Tatiana Solomatina

Travel to Lido di Jesolo and Venice

Hello, dear friends!

This time I bought a ready-made tour from the operator Biblio Globus. The trip turned out to be budget-friendly. I spent five days on the beach of Lido di Jesolo, one in Venice. The story is divided into parts, read my review and see the latest photos.

My next week of vacation was scheduled for September. Back in May, I began to think about where to spend it. This time I was interested in passive relaxation; I wanted to extend the summer a little and lie on the beach.

The idea arose to go to Italy. I chose the resort of Lido di Jesolo, which is located near Venice, which provided an excellent opportunity to visit it.

The airport in Rimini is small. We were lucky, there were few arriving flights. We quickly went through passport control and received our suitcases. We found a tour operator's desk, they showed the driver, who was standing right there, and told him to stick with him. The wait for the others was short, about 20 minutes.

The bus was big and only half full, which we were very happy about. You could lie down in the back seat. The road to Lido di Jesolo was long, about 300 km, and the time was already about ten in the evening.

The driver was good, he didn’t speed, he drove carefully.

We drove for 3 hours 40 minutes. There was one stop at a gas station for 15 minutes. There are toilets and a cafe there.

We arrived in Lido di Jesolo at 1.30. We didn’t drive around the city for a long time; our hotel was third on the list.

To be honest, the road was exhausting.

Excelsior Hotel 4*

We arrived at the Excelsior 4* hotel at about two in the morning. They were waiting for us at the reception. They scanned our passports, gave us the keys and sent us to our room. Everything took 10 minutes. The luggage was brought immediately. After another 10 minutes, dinner was brought to our room, which we did not expect at all. There were no hot dishes, but we devoured the smoked cold cuts, shrimp salad, and fruit cocktail with pleasure.

I will not describe the hotel itself, read my detailed review. Let me just say that I liked everything. I want to go back there.

Trip to Venice

We decided to devote one day of our vacation to Venice. At the reception they gave us a map, marked the bus stop on it and offered us a booklet with the schedule.

A ticket from Lido di Jesolo to Venice, bus + boat, cost 19.50 euros. We thought this ticket was only valid for round trip travel. However, it turned out that you can drive along it as many times as you like during the day. Checked personally. When a friend went to the temple in Venice early the next morning, she did not have to buy a new ticket. She managed to return before the day had passed since the purchase of the ticket.

The stop is a five-minute walk from the hotel, near a Chinese restaurant. The bus arrived on schedule, there were not many people, we managed to find free seats. We drove for about forty minutes. On the out-of-town route, you don’t need to punch combination tickets, just go ahead and sit down.

You need to get off at the final stop, you should hurry to get on the boat, the bus schedule is tightly connected with the departure of the boats. We didn’t know this, we weren’t in a particular hurry, we went to the wrong pier, and as a result, we almost missed our ship.

The bulk of the bus passengers, like you, are rushing to the boat. Follow them in the general flow, then you definitely won’t get lost.

We came across a large ship. There were a lot of passengers; it was too crowded to even sit down or stand. We jumped in last and found ourselves in the sun. However, the travel time is only 20 minutes, the views are stunning, and the time flies by.

From the pier we headed to the main square. We took pictures at the Bridge of Sighs, which connects the prison building and the Doge's Palace. Strong place. You start to imagine how everything was then, you feel uneasy.

I was in Venice 15 years ago at the beginning of March. I've already seen the main attractions. Now, I just wanted to walk around the city, feel the local color, and observe the residents. Compare a summer city with a spring one. Therefore, hiking trails did not particularly interest me. There was no clear plan for visiting the city. However, a friend wanted to visit St. Mark's Basilica, so we went there first.

There are not just a lot of tourists, but a lot, and this is the difference with the March trip. There was a queue for tickets to the Cathedral; I had to stand for 20 minutes. My friend went alone, I waited for her on a bench near the prison building. They did not climb the bell tower. The queue was even longer than at the Cathedral. We just walked around and looked at the windows of local shops.

To get to the toilet, we went into a cafe. I had to take coffee, which cost me 14 euros. If I drank it in a bar without sitting down at a table, I would pay 4 euros. Then I didn’t know that in the same establishment there is one price at the table and another at the bar.

If you need to go to the toilet, don’t sit at a table in a cafe, just order something at the bar, it will be cheaper. By the way, in Venice, visiting the toilet in a cafe without ordering anything is considered bad manners.

Then we set off to wander through the numerous narrow streets. I’m unlikely to be able to repeat that route again. We walked around a lot, not focusing on anything at all. They simply turned to where there were fewer people. We walked along small bridges and came across dead-end streets a couple of times. We watched with interest the daily life of the local residents. We tried to imagine what happened here 100 years ago.

This is the courtyard we saw along the way.

An hour later we sat down to rest and have a snack. We took sandwiches and water with us. I didn't want to have lunch in a cafe. Venice is a very expensive city.

Another hour later, we reached a small pier. A little tired. I wanted a boat trip. We can’t afford a gondola, and a water taxi is also not a cheap pleasure. We went along the canal on the vaporetto. These are local water buses. With your ticket to Venice, you can ride them all day.

From the water, Venice looks a little different. The damp, dark walls of the buildings are reflected in the water, hiding small piers under their shadow. They are so crowded with people that it seems that the structure will not hold up. Numerous boats maneuvering tightly in the stream attract the eye. It seems that a little more and they will collide. The amazing architecture of the bridges is amazing.

