Making the Most out of Venice at Christmas

Venice is a great place to be over the Christmas period with the local Xmas market and the general atmosphere that one enjoys in this holiday season. Below are some tips for making the most out of your trip to Venice at Christmas time.

Visit St Marks Basilica - Don’t forget that as well as being one of the most popular tourist attractions in Venice St Marks Basilica is a functioning cathedral. The Christmas Eve Midnight Mass is a stunning service which is one of the most perfect ways to spend the most festive night of the year. Just make sure you remember the mass actually starts at 2230 and not midnight.

Visit the museums - Don’t write off Boxing Day as an opportunity to visit the city’s many museums and tourist sites. Most will be open on this day, and with most people off celebrating Christmas this could be the ideal day to explore.

The Bells - The bells of the churches and cathedrals in Venice ring out to signal the start of Christmas masses. Find out what time these bells will be ringing and make sure you are outside when it happens. The sound of the many bells echos around the walls and the water making a truly magical sound which will make you feel incredibly festive.

Christmas Market - The best Christmas market in Venice is at Campo San Stefano and is a must visit for anybody in the area at this time. The area is transformed into something of a Christmas village and sells a superb range of Venetian goods as well as local foods and drinks.

A Short History of St Marks Basilica

St Marks Basilica is amongst the most popular visitor attractions in Venice, and a big part of the attraction is its colourful history. If you choose only to visit one attraction in Venice, St Marks Basilica is maybe the one to choose.

Venice has a strong religious heritage and there are many churches spread around the city, but St Marks Basilica is the best known and most exciting to visit due to its sheer size and quite fantastic architectural design. To give it its full name, Patriarchal Cathedral Basilica of Saint Mark, is a Roman Catholic cathedral which has roots leading back to the 9th century when a temporary structure was erected. This initial structure was burnt down during a rebellion in the 10th century before being quickly re-built and eventually transformed into the basis of the impressive structure that is present today.

As the years and centuries went by the work on the basilica continued, which is why different parts of the building differ in design as they were subject to the fashions and ideas of the time. Venice was the returning point for ships traveling the world, many of which would bring back features, such as pillars, which were incorporated into the building.

Amongst the most famous features of St Marks Basilica are the Greek Horses which stand on the outside of the building. These were initially put in place in the 13th century having been returned to Venice as part of loot taken from Constantinople. All in all, the various different features of the Basilica and their intriguing history make for a fascinating visit.

Take a Ghost Tour of Venice

Venice is a city with a vast and illustrious history, and as with any area of this age, there are a number of ghost tales and legends which have been passed down over the years. For those looking to add a different twist to their Venice visit there is the opportunity to embark on one of the organised walks around the sites of the most significant stories. These extremely fun and insightful tours generally cost below twenty Euros and represent great value for money.

The ghost tours of Venice run at night time and allow you to experience some of the best areas of the city by moonlight, making this tour an ideal option for a couple who want something romantic to do, all be it with a twist. Many of the walks will take you along the rialto bridge and sweep off into many of the eery roads alongside it, with the guides doing a fantastic job of setting the scene and delivering stories in a manner which really add to the experience of the walk.

Although many of the stories told are not about specific ghosts, they let you into the secret history of the areas that you would not hear on standard tours, with tales of gruesome prisons and historic conditions getting the mind wondering about what ghosts could be in the area. These tours really are a great way to expand your knowledge of Venice beyond the conventional tourist information. Book a Venice ghost tour online.

Looking to book Venice apartments in Italy for your ghost tour?

Cafes to Visit in Venice

With so much beautiful architecture and scenery to enjoy in Venice it is criminal not to sit and enjoy it. A great way to do so is from one of the city’s many cafes, of which some of the best are described below.

Caffè Quadri

This establishment has a cafe and a restaurant, both of which are stunning. The real joy of this cafe is that it has maintained its character despite the changes to the modern world around it. The coffee is of genuinely high quality but is certainly not for those watching the purse strings.

Caffè del Doge

This cafe is definitely worth a visit when near the Rialto Bridge. If you are the sort of person who likes to try different coffees then the variety of this establishments menu will certainly appeal to you. The distinctive sign of this cafe has been attracting visitors for years.

Gelateria il Doge

Whether you are after an ice cream, a coffee or a soft drink you will find something to suit you here. This is not one of the most glamorous cafes in the city but it certainly does the job and does it well.

Florian

This is a truly grand cafe which is amongst the oldest of its kind in Venice. It will come as no surprise that this cafe has been in existence for over 300 years when you view the stunning design features and sample the magical atmosphere inside.

Sports Venues in Venice

The history, culture and beauty of Venice are undoubtedly the main attractions, but for those who would like to add a different dimension to their visit, below are the best sporting venues in the city.

Stadio Pierluigi Penzo

This is a great old stadium which carries a certain character which cannot be found in more modern stadia. It has been in use since 1913 and is the long term home of the local football team which plays in the third level of the professional Italian leagues. There are other events at the almost 11,000 seater and you should check for more information whilst in the area. This may not be the most glamorous arena you will ever visit, but as your mother will tell you, looks aren’t everything.

