Hey everyone, thanks for stopping by to the channel.
I'm Mark McClure and today I'm gonna be talking about my five favorite things to do in Venice, Italy.
Venice is the capital of northern Italy's Veneto region.
It is built on more than 100 small islands in a lagoon in the Adriatic Sea.
Flooding is a reality due to tides pushing in from the Atlantic, so when you're planning your visit this is
something you may want to consider. Especially when visiting between autumn and early spring.
Today I'm gonna talk to you about my five favorite things in
Venice and if you have a different place to see or things you love to do when
you're in the floating city, I would love to hear about it.
So please leave a comment below.
Without any further ado I'm gonna get this show on the road.
"Roads? Where we're going we don't need roads."
I'm sure this will come as no surprise to you but there are no roads in Venice.
Canals are the main thoroughfares in the city.
And that leads us to my first thing to do on the list:
A gondola ride.
Now when I think of Venice I think of gondolas floating
through the canals, a gondolier singing a tune.
So how can I make a list about Venice without a gondola ride.
Now these can be pricey, they're usually about 80 euro for a 40 minute ride.
But if you're in Venice, who knows when you'll be back.
So I say just do it.
Now this one sort of goes hand in hand with the gondola ride. You'll likely spill out onto my second
must-see, the 2.4 mile-long passageway that is the Grand Canal.
As we made our way into the canal and I marveled in the beauty of the scenery and the
magnificent buildings along the water, I couldn't help but be taken back to the
10th century when the canal was a bustling hub and a center for trade.
If you find yourself in Venice on the first Sunday in September, be sure to check out
The Regata Storica, which is one of the city's yearly highlights.
In 1097, Rialto became a very important district when Venice's market moved there,
and a floating bridge was built to connect the districts of San Marco and San Polo.
Due to increased traffic it was replaced by a wooden bridge in 1264.
The present-day Rialto Bridge, which is number three on my list, is a single span
stone bridge designed by Antonio da Ponte. It was completed in 1591.
Rialto was the only bridge crossing the Grand Canal until the 19th century
and currently there are only four, all of which are worth checking out.
Staying with the bridge theme, number four on my list is the Bridge of Sighs, which was designed by
Antonio de Pontes nephew Antonio Contin. This enclosed bridge passes over the
Rio de Palazzo and connects the interrogation rooms inside the old
prison at Dogg's palace with the new prison. The bridge is made out of white
limestone with stone bars on the windows and to me it's just one of those iconic
Venice landmarks that you shouldn't miss. There are varying theories on how the
bridge got its name but no one can question its beauty.
The final stop on my list is Piazza San Marco, or St. Mark's Square. It's right in the heart of Venice.
It was here that the great city of Venice grew to become one of the most
powerful maritime cities in the world. The square was built in the 9th century
and Napoleon was quoted as calling it "The Drawing Room of Europe."
While in St. Mark's Square you can visit Basilica St. Marco, listen to the bells,
wander the halls of Dogg's Palace, appreciate Venetian art at Museo Correr and
finish the day sipping a Bellini at an outdoor cafe.
You simply cannot visit Venice without spending time at La Piazza.
If I could suggest one more thing, and the next time I go to Venice I'm definitely going to set aside a day to do this
Just get lost. Just wander and get lost.
Lost in the beauty that is Venice. Put the map away.
You will begin to discover hidden gems that no maps, websites, vloggers or even I can begin to tell you about.
Do you have a favorite place in Venice that's not on my list?
Please leave your comments below because I am definitely gonna head back to the
city of masks, bridges and canals as soon as I get the chance.
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Happy traveling, everybody.