The town of Lido di Venezia, or simply Lido, located on the island of the same name, is part of the commune of Venice within the municipality of Lido Pellestrina. Thus, it can be considered as one of the districts of Venice. However, at its core, the Lido is a completely independent unit and not identical to Venice. Firstly, Lido di Venice is located a little away from all the main Venetian attractions. Secondly, life in the Lido proceeds completely differently than in Venice - primarily due to its resort orientation (this is what attracts many tourists), and also because full-fledged automobile traffic is organized on the island, and this is the first thing that catches your eye. in your eyes when you find yourself here.

How to get to Lido di Venezia

There are several ways to get to the Lido.

If you plan to go through Venice or if you live directly in Venice, then you can always take the vaporetto to the Lido. The main stop on the island is called Lido S.M.E. (if in full, then Lido Santa Maria Elisabetta). This is what you should focus on. Suitable vaporetto routes and the corresponding schedule can be found on the official website of the Venice transport consortium - actv.avmspa.it (read more about the features of Venetian transport). The journey, by the way, does not take much time at all: for example, from Piazza San Marco it takes only 15 minutes to sail (vaporetto No. 1, etc.), and from the Santa Lucia train station or from Piazzale Roma to the Lido it takes about 30–50 minutes (the fastest way to get there is by vaporetto number 6).

If you arrive at Venice Airport (Aeroporto di Venezia – Aeroporto Marco Polo Tessera, VCE) and plan to go directly to the Lido from there, then this is also possible. Alilaguna boats operate between the airport and the islands of the Venetian Lagoon (see www.alilaguna.it). In the case of the Lido, the best option is to take the seasonal route Linea Rossa (“Red Line”; the journey takes about an hour). An alternative is the year-round route Linea Blu (“Blue Line”, the journey takes approximately 1 hour 15 minutes).

Finally, keeping in mind about road transport, we note that you can get to the Lido by ferry Linea 17, which regularly departs from the island of Tronchetto (details can be found). Road travelers should consider this option even if the main purpose of the trip is not the Lido, but Venice. Of course, you can leave your car in paid parking at the same Tronchetto or in Piazzale Roma. However, on Lido Island you will be able to park completely free of charge. In other words, if you go to Venice by car, then you can stay in Lido di Venezia, especially since in Lido you can even find a hotel with its own parking (see, for example, Hotel Panorama or Grande Albergo Ausonia & Hungaria) .

Where to stay in Lido di Venezia

In addition to the two hotels mentioned above, you can find many other interesting accommodation options in Lido. However, the final choice will largely depend on the purpose of your trip.

If you are planning to go to Lido in the summer and you are primarily interested in the beaches (by the way, they are discussed in detail in the article “Beaches of Venice”), then, of course, it is more convenient to live near the sea. From this point of view, the absolute favorite is the Hotel Excelsior, located directly on the beach (hotel guests also have the opportunity to use a direct regular shuttle to St. Mark's Square). But this option is not a cheap one. As a more budget-friendly alternative, you can consider options such as the Venezia 2000 Hotel and the Le Ville del Lido Suite Residence apartment complex, although they cannot be called cheap. In summer, Lido hotels do not pamper tourists with low prices at all.

As soon as the beach season ends (at the end of September), the situation changes for the better, but still prices remain at a fairly high level - the proximity of Venice does its job. Therefore, if your goal is to explore Venice, and when choosing a hotel in Lido, you want to save a little, you should not overestimate the possible benefits. In the center of Venice you can almost always find options for about the same money as in the Lido, but you will be able to get around the city on foot and thereby save on transport costs. Read more about the best places to live in Venice.

However, if you come across a lucrative offer, then you should not neglect accommodation in the Lido. In this case, it is advisable to focus on the proximity of the hotel to the vaporetto piers: see the same Hotel Panorama or Hotel Villa Laguna. These hotels, by the way, are good not only because they are close to a water transport stop, but also because their rooms (not all of them, of course) offer a magnificent view of the Venetian Lagoon. An excellent choice if you want to stay in a hotel with a view of Venice, but are not ready to pay a thousand euros per night (and if you are, then this is the place for you).

How to get around Lido di Venezia

The town center is small and it is quite convenient to move around on foot. Everything is nearby - beaches, transport, shops, and all catering. For example, from the aforementioned vaporetto stop Lido S.M.E. The sea is only 10 minutes walk away. However, Lido Island is very, very extensive. And if you want to get to know it better (you can go, for example, to Alberoni), then you can’t do without public transport. Fortunately, there are buses running around the island (information on routes and schedules can be found).

What to see

What to see in Lido di Venezia

To put it bluntly, there are few historical attractions in Lido. The town began to be actively developed only at the end of the 19th – beginning of the 20th centuries. Mostly aristocratic villas were built then. They, in fact, are of primary interest. Wandering the streets of Lido and looking at its rather motley architecture is an interesting activity. It is also worth taking a walk along the embankment - from the vaporetto stop towards the Church of San Nicolò (Chiesa di San Nicolò), where a fragment of the relics of St. St. Nicholas the Wonderworker is the main relic of Lido Island.

Where to go from Lido di Venezia

If you stay in Lido, your options for traveling around the area will be significantly limited. However, this does not mean at all that there is nothing to see nearby. It will be difficult to get to the mainland (although it is possible: half an hour and you are at the Santa Lucia railway station, and from there anywhere - read more about travel routes from Venice in this article), but the entire Venice Lagoon is at your disposal. In particular, it is worth going to Chioggia (see route Linea 11 at actv.avmspa.it), an ancient city in the southern part of the lagoon. The islands of Murano, Burano and Torcello are also quite accessible (suitable vaporetto routes can be found on the same website). Pellestrina, complete with the Caroman nature reserve, is also of particular interest. And on the island of Lido itself there are places to go - Malamocco and Alberoni, unspoiled by the attention of tourists, are always nearby.

The resort of Lido di Jesolo is located 36 km northeast of Venice, at the base of the sand spit separating the Venetian lagoon from the Adriatic Sea. In less than an hour you can get here by bus or sail from Venice by boat.

