Taking a ride through the floating city
Commonly referred to as the “The Floating City” and “The City of Canals,” Venice is situated on 118 islands in the Venetian Lagoon on the Adriatic Sea.
The city’s canals, bridges, narrow streets filled with shops and food, and renowned architecture give Venice its unique, serene charm that has made it a desired tourist destination for centuries.
From Venice, you’re able to see the Dolomite Mountains in the distance. In total, there are 2,131 named mountains in the Dolomites.
The Grand Canal is the main waterway in Venice. Also known as Canalazzo, this channel of water is shaped in a reverse letter S formation that splits the city in two sides. There are many historic landmarks located along the canal, which is one of the reasons why the entire canal is an area of such high importance.
With Venice not having any roads, gondolas were the main form of transportation for many centuries. At their peak in the 17th and 18th century, it is estimated that there were up to 10,000 gondolas in use. Today, there are around 400, which are primarily used for giving rides to tourists.
Given their important role in getting around, these wooden boats have become an iconic symbol of Venice. Overall, taking a gondola ride while visiting Venice has become an integral part of experiencing the city, as you’re able to see everything from a unique perspective.
Additionally, the person who propels and steers the gondola itself is called a gondolier. Gondoliers can be seen all around the city wearing a canotier straw hat, a red or blue striped shirt, and dark pants. Being a gondolier is not an undertaking open for anyone to do, as the profession is controlled and protected by a secretive, 1,000 year old guild that requires specific set of qualifications to obtain licensure.
Specifically, the process of becoming a gondolier includes 400 hours of swimming and rowing training over six months, and after doing that, they attend ‘Arte del Gondoliere’ school to study language, Venetian history, culture, and geography in preparation to ultimately take an exam on what they have learned. As mentioned, this is not a line of work that you can merely sign up for, as it is a privilege that is handed down through family (primarily from father to son). Needless to say, gondoliers are dedicated to their work and craft.
Before taking a gondola ride, I was reading from a couple different sources online that it is better to find a gondolier that is located on one of the less busy canals rather than finding one on the Grand Canal. This is because you can have the opportunity to go through some quiet areas while still riding on the Grand Canal to see some of the historic landmarks.
After testing this advice out for myself, I can confirm that this is a worthwhile approach. As previously mentioned, it was indeed great to get a blended experience of traveling down quiet canals while also being able to go on the Grand Canal and pass by some famous landmarks of the city. With that said, take your time in scoping out an ideal starting point for where you take your ride. Be patient and observant of where the quieter canals are, and (literally) take the road (actually, the water) less traveled, as you’ll thank yourself afterwards for getting a diversified experience!
Lastly, while you’re walking around, you will see gondola service signs that show the pricing of a gondola ride. For rides during the day, it costs 80 euros, while a ride during the sunset or at night will cost 100 euros. Keep in mind that this price is not per person, but per gondola. So, if you take a ride with two or more people together, you pay one flat fee.
Another thing to mention about the cost is that if you enjoy the ride, a tip is definitely appreciated. On average, a 5 to 10 percent tip is adequate. However, tipping is certainly not mandatory either, so it’s ultimately up to you and how you think the quality of the ride was.
Venice is home to so many famous landmarks, which is one of the reasons as to why it is deemed a significant place in Italy and the world altogether.
Rialto Bridge is the oldest of the four bridges that are located on the Grand Canal. It has been rebuilt on several occasions, as it was destroyed by a flood, destroyed once again by a fire, and also collapsed. The current bridge that is seen today is made out of marble and its construction was finalized in 1591. This is the perspective of the bridge that can be seen from a boat/gondola ride. Of course, walking across the bridge is an experience in itself, as you’re able to explore the shops and really see what it’s like up close and on foot.
Another great piece of architecture is the Patriarchal Cathedral Basilica of Saint Mark, which is considered to be the most important religious temple in the city of Venice. Commonly referred to as Saint Marks Basilica, this cathedral church was founded in the ninth century and was built to store sacred relics, including gold, silver, and other treasures. For that reason, it’s even sometimes called the Cathedral of Gold.
The exterior of the cathedral has such an exquisitely high level of detail, so after admiring its beauty from afar, be sure to take it all in up close too, regardless of whether or not you go inside.
This is Saint Mark’s Campanile, which is the bell tower for the cathedral. Standing at 98.5 meters (323 feet), this is the tallest building in the whole city. On the far right, you can see Doge’s Palace too. All these landmarks are close together, so it’s a good area to spend some time and take everything in.
Just a one minute walk from the Doge’s Palace is an enclosed bridge called the Bridge of Sighs. It is made of white limestone and got its name because of the “sighs” exhaled from the prisoners that used to walk across the bridge, as the bridge was built as a way to get to the prisons that are housed in the palace. Today, if you visit Doge’s Palace, you can still walk across the bridge!
This building pictured is another popular church in Venice called Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute, which is also known as the Salute. When you’re near the Bridge of Sighs, you can see it in the distance. This is also a nice area to walk around and enjoy the views of some of the landmarks from afar.
Lastly, this is another church I came across often called San Simeone Piccolo that is located right on one of the main streets where Canal Grande is. With it being right across the way from the train station, it’s a memorable sight as you walk out of the station and see the first sights of the city. Conversely, it’s a memorable last sight when you’re leaving Venice too.
If you stick around Venice in the evening hours, the atmosphere of walking around the streets is serene as well. It’s a fun experience to get lost in both the narrow and wide side streets and take a look at the various shops around.
Given the unique nature and characteristic of Venice and its intricate history, it is no surprise that it is an iconic place that is acknowledged on a global scale.