Venice's neighbors: the best destinations for a day trip. Where to go from Venice Where to go from Venice on 1
In this article we will talk to you in as much detail as possible about a beach holiday in Venice. The main beach attractions of the Venetian lagoon are the island of Lido Di Venezia, Sottomarina and Cavallino. Let's start the review with the Venetian Lido. Then we will find out what interesting things there are in Sottomarina. Let's finish with the features of Cavallino. This information will give you some great food for thought on how to spend a day of beach relaxation at one of these places!
Lido di Venezia is a narrow island. It stretches for 12 km between the Adriatic Sea and the Venetian Lagoon. Connected to Venice by vaporetto running between the island and Venice. The settlements on the island are the village of Lido and the cities of Malamocco and Alberoni.
View from above of Venice's Lido
How to get to Lido di Venezia
From Piazzale Roma, Santa Lucia train station or Piazza San Marco, take ACTV line 5.1 to Venezia Lido. Stop Santa Maria Elisabetta. Or line 6. Both vaporettos pass through the Giudecca Canal.
If you're not in a hurry, you can take vaporetto line 1. It runs along the Grand Canal and arrives at the Lido in an hour. You can also take line 2. It does not make multiple stops and arrives at your destination a little faster.
To return, take the ACTV 5.2 vaporetto line. From Lido it goes to Piazza San Marco, Santa Lucia railway station, and Piazzale Roma.
Ticket costs 7.50 euros.
To travel with your car to the Lido of Venice, you can use ACTV line 17. It departs from Tronchetto. Arrives at the San Nicolò stop, on the Lido.
Prices start from €20 per car with passenger.
Lido beach near Venice
The sea of the Venetian Lido has a seabed that goes into the depths gently and gradually. Thus, even the smallest children can swim here safely. This is also facilitated by the island’s two dams: S. Nicolo and Del Alberoni. Let us conclude that Lido di Venezia is a great choice for families with young children to spend a day at the beach.
Paid beaches of Lido Di Venezia
The beaches on the Venetian Lido are very diverse. There are both paid and free (free) beaches. They are located in Alberoni and San Nicolo. They end with the Murazzi rocks, typical of the Lido. They are also free.
There are huts and large cabins on the paid beaches. They are equipped with an awning and a veranda. They can be rented for the whole season, or for the period of your beach holiday near Venice. You can also simply rent a classic beach umbrella and sun loungers.
Prices on paid beaches are still quite expensive. Therefore, it is advisable, given the abundance of free beaches, to be located on them.
The beaches of Alberoni and San Nicolo are part of the free beaches of the Lido in Venice. They are ideal for those seeking peace and privacy. These beaches are much less crowded than others. They are also known for the presence of sand dunes.
Bluemoon Beach, which is free, on the contrary, is filled to capacity with tourists. This is due to the fact that it is equipped with showers and toilets. Also because it is close to the vaporetto stop.
Blue Moon Beach in Lido
Beaches around Venice
In addition to spending a day on the beach at Lido Venice, you can travel to two other nearby seaside resorts. We are talking about Sottomarina, the Chioggia Valley, and the area of Cavallino. You can also have a very nice beach day here.
We can say that the main beaches near Venice are characterized by a variety of services and a huge number of recreational activities. They are held mainly in the summer. In fact, it combines the beauty of the sea with entertainment activities. It is therefore no coincidence that the Veneto region received the prestigious blue flag for these two beaches.
Sottomarina
Sottomarina is a tourist seaside resort that is part of the municipality of Chioggia in the province of Venice. It is characterized by fine sand, the breadth of its beaches, and also boasts a promenade - a pedestrian road along the sea. This promenade extends over a distance of more than 2 km. It is very pleasant to take long walks along it.
There are also many entertainment venues. Many of them are located outdoors. Here you will immediately feel the typical festive atmosphere of seaside resorts.
View from above of the beaches of Sottomarina
Recently, the city of Sottomarina has significantly expanded the range of its tourist services. He created bicycle paths and pedestrian zones. The amount of green space here has also been significantly increased.
