk to the city center. The main thing is not to be limited to the theme of Romeo and Juliet, since Verona is by no means exhausted by this plot. Verona has the ancient amphitheater Arena di Verona, and Romanesque churches, and the castle-fortress of Castelvecchio, and other sights that deserve the closest attention.
Vicenza(Vicenza) not as popular with tourists as Verona. But this is more an advantage than a disadvantage, since the city itself is wonderful. Vicenza is often called the city of Palladio, as well as the city of palaces and even land Venice. All this is quite true, and many of the Vicenza palazzos were created by Palladio himself. Had they been in the place of other palaces in Venice, no one would have noticed the substitution. In short, a trip from Venice to Vicenza for at least half a day will be interesting, especially if you are interested in architecture. True, in this case, it is worth taking a walk outside the city - to the Villa "Rotonda" (about half an hour on foot both from the station and from the center of Vicenza), - and at the same time visit the villa of Valmarana ai Nani (it is on the road) and climb Monte Hill -Beriko, from where a beautiful view of the city opens. If you are too lazy to go, you can take the Linea 8 bus from the railway station, where, in fact, trains from Venice arrive. It takes only 30-40 minutes to get to Vicenza by high-speed train or a little over an hour by train.
Padua(Padova) is an old city with a rich history. And therefore it is quite natural that many interesting sights are concentrated here: magnificent palaces (in particular, Palazzo della Ragione) and squares (Prato della Valle, Piazza delle Erbe, etc.), one of the oldest universities in the world, beautiful churches (first of all, the Basilica of San Antonio), the botanical garden and, of course, the Scrovegni Chapel with frescoes by Giotto, as well as the famous equestrian statue of Gattamelata by Donatello, not to mention the ruins of the ancient Roman amphitheater. And all this within half an hour of Venice, making Padua one of the most obvious destinations for half-day trips. For a cursory acquaintance with the historical center of the city, a few hours will be enough. If you want to get to know Padua better, then you can safely go here for the whole day, or even for two or three days (more about where it is better to stay in Padua).
Verona, Vicenza, Padua, and Venice itself are far from millionaires, but still the cities are quite large. At the same time, within an hour and a half from Venice, you can find many small towns that also deserve the attention of the traveler. You can get to each of them for half a day, or you can put two or three such cities in one day, since the transport infrastructure allows (all the cities that will be discussed below, with the exception of Asolo, can be reached by rail - see www. .trenitalia.com).
First of all, let's talk about Treviso(Treviso), which is notable not only for its airport, but also for its incredibly cozy historical center. Perhaps there are no sights in Treviso as famous as the Arena of Verona or the Basilica of St. Anthony, but in general the city makes a pretty nice impression. Getting here is easy: half an hour by train from the Venice station Santa Lucia and you are there.
Another pretty town Bassano del Grappa(Bassano del Grappa- located in the foothills of the Alps. Drive here a little over an hour. Not fast. But as compensation for the time spent on the road, you will be able to see the most picturesque place, and it will not be superfluous to miss a glass of grappa, which Bassano is so famous for. There is even a grappa museum here.
Not a stranger to alcohol themes and Conegliano(Conegliano), known for another drink - prosecco. This is again the foothills of the Alps, which means that picturesque views are guaranteed. The journey from Venice to Conegliano takes about an hour. On the way, you can stop by Treviso for a few hours.
No less picturesque and place Asolo(Asolo) around which many historical plots are intertwined. True, getting there by public transport is somewhat more difficult than getting to Bassano and Conegliano. Probably the most convenient way is to get to one of the train stations located nearby (for example, to Bassano del Grappa or to Castelfranco Veneto), then take a bus to the Ca "Vescovo stop (for suitable routes, see www.asolo.it), and from there, walk up to the historic center of Asolo (Centro Storico), or use the shuttle that runs regularly between the historic center of Asolo and the Ca "Vescovo stop.
Finally, let's look at two small fortress cities. First - Castelfranco Veneto(Castelfranco Veneto), which was mentioned in passing in the context of Asolo. Second - Cittadella(Cittadella). It makes sense to combine their visits, since it is convenient to go to Cittadella with a transfer just in Castelfranco. In Castelfranco, by the way, in addition to the fortress, you should pay attention to the Cathedral, where you can see the “Madonna” by Giorgione (he is believed to come from this city). To Castelfranco from Venice - about 50 minutes by train, and from Castelfranco to Cittadella - no more than 15 minutes. Depending on the train schedule, any other combinations involving Vicenza, Padua, Treviso and other nearby cities are also possible.
When choosing a hotel or apartment in Italy in general and in Venice in particular, use not only booking sites, but also price comparison services. We recommend Roomguru.ru.
The same should be done when searching for air tickets. Pay attention, for example, to Skyscanner.ru.