From the history of lido. Lido Island - an ancient outpost of Venice Verona - the capital of all lovers
If you are in Venice and want to avoid high prices, crowds of tourists and constant noise, Isola Lido is the perfect place for you. More fashionable and residential than , the island offers walks along small canals, a wide choice of restaurants and stunning views of Venice itself, stretching across the Lagoon opposite.
Lido is a very long island located on the opposite side of the continent from Venice. This is a long spit with a sandy shore and rather boring content - there are no special attractions on the island, it is such an ordinary town. But this is where the best beaches are - they are even called the Venetian Riviera.
Beaches of Lido
The beaches of Venice are located on the Lido. The island protects the Lagoon from the Adriatic Sea and is famous for its film festival, which is held annually at the end of August and the first week of September. In 1920 it was the most famous beach in Italy due to its aristocratic atmosphere (which continues to this day).
In art
It was here that Thomas Mann wrote his famous work “Death in Venice,” which was made into a film of the same name in Visconti in 1972. Some scenes of The English Patient were also filmed here, at the Hotel Des Bains, one of the island's most significant free-style buildings.
Some scenes of the film “Casino Royale” with Daniel Craig (2006) were also filmed on the same island.
Getting to Lido Island:
There is a bus to the island, going from across the whole and further to the Lido stop (the same ticket as for Venice is also valid to the island).
From Venice to Lido Island:
You can take the ACTV vaporetto from the railway station and from stations up to the island. This is the final stop of route number 1. The ticket costs 7 euros one way. Tickets for Venice are valid to Lido (but not from/to the airport, these are different companies). See the route map below.
From Marco Polo Airport to Lido:
Head towards the Alilaguna vaporetto station (when leaving the airport, turn left and follow the signs). From the airport towards Lido Casino there is Linea Rossa (red line) - a seasonal route from April to October. It takes about 10 minutes to get to the island by vaporetto.
Ticket prices:
A ticket from the airport to the island costs 15 euros one way or 27 euros both ways. You can buy online cheaper (14 and 25 euros, respectively). The ticket covers 1 suitcase and one hand luggage; additional luggage costs 3 euros.
Children under 5 years old travel free of charge
Vaporetto schedule from the airport to the island:
Scheme of vaporetto routes in the Venice Lagoon:
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.
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A long string of islands stretches along the Adriatic Sea, providing reliable protection for Venice. The 12-kilometer-long sandbar is a rescue barrier created by nature itself. Lido Beach in Venice is the longest beach in Agai Bay. Actions aimed at lowering inland waters were not in vain - the beach is not being washed away. In the northern part of the island it is the cleanest and most well-groomed; most likely, the maximum concentration of hotels in this area contributes to the cleanliness and prosperity of the beach. About 500,000 people visit Lido Beach in Venice every year.
History of origin.
The history of Lido Beach in Venice begins in the 19th century, when it was founded. Perhaps it was because of this beautiful beach that such literary geniuses as Byron and Shelley loved to relax on the island. Over time, the once wild beach acquired a huge number of places for swimming, was “ennobled” with cabins and sun loungers, and became a popular vacation spot for movie stars, which made it one of the most popular vacation spots in Europe.
Architecture.
The popularity of Lido Beach in Venice arose due to its fine sand and unusually clear water and, although the water is not so clear in modern times, the beach is crowded with holidaymakers, a place where you can relax from the dusty and hot city. Rocks are scattered along the coastal area, dividing the huge territory of Lido Beach into many small ones.
Neighborhood.
The Westin Excelsior and Des Bains hotels are located on Venice's Lido Beach. Numerous shops and cafes, children's playgrounds will be at your service. Depending on the chosen holiday destination, the cost of using the beach varies and in some places it may even be absent. Walking to the northeast of Lido beach, the fortress of San Nicolo stands on the way. A curious and gambling traveler may also be interested in the Venice City Casino. Hikers can go to the Alberoni lighthouse. You can play golf there. The Palazzo del Cinema has hosted the annual Venice Film Festival in September since 1935. In the south of the island there is the Church of the Assumption of the Mother of God (Santa Maria Assunta), a golf course and the Palazzo del Podesta.
Tourist on note.
Despite the fact that Lido Beach in Venice is no longer such a prestigious holiday destination as it used to be, you can get a lot of pleasure there: if you are a fan of water skiing - in this place such entertainment is quite possible and do not be afraid of drowning - qualified lifeguards will undoubtedly help you; To escape the sun, you don’t have to take an umbrella with you; you can rent one, like a sun lounger, although this can be quite expensive, especially at the height of the season. Shower and toilet available. If you are traveling around Italy by car, this is not a problem; you can always use the parking provided here. If you have a pet, it is better to leave it at home, as visiting with animals is strictly prohibited. People who prefer night swimming should take into account the ban on using the municipal beach from 01:00 to 05:00 in the morning. This is enshrined in law and the police patrol has the right to fine those who disobey in the amount of about 150 euros. It is better not to relax on the Lido beach in Venice in August, or in July either - at this time it is crowded. You can visit it in June or September. These four months constitute the main holiday season.