How to get to the city of Sottomarina
In summer, from June 1 to September 30, there is a direct vaporetto line. More precisely, this is line 19 (in collaboration with Raffaello Navigazione). This vaporetto will take you from San Marco to Chioggia in an hour and a half, following a memorable route. To the Union Island Bridge.
The return ticket price for adults is 14 euros. Children under 3 years old travel free of charge. There are special ticket prices for families or groups of tourists.
During the rest of the year, it is possible to travel to Chioggia using a combined bus and vaporetto route.
- The vaporetto leaves Piazzetta Vigo in Chioggia. Reaches Pellestrina.
- From there you need to take a bus that crosses the entire island. The bus then picks up a ferry that crosses the mouth of the Malamocco port. After arriving at Lido Island, stop at the Santa Maria Elisabetta stop.
- From there, one of the vaporettos will take you to Venice in just 15 minutes.
There are many flights throughout the day. Tickets can be purchased online, or at the box office in Chioggia (Piazzetta Vigo) and Sottomarine (Viale Paova 22).
Sottomarina Beach
Sottomarina beach is about ten meters wide and up to 300 meters long. It is characterized by fine sand and the presence of minerals. More precisely mica elements.
Paid beach of Sottomarina
There are numerous establishments here. They are cheaper and more affordable than those located along Lido Beach. Here you can, at affordable prices, spend the whole day on the beach, rent umbrellas and sun loungers there. At the end of the day you can take a hot shower.
Sottomarina's wide and welcoming Promenade makes it an ideal place for long walks and children's games.
Free beach:
The free Sottomarina beach is located in the San Felice area. This corresponds to the location of the last dam of the city, which is part of the beach that faces Pellestrina.
Free beach in Sottomarina
For holidays with animals:
There is also a dog-friendly beach on Via San Felice Zona Diga. It's called "In Diga for dogs." It offers services designed specifically for four-legged friends.
Cavallino - Treporti
The Litorale del Cavallino is a peninsula that separates the Venetian lagoon from the Adriatic Sea. It has many seaside resorts among its villages. The most famous among them are: Cavallino, Ca' Savio, Ca' di Valle, Ca' Ballarin and Punta Sabbioni.
Littoral Del Cavallino
Cavallino is an independent municipality. Its independence was declared after the 1999 referendum. Then the population of the peninsula declared their desire to secede from Venice.
This is an ideal place for nature lovers. The sea and the lagoon here harmoniously unite and create their own unique balance. The city is also known for its large number of camping spots along the Litorale (sea shore).
How to get to Cavallino
- On a motor boat from Venice. Get off at the Fondamenta Nuove ACTV stop on the LN line. It will take you to Treporti and Punta Sabbioni in about an hour.
You can also take from the ACTV stop “La Pietà” in Riva degli Schiavoni motor boat LN lines. It also stops at Treporti and Punta Sabbioni and takes about 30 minutes.
- By train: From Venice Santa Lucia Station you can take the train to San Donà/Jesolo. Then, upon arrival in San Dona, you need to change to the ATVO bus in the direction of Jesolo, which will take you to Cavallino.
Beaches of Cavallino
Cavallino beach is characterized by the fine sand and tranquility of the place. Ideal for those seeking peace. Also recommended for families with children.
Compared to the beach resorts of Lido in Venice, Cavallino is certainly cheaper. Here you can rent a classic sun umbrella and sun lounger at a reasonable price.
This place is very popular among tourists from Northern Europe.
View of Cavallino beach
Beaches for pets:
Along the coast, some beaches have been created where you can relax with your four-legged friends. They are located in Cavallino, Ca' Savio and Ca Ballarin. However, be careful! Here you need to follow certain rules. For example, use a leash and muzzle.
Free beaches:
There are several free beaches along the Litorale del Cavallino. Here you can use your own umbrellas and sun loungers without any problems.
Access to the free beach in Cavallino
On other beaches you can sit with your towel near the coastline. However, it is prohibited to use your own umbrellas and sun loungers here.
Below I offer a map of free beaches in Cavallino:
Map of free beaches of the Cavallino Peninsula
Finally
In short, if you are planning to spend some time in Venice this summer and want to dedicate one or more days to a beach holiday, then I hope I was able to help you organize your trip.
