Venice From Another Perspective

I’m sure many of you reading this have been to Venice. It is a fantastic place to visit, with most people wanting to see St Marks Square, the Grand Canal, Rialto Bridge etc, who can blame them? It does have its down sides though as in the peak summer months it can be really busy, and difficult to get a hotel to suit your budget. As Venice has a lot more to offer it may be time for you to look a little further afield.

If you do want to avoid the “throng” why not think about staying on one of the islands which make up part of Venice?  Travel out to other islands in the lagoon, such as Torcello, or take the ferry across to the Lido.  The Venetian ‘island resort’ is becoming a bit of a ‘thing’.  Ten years ago, the San Clemente hotel opened on an island that was formerly a lunatic asylum (where Mussolini had his first wife committed).  There is also a man-made island about a 20-minute shuttle boat ride from St Mark’s Square. The island used to house a hospital treating pulmonary diseases, but it closed 40 years ago and had been derelict until a new Marriott hotel was built. It is now unlike anything else in the city . One of the best hotels in Venice, in my opinion is the Cipriani – just fantastic. This hotel is again situated on one of the islands of Venice, although moments away by San Marco by private boat. Very very expensive and select. If you can afford this, I would say go!

Another island which I like is the island of Torcello. It is a popular place to visit yet still manages to retain peaceful. Even if you did not stay here it is worth a visit to look at mosaics in the cathedral. You can easily get there by boat from Burano island they do run quite regularly.  Talking about the transport, I do remember some of my fellow work colleagues who were out with us one night and had to get back to the Mestre area. Well the boats had stopped and they had to get a taxi which if I remember rightly cost them a small fortune – one of the negative aspects then of staying there!

I am certainly not saying do not stay in the main touristy areas because I normally do! What I would say to you is if you are looking for something a little different why not sample the islands or even just visit them for the day as I do think they get a bit overlooked by tourists. Venice is not just made up of the Grand Canal and Doge’s Palace, it is a wonderful gem which does need a bit of planning and exploring!