The resort has a “classical” layout: lines with numerous hotels stretch for 14 km along the coast. There are no wide streets or high-rise buildings, just small, cozy hotels with a typical homely, family atmosphere, nice bars and shops.

Here you can leave the hotel right in a swimsuit and already After 100 m, step on the golden sand. The distance from the “furthest” hotel to the sea does not exceed 200-300 m. It is absolutely safe here - there is no large traffic and you can safely let the children go alone for ice cream or ride on the swings.

Central Street is the longest shopping street in Europe- after 18 o’clock it turns into a pedestrian promenade: some are sporting evening dresses, others are walking in shorts, sociable Germans sing their songs in the bar, artists perform in cafes, performances and concerts are given in the squares.

Everything is so simply cozy and beautiful that it is impossible to pass by. There are no industrial facilities around the resort. The sea is clean and shallow (which is especially good for children), fine golden sand, perfectly maintained and equipped beaches, long and wide.

Tours to Lido di Jesolo

In Lido di Jesolo special microclimate: due to the proximity of the Alps, there are no strong winds, stormy seas or high waves.

Lido di Jesolo- this is a resort where people come based on recommendations and reviews from friends, and whole families return here again and again.
Resort season starts here at the end of May and ends early October.
The holiday season here begins at the end of May and lasts until the beginning of October.
Average air temperature in June +22 °C, in July +26°C, in August +28°C, V September +24°C.
Sea warms up to 22°C in June and up to 26°C in August.
It's beautiful here sandy beaches, magnificent hotels for discerning and modest guests, clean air, wonderful relaxed atmosphere.
ResortLido di Jesolois in provinces Venice, which in turn is part administrative area Italy -Veneto .
Each province of Veneto is interesting in its own way.

At your service water park "Aqualandia", two amusement parks, beach volleyball, water skiing, golf, tennis, riding and diving school, yacht clubs and fishing. The resort offers modern swimming pools, gymnasiums, numerous beauty salons, health centers with gyms, hydromassage and mud baths, biotherapeutic treatment, massage.

Shops are open until late at night. And in the evening the main street Lido di Jesolo turns into a pedestrian promenade. You can move around the resort on foot, on rented bicycles, as well as by taxi or public transport (buses).

Depending on their location, resort hotels can be divided into three groups: Faro zone(the part of the resort located closest to Venice), Centro zone(area around the main square) and Pineta zone(this area is considered calmer and more prestigious, as well as greener due to the pine park, but this is not the center of the resort)

How to get there.

The closest airport to the resorts, receiving direct scheduled flights from Russia, is located in Venice, about 40 minutes drive from the resort of Lido di Jesolo (Marco Polo Airport, daily direct flights by Aeroflot from Moscow). During the summer season, direct charter flights from Moscow to Treviso or Trieste are also organized, usually on Saturdays (average transfer time from Treviso airport is 60 minutes, from Trieste airport - 1.5 hours).

From Lido di Jesolo please visit:
Venice - from the bus station in Lido to the P.Roma square in Venice there is a soft bus, then you can walk to San Marco in half an hour or take a Vaparetto ride.

Verona - bus to Mestre + train
Padua - bus to Mestre + train
I don’t recommend going to Milan - you won’t have time to return to Lido by evening.
Prices in Verona-Venice-Milan in brand stores are the same

You can reach Mestre by train. It is 10 minutes from Venezia Santa Lucia station, which is located in Venice itself, to Venezia Mestre station. Train schedules can be found on the Italian Railways website: http://www.ferroviedellostato.it/
Purchasing tickets:

On the train:
- at the ticket office at the station, where the cashier sits. Immediately about the language. Don't be afraid or complex if you don't know the language. Even a weak English cashier will understand. For convenience, you can write on a piece of paper the train number from the schedule, destination, time. You can give this piece of paper to the cashier.

In ticket machines at the train station. This method is convenient because: the machines work even when the cash registers with a person are closed, when there is a long line at the cash register with a person, but you don’t want to stand, there is no time and desire. In addition, the machine is convenient because there is a choice of language for communicating with the machine (true, there is no Russian, but English, German, French, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish are available).

The machine can also be used as source of information about the schedule(s)) trains, both direct and those with transfers (not all cities in Italy can be reached from a given point without transfers). By interacting with the machine, you can find out the prices of tickets for different categories of trains. When purchasing tickets through machines, you can choose your own seat.

In offices and agencies in Italy, where there are representatives of the Italian railways (the emblem is the letters FS (ferrovie dello stato) on a green background). True, when purchasing tickets from these agencies, a small commission is charged, apparently for service.

Trains Eurostar to Milan rarely go. Therefore, probably the only real option is this: the bus from the bus station in Lido de Jesolo leaves at 6.15, at 7.10 it arrives in Mestre. At 7.56 - Eurostar from Mestre, and at 10.05 you are in Milan.

From Milan to Mestre the last Eurostar leaves at 17.55, at 20.04 - you are in Mestre and at 20.25 the bus leaves for Lido de Jesolo, at 21.20 - you are at the bus station. So you will have almost 7 hours at your disposal for shopping in Milan.

If you plan everything in advance and don’t rush around the city from side to side, then everything can be done in time. The shops are all located compactly; transport is not even needed. Just have to skip meals at the hotel. But here something will have to be sacrificed. Good luck!

Lido di Jesolo is perhaps the most popular resort, located about an hour's drive from Venice. Further to the north stretch slightly less well-known resorts: Bibione, Lignano, Grado, where most Italians, Germans and Austrians like to stay, because... these resorts are located near the border with Austria.

But Lido di Jesolo is still in the lead, especially among Russians. It is well located and has good developed infrastructure.

