Hello blog space! I'm here once again to pick up from part 1 of what to do when visiting Venice. Given the beauty of the city, I guess I shouldn't have been surprised that this experience would have had to been split into parts. And so without further ado, here's a part 2 if you're looking for things to do in Venice.
But first, let me document how I was taking selfies as my other half searched up our next gelato stop!
Visit the glass island of Murano
When you're strolling down the streets of Venice, you'll notice many souvenir shops claiming that they sell glass goodies made in Murano. And so, it's no surprise what this little island is set just 30-minutes away from the main epicentre of Venice via the ACTV water bus is fairly popular for...
Glass-making.
Equipped with an art form that's said to have existed since thousands of years back, glass-making is particularly popular in Murano. Like most tourists, we opted for a glass-blowing demonstration where you could watch the masters at work as they either blew into melted glass to turn them into bowls or stretched them out to make intricate home decorations.
Like this horse that we later purchased from their on-site souvenir store.
While you'll possibly see a variety of shops selling Murano glass for cheap, many of them these days are no longer the real deal unless you cop a piece from the factory itself. This was exactly what we did, so we're now proud owners of a Murano glass horse from the Original Murano Glass factory.
As of March 2023, entry to the glass-blowing demonstration costs €5 per person and lasts approximately 10 minutes. It's mostly recommended that you book a spot ahead of time, though they may allow for walk-ins if there's a spot in the room. From what I gathered as we were waiting for our turn, demonstrations start every half an hour and the last entry is at 3PM.
Just walk around the city
It sounds cliche, but I do recommend walking about the city and just taking it easy. From looking at the Bridge of Sighs near the St. Mark's Square to the getting across the popular Rialto Bridge and a slightly prettier Accademia Bridge, there's always sights to behold around Venice.
The Bridge of Sighs
According to legends, convicts of Venice would often stop on this bridge that connects the Doge Palace to the New Prison, taking in their very last look of the city before their lives in cells. The name was coined by English poet, Lord Byron in the 19th century and has become a tourist destination for some morbid reason.
The Rialto Bridge
Marvel fans will find this bridge to be familiar as it's supposed to be where Spider-Man: Far From Home was shot. Historically, the Rialto Bridge was built in the 16th century and is the oldest bridge across the Grand Canal of Venice. While it offers a beautiful sight across the canal, Rialto Bridge is often packed with tourists and is a prime spot for pickpockets so do watch your belongings while you take in the beauty of the city.
The Accademia Bridge
If you're one to walk a lot, the Accademia Bridge usually hosts less tourists than the Rialto Bridge but offers equally gorgeous views of the Grand Canal. The only downside is that it's a little far out from the city centre, so do expect a slight hike to get here.
Also check out many, many, many other canals of Venice.
And as a bonus, you should also explore the city in the evening after the sun has set and the lights have come on for a very different view of Venice.
And boy do I recommend seeing the city at night.
For this occasion, my other half even downloaded a self-guided walking tour app called the Rick Steves Audio Europe so we could explore the St. Mark's Square after all the day-trippers have gone home. The quiet streets are a sight to behold, and Venice is remarkably safe for a tourist city.
Wake up early for a sunrise view of Venice!
And finally, if you're staying the night at Venice then I do recommend setting your alarms for an early start as you check out the city before everyone else does. The sunrise views in Venice is something extremely unforgettable and you'll be glad you became an early bird for this worm.
Our alarms were set at 5:45AM that morning.
The best part about waking up before the entire city is that you'll enjoy the tranquility of a life not-yet-awoken so there's just no tourists, no dodgy souvenir stalls around hoping to rope in your money, and no rush for the day.
We've heard that the Accademia Bridge offers one of the best sunrise views in Venice, but we were equally happy to watch it from the Riva degli Schiavoni area where our hotel was. Do check the sunrise times the night before if you plan to do this though, and definitely try to scout out the weather for the morning so you won't be greeted by a sun shrouded by the clouds.
Bonus: I'd say the sunset is beautiful too, but Venice does get quite packed by then.
Oh and if you're feeling peckish from waking up that early in the morning, I recommend making a beeline for the Pasticceria Da Bonifacio where you can find delicious local pastries and bakes from as early at 630AM. They're what I believe to be one of the earliest stores to open around Venice and you'll see how it's crowded by locals hoping to get their hands on a fresh cup of coffee and bite by 7AM.
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For the rest of our time in Venice, we took quiet strolls down the streets and watched life go by. Despite being a city that relies just on tourist economies, there's a certain magic in taking things slow when you're there. Whether it's watching people haggle over their mass-produced souvenirs from the carts or having a sliced pizza by the waters, I would say there's still quite a bit to do in Venice. Except, do watch out for seagulls and pigeons that can and will steal your food. No joke, that was a tip from our walking tour guide.
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