Centro Sportivo Comunale

This truly is a mutli sport venue. You can catch (amateur) football, athletics, hockey and various other sports throughout the year. One of the more common uses these days is rugby, with the local side playing their national league games here. Rugby will hardly be a classic from the Tri Nations, but that is the joy of lower level rugby, anything can happen.

The river – regattas

With Venice having such a long standing and intimate relationship with the local rivers and canals it is no surprise that they are used as the venue for some of the most hotly anticipated sporting events in the city. The boat races which take place on these waters are highly popular with locals and tourists alike and can arguably be called the traditional sporting event of the area.

Famous People Who Were Born in Venice

Venice is famous for so many reasons, including the fact that so many famous and influential people were born there. Below is a list of some of these people who prove that there is something magical about the city

Marco Polo

Polo was one of the most famous and successful explorers and was credited with clocking up more miles than anyone before him. He was originally from Venice where he grew up as the son of a famous merchant.

Antonio Vivaldi

The piece of music Entitled the Four Seasons is one of the most played pieces of music of all times, and it was another Venice native, Antonio Vivaldi who penned it. Vivaldi created a somewhat unrivalled number of operas which he amazingly created alongside his duties as an active priest.

Giacomo Casanova

Casanova is best remembered for his ability to charm his way into women’s affections using a number of different methods before leaving them. As a matter of fact, he originally became famous for his posthumous book which was a reflection of his life after he was exiled from Venice. Richard Wagner
Wagner was truly a talented man who is largely known for his musical theories and conducting, although he was also an acclaimed essay writer. Wagner composed some of the most famous operas of all time and was famed for his seemingly effortless production skills. So the next time you take a vacation in Venice of just happen to be traveling here, remember you're in a city that has borne some of history's greatest.

Festivals in Venice You May Not Know About

One of the best ways to enjoy the real Venice is to visit the city during one of the many festivals which take place each year. Whilst there are certain festivals which are well known, there are also many which do not attract as many tourists and will enable you to experience more of the authentic feel of the city. Below are some of the festivals which fall in the summer months.

Marciliana - This is a historic festival which commemorates one of the city’s most significant events in history, the Genoan siege of Chioggia in the 14th century. There are events which would commonly be associated with that period of history including rowing and archery.

Sagra di San Pietro in Castell - his festival held in the height of summer is a celebration of the feast day of Saint Peter. It is an important day to many of the religious population of the city, with celebrations including dance, food and performances.

Festa del Redentore - This is the modern survivor of a yearly pilgrimage which is made to the Rendetore church which was constructed to celebrate the end of a great plague in the city of Prague in the 16th century. The modern festival sees the city’s residents board boats from which they eat food and enjoy a sizeable firework display.

Best Traditional Restaurants in Venice

When you visit a well know tourist destination it can be easy to get most in the manufactured tourist spots which have developed especially to cater for that crowd. For many people there is a desire to experience the true tradition of the area, and one particular area of interest in this respect is traditional local restaurants. There are plenty of traditional restaurants in the city of Venice and below are some of the best.

Bistrot de Venice - If you are looking to really splash out on your trip to Venice then it recommended that you do it here. The food here is traditional Venetian food of the very highest quality. If you can’t speak the language be sure to take your dictionary, however, as the menus tend to be in the mother tongue only.

Osteria alla Vedova - Being slightly off the main road this restaurant does not tend to attract the levels of tourist visitors of other restaurants in the area. The food is authentic and good value.

Paradiso - Fish food is high on the list of the best traditional dishes in Venice, and the menu here celebrates the very best of it. This restaurant is a favourite with locals, which is always a good sign.

Osteria de Franz - This restaurant is great not only because of the quality of food, but also because of its picturesque location on the side of the canal.

Learn more about the best restaurants in Venice.

Practice sustainable tourism in Venice

Venice is one of the most beautiful locations in the world. It is famed as a romantic destination where couples can go to wrap themselves up in the romantic scenery and culture. It is also highly historic and boasts a repertoire of glorious buildings and general architecture. If we as tourist do not do our part to conserve this environment it will not exist in years to come. Follow the below simple tips to do your part:

Respect local customs: The local customs are what give Venice its unique identity. By behaving in a way in which respect local customs we can attempt to fit in and do our part to ensure that Venice does not acquire a globalised culture. Research local manners and avoid behaviour which may be considered offensive.

Consider the environment: When disposing of litter, make sure that you do so sensibly. One of the easiest ways to disturb the charm of a place is to drown it in litter. Not only will it attract vermin it will also create a bad image.

Visit local restaurants: All tourists should make an effort to ensure that the bulk of the money they spend goes into the pockets of the locals as opposed to global organisations. You could eat in locally run, private restaurants as opposed to recognised chains and buy souvenirs from back street shops.

Walk: If you can avoid taking a taxi then you should walk to your next destination. This will reduce noise pollution and minimise the effect on the environment. Learn more about Things to do in Venice, Italy.