Along the entire central street on both sides there are many cafes, restaurants and shops where you can buy souvenirs and clothes, including not only all the beach accessories, but also the scarves so beloved by Italians of all colors and any texture.

The central square of the town is Piazza Mazzini, where one of the most beautiful hotels in this resort is located. True, in my opinion, its only disadvantage is that it is located on the second line from the sea. You can read about the hotel by clicking on the link with its name - Hotel Principe Palace 4**** In front of it there is a very nice fountain, the jets of which either rush upward together or alternately, and then suddenly freeze. The kids splash around here day and night with great joy until it is turned off))

The town also has its own local temple:

From Venice Marco Polo Airport it will not be difficult to get to this resort. Travel time is approximately 40 minutes. If you travel by public transport, then pay attention to the buses right at the airport exit, including those to Lido di Jesolo. The schedule can be viewed by clicking on the highlighted links. Please note that the schedule is updated frequently.

We must pay tribute to the wide strip of well-equipped sandy beaches, stretching for many kilometers. The shoreline is approximately 10 sun loungers wide. Such a scale cannot be found at all resorts.

The sand on the beaches is fine, but not white:

So, you are having a wonderful time, swimming in the sea and basking in the rays of the gentle sun. I am 100% sure that one day you will definitely want to take a walk to Venice. Being in this part of the “boot”, it would be simply unforgivable not to visit this unique city on the water for at least a day, especially if you come on vacation with your loved one. That alone is worth it!

If you are not planning to rent a car, then I recommend taking bus number 5 from Lido di Jesolo to Punta Sabbioni, because from there it is much more pleasant to get to Venice by small ferry. The hotel will tell you the nearest stop for this bus.

In general, there are 2 options for how to get to Venice:

• by bus/car from Lido di Jesolo to Punta Sabbioni, which will take you about half an hour. If you go by car, you will have to leave it in the parking lot in Punta Sabbioni (5 euros for the whole day). Next - by water transport to Venice, which I wrote about above. It will take another 20-30 minutes depending on which route you choose - with a stop in Lido di Venezia (one of the islands of the lagoon) or a direct route to St. Mark's Square. The ticket costs 14 euros (round trip), unless you plan to use the vaporetto in Venice. And if you want to ride around the city on it, you can pay extra and immediately buy a ticket that is also valid for this type of transport.

• by bus/car from Lido di Jesolo directly to Venice. The final stop is located at the entrance to the city in a square called Piazzale Roma. All buses stop here and there is a huge parking lot where you will need to leave your car (if you go by car), because further you can only travel by water transport.

As a result, the approximate travel time from Lido di Jesolo to Venice is 1 hour. Choose the option that you like best. I wish you a pleasant trip!

Lido di Jesolo is not the most fashionable resort in Italy, but next to it are two of the most romantic cities in the world - Venice and Verona. It is for them that it is worth visiting these parts at least once.

Lido di Jesolo is a resort coast on the Adriatic Sea near Venice. It is located in the very north of Italy. Lido di Jesolo is a continuous strip of wide sandy beaches with a smooth, gently sloping coastline and small towns along the coast. The resort became popular among tourists quite recently - in the 60s of the last century.

A strip of beaches on Lido di Jesolo, Italy

Mostly families with children relax here and those who want to combine a beach holiday with a visit to Venice, Verona, and the famous mountain lakes of Italy - Como and Garda. The resort has several good amusement parks, well-developed infrastructure and very reasonable prices.

Aqualandia Park in Lido di Jesolo, Italy

How to get to Venice and Lido di Jesolo?

Lido di Jesolo has an excellent transport network; local buses run along the entire coast, connecting the resort with the cities of Padua, Milan, Venice and others. The easiest way to get to Lido di Jesolo is from Venice. If you do not plan to visit other regions of Italy, then you should buy a direct flight to Venice (Marco Polo Airport).

Venice from a bird's eye view. Italy

There are regular direct connections with Moscow, carried by Aeroflot and Alitalia. You can view the Aeroflot flight schedule. Venice is also connected by regular year-round flights to other European cities. You can fly to Venice from Rome and Naples, but such a flight will most likely cost you more than a direct flight. You can see the full list of airlines and routes to Venice.

Marco Polo Airport in Venice, Italy

There are several ways to get from Marco Polo Airport to Venice or nearby areas (including the coast of Lido di Jesolo). The simplest and most expensive is a taxi. You can place your order directly at the airport at special counters or call the phone number provided, however, in this case you must have excellent command of English.

Lounge at Marco Polo Airport, Venice. Italy

There is a bus service. You can reach Venice itself, Lido di Jesolo, Lignano, Bibione and the Dolomites. Find a detailed schedule. Tickets can be purchased at special kiosks and offices directly in the airport building, or from the bus driver (not for all routes).

Map of the location of kiosks and ticket machines at Venice Marco Polo Airport

Another type of transport is a water bus. It will take you to Venice or its islands of Murano, Burano and Lido. The ticket can be purchased at the boat station or directly on board the water bus.

To find the station, you need to exit the arrival hall through the central door, on the left you will see a long covered walkway that will take you straight to the pier. There you will also find many small private companies providing water taxi services.

Water bus from Venice, Italy

If you wish, you can rent a car right at the airport. If you plan to vacation directly in Venice or on its islands, then there is no need for a car, since Venice is a pedestrian city, and a car will be of little use to you.

If you are going to the coast of Lido di Jesolo and are planning not only a beach holiday, but also an active excursion holiday, then it makes sense to think about renting a car.

Bus at Venice Marco Polo Airport, Italy

Pros and cons of holidays in Lido di Jesolo

Lido di Jesolo is a typical beach resort. This is a continuous strip of hotels, beaches and all kinds of entertainment for tourists. Here you will not find historical quarters or quiet romantic places.