Lido Island (Italy) - description, history, location. Exact address, phone number, website. Tourist reviews, photos and videos.
- Last minute tours to Italy
If, when you're in Venice, you're trying to avoid the more touristy (and expensive) places with all the noise and hubbub that comes with them, you'll love Lido Island. This is one of Venice's underrated gems, more residential, more "local" and more fashionable than the traditional areas of the city. There are, however, narrow canals, plenty of places for a pleasant dinner, and impressive views of the city across the lagoon. At the same time, Lido is a kind of analogue of Palm Beach in Florida: expensive housing, historical architecture and a feeling of slight superiority of the “islanders” over the inhabitants of the mainland.
Besides, Lido is a beach. In 1920, he was generally the most famous in Italy due to his aristocratic atmosphere (it has not completely evaporated to this day). Here Thomas Mann wrote “Death in Venice”, here Visconti filmed the film adaptation of this book in 1972. By the way, some fragments of “The English Patient” and a scene from the Bond series “Casino Royale” were filmed here.
“The English Patient” was filmed in the building of The Hotel Des Bains, one of the most remarkable mansions on the Lido, built in the Liberty style.
Lido is designed to relax and indulge in divine laziness. Most of the beach here is privately owned by various hotels, but there is also a public beach (at the end of the Gran Viale, in the center). It's very nice, but quite crowded. The island protects the lagoon from the Adriatic Sea, so it is somewhat windier here, and the sea itself is not as calm as on the mainland. In addition to the beach, the Lido has plenty of opportunities to play golf and tennis. In addition, here is the Alberoni oasis, an area protected by WWF.
The Lido is also famous for its film festival, which takes place every year from the end of August to the first week of September.
The best way to explore the Lido is to rent a bike from one of the shops on the same Gran Viale. And the best time on the Lido is 17:00. Seriously: at this time the atmosphere here is definitely local: islanders dressed like workers return from work across the lagoon. The many bars and eateries have a pleasant, homey, "everyone knows everyone" atmosphere; locals hug and chat enthusiastically with each other as they unwind after a day's work.
San Lazzaro degli Armeni
San Lazzaro
Just a couple of hundred meters from the Lido, on the mainland side, lies the tiny square islet of San Lazzaro degli Armeni. In the Middle Ages, there was a colony for lepers here, and since 1717, a Catholic Armenian monastery appeared on the island. It became the headquarters of the Benedictine Armenian Order of Mekhitarists and, moreover, one of the most significant centers of Armenian culture and Armenian education outside Armenia in the world. And from 1789 until the beginning of the 20th century, the island was the center of Armenian painting.
San Lazzaro has attracted cultural and artistic figures for several centuries. Lord Byron lived here from 1816 to 1817, translating from Armenian. The room where he worked is still carefully preserved by the monks. Other famous visitors to the island include Alfred de Musset, George Sand, Richard Wagner and Ivan Aivazovsky, whose older brother worked at the monastery in 1840.
Currently, on the island you can see a church with a neo-Gothic interior and a high bell tower topped with an onion dome. There are also residential areas, a library, a museum, an art gallery, a manuscript repository, a printing press and a beautiful garden. Nearby stands a memorial erected in 1960 in memory of the Armenian genocide.
Today the monastery has a huge collection - about 150 thousand books, magazines, artifacts, as well as the third largest collection of Armenian manuscripts in the world (about four thousand pieces). The earliest manuscripts date back to the 8th century. The library contains, in particular, one of ten existing copies of Urbatagirk, the first known printed Armenian book, published in Venice in 1512.
The monastery library deserves attention not only as a repository of spiritual treasures, but also in itself. Its vaults were painted by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo.
One of the treasures of the monastery is an Egyptian mummy, which was sent to San Lazzaro in 1825 by Boghos Bey Yusufian, an Egyptian minister of Armenian origin. Using radiocarbon dating, the mummy is dated to 450-430. BC BC, and most likely represents the remains of Namenkhet Amun, a priest of the temple of Amun at Karnak.
Souvenirs
A special souvenir that can be brought back from the monastery (and which can no longer be found in Venice) is rose jam, which is traditionally made by Mechtarist monks. Jam is made from the petals around May, when the flowers are in full bloom. In addition to roses, the recipe includes water, sugar and lemon juice. The jam is called “vardanush”, and five thousand jugs of it are prepared annually. The monks eat jam for breakfast, and tourists can buy it at the island's souvenir shop.
Practical information
You can get to the Lido after landing at Marco Polo Airport from the Alilaguna water bus station. Lido boats make several stops along the way. If you're coming from the city itself, use the ACTV water buses to reach the Lido in 10 minutes. Please note that early morning and late afternoon are peak times on this route.