[Idyllchat] Venice

[Lynanne]

For those of you who are thinking of going on a Venice Untour, here are
some suggestions for different places to go to.

I've been to Venice seven times, once on a "Grand Tour of Europe" (two
days), once with Elderhostel (one week), three times with Untours, and
two times for three months on my own.

In 2007 I'll be going back for two months - June and July.  I've learned
the hard way  that August is a bad time to be there (which is why
Untours doesn't go there then).  The locals leave on holiday, and just
the hordes of tourists are there then, and many little shops and bars
(cafes) are closed for 2 to 4 weeks while their owners are away.

After the obligatory visits to the Basilica and the Ducal Palace and the
Accademia, don't miss:

The Secret Itinerary to the Ducal Palace
The Frari
The Scuolo San Rocco
The Peggy Guggenheim Collection
The Rialto fish, veggie market
Campo Santa Marguerita

I also always go to: 

Chioggia ( a little fishing village that is a delightful day trip from
Venice proper (covered by your vaporetto pass) and has a neat flea
market once a week.

Burano (the lace and fishing village with the very colorful houses)

Murano, the glass making island

Mestra, the mainland town that also has a fantastic flea market, once or
twice a week, and a large Coin department store.

If you go to Venice during the summer, a "must-not-miss" overnght trip
to Verona should be on your list, to see an opera in their 2000-year-old
colisseum.  It holds 25000 people, with no amplification, and is
fabulous.  I'm not an opera lover, but I saw Carmen there, and  this is
an experience not to be missed.

In 2007 the Bienalle will have exibitions in the Giardini(sp) and all
over Venice.  This is an Avante Garde exhibit of many countries showing
off their best works.  I'm not into that type of art, but I love to go
to the exhibits. 

Want peace and quiet?  Check out Isola San Michele, the cemetary island.
Famous, and not so famous, people are buried there. Most of the head
stones are filled with mosaics, and pix of the deceased.  It is said
that many of the interred, after 10 years, have to be moved to the
mainland.  Of course, all the famous will be there forever!

And, all the little neighborhoods are so important to visit.  I'll be
staying this summer in an apartment off Via Garibaldi, and I look
forward to exploring this new (to me!) neighborhood.

Panarama (on the mainland) is interesting to visit. Like a giant
SuperKMart, but with a smaller general merchandize section and a HUGE
grocery store.  Their meat section has a person and a slicing machine
for each kind of meat.  A cheese department has cheeses I've never heard
of.  And the bread section is very big.  There is a very good fresh
produce section also.

An interesting note:  In all the food stores I've been in, nobody
refrigerates their eggs.  They are just on the shelves in their cartons.

Hope this will help those of you who are going to Venice in 2007.

Lynanne
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Visit my new online journal, or web log (blog)    
(updated with posts from me while in Venice)  at:
www.lynanneg.blogspot.com