Holidays here are more reminiscent of the Black Sea coast at the height of summer: carcasses of vacationers on the beach, sleepy tourists, children's squeals and other joyful vacation fuss.

Beach at Lido di Jesolo, Italy

But from Lido di Jesolo it is very close to Venice, Verona, the Dolomites and Lake Garda. If you wish, you can get to Padua, Florence and Milan relatively quickly, or swim to Croatia or San Marino (only 150-170 km by ferry).

Promenade in Lido di Jesolo, Italy

Prices for Lido di Jesolo are incredible. Holidays here can be called economical in comparison with other regions of Italy. If you are used to premium holidays, then Lido di Jesolo is not your option; Venice itself or the Lido Island (see below) would be more suitable for you. But for those who are ready for a moderate level of service for reasonable money, Lido di Jesolo is ideal.

Street in Lido di Jesolo, Italy

An important feature of Lido di Jesolo is its very short summer season. Unlike other beach areas in Italy, Lido di Jesolo can be quite cool in May and September, with frequent rain and wind.

In June there are more sunny days, but sometimes there are cold snaps, especially at the beginning. The most suitable months for a summer beach holiday are July and September. It is at this time that Lido di Jesolo has the most comfortable water and air temperatures, but these same months mark the peak influx of tourists.

Lido di Jesolo at night, Italy

Pros and cons of holidays in Venice. Where to stay in Venice – the center or the surrounding area?

You can stay directly in Venice if you are planning only an excursion holiday, or combine your trip to spend a few days in Venice and then go to the coast.

Spending two or three nights in Venice itself will allow you to see things that you would never see on a formal sightseeing tour.

Venice, Italy

In terms of the number of architectural masterpieces, Venice ranks one of the first places in the world. The historical buildings and neighborhoods here are in excellent condition, so you will see Venice exactly as Petrarch and Goethe, Casanova and Princess Tarakanova, Gumilyov, Bunin, and many others saw it.

Moreover, Venice during the day and Venice at night look like two completely different cities. During the day, it is a vibrant and dynamic city, filled with the sounds of street trading, the splash of gondoliers' oars, and the noise of the crowd. It seems that this is not a city, but an anthill, in which movement does not stop for a minute.

Venice street Italy

At night, Venice seems mysterious and mystical. Street lighting, reflection of numerous lights in canals, blurred boundaries of embankments create a feeling of loss in space, everything becomes unsteady and floating. The atmosphere of the daytime bustle in numerous cafes and on the embankments changes to romance and lazy fatigue.

Venice at night, Italy

It should be noted that Venice is one of the most expensive holiday destinations. The cost of accommodation, dinner in a restaurant or travel around the center by transport here will be many times more expensive than in neighboring cities.

If you wish, you can find places to eat and travel options at a relatively inexpensive price, but there are inevitable queues and not very comfortable conditions, so in terms of price-quality ratio you still have the feeling that you have overpaid a little for the service.

Pier in Venice, Italy

The second feature of Venice is water. Of course, Venice is famous for the fact that it is the only city on the water. The romance of gondoliers, the beauty of local canals, charming old houses and beautiful medieval palazzos - all this has been sung in literature and advertising brochures more than once, and this is what attracts us so much to Venice.

Entrance to Hotel Danieli, Venice, Italy

But you will have to put up with the damp smell in the rooms, the aromas of flowering water in the canals (this phenomenon occurs periodically, especially in spring and early summer), and the crowded sidewalks.

On a stuffy night, you are unlikely to open the window in your hotel room. In addition, sometimes houses are so close to each other that leaving windows open is simply not comfortable.

Street restaurant in Venice Italy

At the height of the tourist season, Venice can look quite dirty. Due to the influx of tourists, city services simply do not have time to restore order (however, this remark is typical for all cities in Italy, so garbage can be considered a local feature and not bother with this issue.)

Canal in Venice, Italy

Despite all of the above, Venice is definitely worth seeing at least once in your life. No little things or everyday inconveniences can spoil her charm and beauty.
If you want to combine a beach holiday with frequent sightseeing, you can stay on Lido Island - here you will find beautiful sandy beaches, an excellent guesthouse, and the center of Venice can be reached at any time in just 20 minutes by speedboat.

Lido di Venice Italy

Celebrities and local wealthy citizens like to relax on the Lido. During the Venice Film Festival (in September), the bulk of the guests and stars of the festival live here, so booking anything to stay at the Lido in early autumn is simply unrealistic - all local hotels traditionally reserve places for visiting celebrities.

And relaxation during the festival cannot be called comfortable - prices here skyrocket, many cafes and restaurants are closed for individual service.

Hotel Excelsior, Lido Island, Venice, Italy

Main attractions of Venice

Piazza San Marco

San Marco is the central square of the city. The remaining squares of Venice are called campo and campiello (meadows and areas). San Marco can be called the calling card of Venice. The square acquired its modern appearance in the 17th century, but some of the buildings here are much older.

For example, the pavement was laid out in the 13th century, and the clock tower was built at the end of the 15th century.
Napoleon called St. Mark's Square "the living room of all Europe." In terms of the number of attractions, St. Mark's Square is the main place in the city.

Piazza San Marco, Venice, Italy

St. Mark's Cathedral

The Basilica of San Marco is the main cathedral of Venice. It was founded back in the 10th century, when the Venetians literally stole the relics of St. Mark from Egypt and decided to build a separate temple to store them.

The act, of course, was unseemly, but the goal was noble - to save sacred Christian relics from the hands of the infidels, the Muslim Saracens, who at that time owned Alexandria.

In general, it must be said that in the Middle Ages, European city-states quite actively practiced theft of the relics of various saints in order to save them from destruction, and at the same time raise the status of their city in the eyes of other Christians and the Roman Church.

St. Mark's Cathedral in Venice, Italy

St. Mark's Cathedral served as the starting point for the Crusades for many centuries. Venetian doges were crowned there and historical (by the standards of Venice) masses were held there.

The square in front of the Cathedral hosted the main celebrations and festivities of the Venetian Republic, including the famous Venetian Carnival. In terms of the beauty and richness of its interior, the cathedral fully justifies its status.

Interior of the Basilica of San Marco in Venice Italy

The Cathedral of San Marco was originally built as the main church of the city, so the best architects of the time were brought in for construction, including Byzantine architects, who had no equal in skill in the early Middle Ages.

San Marco was built in the image and likeness of Hagia Sophia in Constantinople. True, in subsequent centuries it was expanded and completed several times, but the main elements of the Byzantine style are clearly visible even now.

Domes of St. Mark's Basilica, Venice, Italy

The main altar of the Basilica of San Marco, which houses the relics of St. Mark, is covered with gilding and precious stones, and its frame is made of silver, decorated with enamel and inlays.

There is so much marble, gilding, precious and semi-precious stones in the decoration of the interior of the temple that the Cathedral of San Marco used to be called “golden”, and in terms of the richness of its design it had no equal in Europe.

Main altar of St. Mark's Basilica, Venice, Italy

Doge's Palace

The Doge's Palace is the residence of the Venetian rulers and one of the most recognizable buildings in Venice. Its architecture so skillfully intertwines Gothic and Moorish styles that the building, despite its strict geometric contours and rather impressive dimensions, seems to float above the embankment.

Like St. Mark's Basilica, the Doge's Palace was built so that the power and might of the Venetian Republic was visible throughout. There is also a lot of gilding and marble, and everywhere you can see figures of a winged lion - the symbol of St. Mark, the patron saint of Venice.

The walls are decorated with frescoes by Titian, Veronese and Tintoretto, as well as paintings by Hieronymus Bosch. A unique world map of the famous Venetian Marco Polo is kept here, on which the territory of modern Russia is designated as Great Tartary, stretching from the Pacific Ocean to the Caspian Sea.

Doge's Palace, Venice, Italy

In addition to the ceremonial halls, the Doge's Palace has secret rooms - rooms for torture and detention of state criminals, who in the Middle Ages were tried and interrogated by the “council of ten” - the Venetian analogue of the court of the Holy Inquisition.

Among others, among the prisoners of the secret rooms are Giordano Bruno, burned at the stake by the Inquisition, and the famous Casanova - by the way, the only prisoner who managed to escape from prison; before him, escaping from the Doge's Palace prisons was considered impossible.

Prison in the Doge's Palace, Venice, Italy

Excursions to the Doge's Palace can be booked. The Doge's Palace is open to the public all year round from 8:30 to 19:00 (from November to the end of March, opening hours are reduced to 17:30), the ticket office closes an hour earlier. On Catholic Christmas and New Year (December 25 and January 1), the Palace is closed to visitors.

Interior rooms of the Doge's Palace, Venice, Italy

Bridge of Sighs

Despite the beautiful name, the Bridge of Sighs has a rather sad history. The bridge connects the Doge's Palace with the premises of the former casemate. After the trial, those sentenced to imprisonment were taken to their cells along this bridge.

Here the prisoners could look out the window at the sunlight for the last time, since the conditions in the local prison were so harsh that almost none of the prisoners lived to see the end of their sentence.

Therefore, when taking a farewell look at Venice, the unfortunate ones let out a deep sad sigh. They say that here you can still hear the sighs of the unfortunate who said goodbye to life many centuries ago.

Bridge of Sighs, Venice, Italy

Currently, the sad history of the bridge is somewhat brightened up by a new, more romantic legend. It is believed that a kiss between lovers on the bridge at midnight will make their love able to overcome any obstacles.

And if you merge in a kiss while sailing under a bridge, then the lovers will certainly get married and live a long, happy life in marriage. In the evenings, on the canal leading to the Bridge of Sighs, there is a huge queue of gondolas in which lovers are sitting.

Wedding photo shoot near the Bridge of Sighs, Venice, Italy

Church of Santa Maria della Salute

Santa Maria della Salute is located opposite the Doge's Palace. People call it “plague”, as it was built in honor of ridding the city of the plague, which killed a third of the population of Venice in the 17th century. The name of the church is translated as Holy Mary the Healer.

Church of Santa Maria della Salute, Venice, Italy

The church took more than half a century to build - the building was designed so grandiosely that the builders could not strengthen the foundation sufficient to support the massive structure of the church.

As a result, over one hundred thousand beams made from valuable tree species were used to build the foundation. Taking into account the luxurious interior decoration, the construction of the temple cost the city a very large sum.

Interior of the Church of Santa Maria della Salute, Venice, Italy

Every year on November 21, on the Catholic day of the Blessed Virgin Mary, a kind of floating bridge is built from gondolas tightly fitted to each other, along which local residents organize a procession from St. Mark's Square to the church in honor of the miraculous deliverance from the epidemic.

Celebration of the Day of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Santa Maria della Salute, Venice, Italy

Correr Museum

The Correr Museum is the private art collection of the Venetian Teodoro Correro, which he bequeathed to his city after his death in 1830. The collection is a rich treasury of works of art, antiques and artistic canvases.

Along with the collection, Correr also bequeathed the ancient palace of San Zan Degola. Subsequently, the exhibition was expanded through donations of valuable items from other townspeople and monasteries.

Carrer Museum, Venice, Italy

In the 19th century, a separate building was built for the Correr Museum in Piazza San Marco. Today the museum's exhibition is one of the most impressive in the world.

The museum has many thematic rooms, including an exhibition of Venetian costumes, an art gallery with works by Titian, Dürer, Bellini and others, the history of the Venetian Republic, a collection of weapons and armor, and much more.

Entrance to the Correr Museum, Venice, Italy

The museum is open from 10:00 to 19:00 (in winter until 18:00), ticket offices close an hour earlier. The entrance ticket for adults is 16 euros. Discounts are provided for pensioners, schoolchildren and students. You can purchase tickets, as well as learn more about the museum’s exhibition.

Work by Francesco Guardi in the Carrera Museum, Venice, Italy

Grand Canal (Grand Canal)

The Grand Canal is, one might say, the “main street” of Venice. A walk along the Grand Canal is included in the mandatory excursion list when visiting the city. The buildings built along the banks of the canal date back to the period of the 12th-17th centuries.

For the most part, these are the houses of the most famous and wealthy citizens, which is why the largest number of palaces are concentrated on the banks of the Grand Canal.

Grand Canal, Venice, Italy

To see the Grand Canal in all its splendor, it's worth taking a gondola. This pleasure is not cheap, but visiting Venice without a gondola ride is unforgivable. Please note that many gondoliers are not just carriers.

Among them there are real “showmen” who will give you a short excursion during the voyage, tell you interesting facts about history, sing a couple of songs and will certainly tell you at least one of the local legends. So when choosing a gondola, choose a smarter driver - you won’t regret it.

Gondoliers on the Grand Canal, Venice, Italy

Murano Island

Murano is one of the island districts of Venice, on which the museum of the famous Murano glass is located. Since the 12th century, this particular island was set aside for glassblowing workshops, since glass production was extremely fire hazardous. To protect the city from accidental fires, all glassblowers had to practice their craft here.

Murano glass making process, Venice, Italy

There is a museum on the island about the history of Murano glass making. The museum is open every day except Wednesday. You can find out more about the museum's opening hours and exhibitions. In the numerous craft shops on the island and in the museum store you can find amazingly beautiful handmade Murano glass products.

Murano glass decoration, Venice, Italy

Burano Island

Venice has become famous for its lacemakers since the 16th century. It is believed that local fisherwomen mastered the skill of lace weaving by weaving nets for their husbands. Venetian lace was so highly valued in Europe that the best royal houses ordered it to decorate the ceremonial clothes of royalty.

Craftswomen of Burano at work, Venice, Italy

Burano is definitely worth a trip for two reasons. Firstly, for the sake of purchasing unique handmade lace products (the craftswomen of Burano weave not only napkins and tablecloths from lace. You will find exclusive wardrobe items, evening dresses, stoles, wall panels, curtains and much more. And believe me, the jackets and dresses of local craftswomen Any fashion house will be the envy of you; this is not your “grandmother’s joy.”

Lace from the island of Burano, Venice, Italy

Secondly, a walk through the cramped streets of Burano is a special pleasure. All the houses here are painted in bright holiday colors. The tradition began several centuries ago, when sailors, upon entering the harbor, looked for the way to the house, focusing on its colors. Now there is no need for this, but the local residents jealously honor this rule.

Colorful houses on the island of Burano, Venice, Italy

And the local municipality can even fine the owner of the house for inappropriately bright coloring. Another interesting point: you can paint the house not anyhow, but in strict accordance with the color palette approved by the municipality.

Burano Island, Venice, Italy

Other attractions in Venice

Castello Quarter- the largest district of Venice, in which the Doge's tomb is located, exhibitions of the Biennale - a museum of modern art, the majestic church of San Zaccaria from the Renaissance, Campo San Zaccaria - a place that several centuries ago was a haven for the most notorious criminals (it still operates here today medieval ban on building new houses and settling new families, so as not to increase crime).

Castello quarter in Venice, Italy

Torcello Island– the oldest district of the city, where Venice originates. Local attractions include the throne of Attila, an ancient bridge without railings (these were built in Venice in the early Middle Ages), and the ancient church of Santa Fosca.

Torcello Island, Venice, Italy

San Michele Island- This is, in fact, a cemetery. In Russian fashion, the island and the churchyard of the same name are named after Archangel Michael, and there is also a chapel in his honor. In San Michele there are the graves of many famous people, including Russians: Diaghilev, Brodsky, Stravinsky, as well as members of eminent noble families who left Russia after the 1917 revolution.

Island of San Michele, Venice, Italy

P. Guggenheim Museum- a small collection of early 20th century art that belonged to Solomon Guggenheim's niece Peggy. The exhibition includes works by Dali, Modigliani, Picasso, Kandinsky and many others.

Peggy Guggenheim Museum, Venice, Italy

Rialto Market- Venice food market, which has existed for more than 10 centuries. Even if you are not going to buy anything, it is worth a visit here for the atmosphere, an excursion among the many stalls and stalls with all kinds of fish and local delicacies. There are also several restaurants on the market, the oldest of which is Poste Vecie, which dates back to 1500.

Rialto Market, Venice, Italy

Riva degli Schiavoni promenade- the main promenade of Venice, the name of which translates as “coast of slaves”. Since the 9th century, there was a huge slave market here, where Slavs, among others, were traded. Nowadays, there are numerous cafes and souvenir shops on the embankment.

Riva degli Schiavoni promenade, Venice, Italy

Cannaregio Quarter- the place where the world's first Jewish ghetto was founded. The old part of the quarter is a medieval city with terribly cramped streets and tiny houses in which Jews evicted from the main part of the city huddled. Poor townspeople and non-noble newcomers were also evicted here.

Cannaregio Quarter, Venice, Italy

Islands of San Giorgio and Giudecca- another refuge for exiles and wanderers. Michelangelo lived on San Giorgio for a long time, expelled from Florence. These neighborhoods are interesting for their authenticity. There are very few tourists here and the life of ordinary Venetians opens up as it is, without a tourist boom and unnecessary fuss.

Island of San Giorgio, Venice, Italy

La Mercerie street– the main place for shopping. There are many boutiques, souvenir shops and craft shops here, where you can buy anything from branded clothing to unique handicrafts. If you are interested in outlets, then you should go shopping in the Mestre area, where several modern shopping complexes are located.

Shopping street in Venice, Italy

Padua

Padua is located just 40 km from Venice. In Italian the name of the city sounds like Padova. Padua is famous primarily for its ancient university, one of the first in Europe (founded in the 13th century). The University of Padua was perhaps the most progressive for its time. Astronomy and philosophy were taught there by Galileo Galilei and Nikolai Kopenik, who were persecuted by the church for having too unconventional views on the world order.

Padua, Italy

The world's first anatomical theater was founded at the University of Padua, and the local faculty of medicine was so advanced that pathological experiments were carried out here.

In those days, dissection was considered a heretical activity and was brutally suppressed by the church. In the 17th century, the first female student appeared among university students, while in the rest of Europe science remained a purely male privilege for a long time.

Classroom at the University of Padua, Italy

Another attraction of Padua is the Scrovegni Chapel. The walls of the chapel are painted by the great Italian artist Giotto. The uniqueness of the painting lies in the fact that for the first time the images of saints were made as realistically as possible. In the 14th century, when the chapel was being built, biblical characters were depicted as textbook figures, seated in the same pose on royal pedestals.

Scrovegni Chapel in Padua, Italy

Giotto depicted them as living people, whose faces express emotions, and whose figures most accurately correspond to the proportions of the human body.

For that time, this was undoubtedly a bold act, the first step towards the Renaissance, which would come only 200 years after Giotto’s death. In addition, Giotto's painting creates an optical illusion, significantly enlarging a small room.

One of Giotto's frescoes in the Scrovegni Chapel, Padua, Italy

In general, Padua is a very cozy and beautiful city. There is not such a tourist rush as in Venice, but there are quite a lot of interesting places, historical buildings and magnificent views.

Prices in Padua are in some places several times lower than in Venice; there are many inexpensive and decent hotels of different star levels in the very center of the city. Cafes and restaurants delight with the quality of service and price tag.

Night Padua, Italy

Padua can be a great place to stay if you don't want or can't spend significant amounts of money on a hotel in Venice. At any time of the day, you can travel from Padua to Venice in just 30 minutes.

Life here is much calmer and more comfortable, the atmosphere is completely different, and there are no fewer attractions and beauties than in other cities in Italy.

Padua, Italy

Verona - the capital of all lovers

Verona is separated from Venice by only 120 km of roads. You can get there either by rented car or by public transport - by train or intercity bus.

Verona, Italy

Of course, the main thing why tourists come to Verona is Juliet's house and Romeo's house. Shakespeare's touching story about two unhappy lovers excites our minds and hearts so much that it is difficult to resist the temptation to see the very balcony on which young Romeo climbed to his beloved.

Juliet's Balcony, Verona, Italy

For the sake of fairness, it is worth saying that Romeo and Juliet never existed in reality, Shakespeare invented them. But the prototypes of the Capullet and Montague families really lived in Verona, were at enmity with each other, their houses are currently called Romeo's house and Juliet's house (in reality, the families bore the surnames Del Capello and Monticoli).

"Romeo and Juliet", still from the film by F. Zeffirelli

The Monticoli House remains to this day a private property, closed to tourists and can only be viewed from the outside. But the Del Capello family handed over their house to the municipality, and now there is a small museum dedicated to Shakespeare’s heroes. It recreates the interiors of the 16th-17th centuries, collects ancient costumes, as well as the sets of several films that were filmed here.

Interior of Juliet's house. Verona, Italy

Giuletta's house is located at Via Cappello, 23, 37121 Verona, you can enter the courtyard for free at any time of the day, you can get inside the house from 8:30 to 19:30 for 6 euros (on Mondays the museum opens at 13:30) . For a fee, upon pre-registration, wedding registration or a wedding photo session can be held on Juliet's balcony.

Romeo's House, Verona, Italy

Every year, thousands of lovers visit Juliet's house to experience the most romantic story of all time. Many people leave notes on the walls of the patio and on the way to the house.

From time to time, the local municipality tries to fight pasted messages, as they seriously damage the appearance and walls of a historical building. But tourists with enviable stubbornness sculpt more and more new leaves.

Notes on the walls of the arch near Juliet's house. Verona, Italy

Another object of worship that gives the municipality a lot of trouble is the statue of Juliet in the courtyard of the house. It is believed that if you rub your palm over Juliet's right breast, all your heart's desires will come true, and your loved one will be with you forever. The right chest of the statue is so carefully polished by visitors that the sculpture has already had to be taken away for restoration several times.

Tourists near the statue of Juliet. Verona, Italy

The museum has created a “Juliet Club”, in which volunteers write answers to messages left for her by tourists from all over the world. The team is international, so the answer comes in their native language. You can send a letter to Juliet from anywhere in the world to the address Club di Giulietta, Corso Santa Anastasia 29, 37121 Verona Italia, or electronically through a special form on the club website.

Here, according to legend, Romeo and Juliet died. Capuchin Monastery, Verona. Italy

Another place in Verona is associated with the name of Juliet - this is the Capuchin monastery, where, according to legend, the young people got married, and in the basement of which the final tragedy of the play took place. You can find the monastery at Via del Pontiere, 35, 37121 Verona, entrance costs 4.5 euros. Tourists constantly write notes near Juliet's tomb, and if they have a return address, the Capuchin monks will certainly answer the message.