Surely this good idea– devote a few days to a beach holiday near Venice. This will help get rid of the fatigue and stress that will definitely come from walking the streets of Venice all day. Especially when you are trying to see as many sights as possible in a short time.
As you have probably noticed, there is no shortage of activities, events and services offered anywhere in Venice and its surrounding areas. In short, you are guaranteed to enjoy your visit to the Venetian Lagoon!
Just look at the map to understand: there are more than enough beach resorts in Italy. Wherever you find yourself, no matter what region of Italy you come to, the sea is always nearby. Even from the alpine slopes you can reach the coast in just 3–4 hours.
It should also be noted that the seaside resorts of Italy are extremely diverse. In Italy there are wide sandy beaches, and secluded bays with pebbly shores, and beaches with a gentle entrance to the sea, and places where the depth begins at the very shore. In short, the choice is extensive - there is a lot to talk about. This is, in fact, what we will do.
However, before we proceed directly, we will make a few reservations (to make it easier for you to navigate, since the text is voluminous).
The review of Italian beach resorts presented in this article is structured as follows. The focus is on popular Italian cities(or rather, airports), where it is not difficult to get to from anywhere in the world, including from Russia (read more about air travel with Italy).
Focusing on these cities/airports, we consider nearby resorts that seem to us the most interesting both in terms of quality and transport accessibility. (Most of the beach resorts discussed below can be reached by railway– see www.trenitalia.com.) However, we do not intend to list all existing options. If you like any of the areas listed below, then you can (and even need to!) go deeper into the topic - you will find many interesting places that we have not mentioned here.
So, in this review you will find information about resorts located near the following cities:
The beach resorts of Calabria and Puglia will also be briefly reviewed. Outside the scope of this article are the large Italian islands - Sardinia and Sicily ( beaches of Sicily discussed in detail) – since they require special attention.
As you can see, the order of consideration is from north to south, that is, from top to bottom on the map. It seems logical :) However, this order is also due to the fact that getting to the north of Italy is easier, faster and usually cheaper than to the south. However, northern resorts are usually more expensive than southern ones. (Although, as you know, there are no rules without exceptions.)
Finally, it is worth saying that everything stated below is aimed primarily at independent travelers. If you are interested in standard tours, we advise you to turn to sites such as and where you can find and buy these same tours online. However, it is quite possible that you will find something useful for yourself here too.
This is where we can conclude the introductory part. Let's move on to the review.
Where to go to the sea in Italy, and how to get to the best beaches
So, Italy, sea, relaxation, beaches. Go!
Generally speaking, Venice itself can be considered as a beach resort, since there is an island Lido di Venezia(Lido di Venezia), famous for its long sandy beach. You can get here by water directly from Venice airport (sail a little over an hour; see www.alilaguna.it). The undoubted advantage of the Lido is that all Venetian attractions are nearby - for example, St. Mark's Square can be reached in just 15 minutes. Thus, it is quite possible to combine a beach holiday with walks around Venice. Read more about this option in the article “Beaches of Venice”.
Another variant - Lido di Jesolo(Lido di Jesolo). This resort is located east of Venice and has an equally sandy and even longer beach. It is again not far from Venice airport - about 40 minutes by ATVO bus (see www.atvo.it).
Even further east you can find places like Eraclea Mare(Eraclea Mare), Caorle(Caorle) And Bibione(Bibione), which is also quite easy to get to by ATVO buses.
Located south of Venice nice town Chioggia with its adjacent resort Sottomarina(Sottomarina). The beaches here are also sandy, and the infrastructure is well developed, but getting there public transport not as convenient and fast as getting to the above resorts. In this case (especially if you are going on vacation with small children), it makes sense to order a transfer (see) or rent a car, since this can be done directly at the airport (see www.rentalcars.com, www.economybookings.com and similar sites).
By the way, all these resorts can be reached not only through Venice airport (Aeroporto di Venezia Marco Polo, VCE), but also through the nearby Treviso airport (Aeroporto di Treviso Antonio Canova, TSF), as well as through Verona airport (Aeroporto di Verona Valerio Catullo, VRN). However, it is worth saying a few words separately about Verona.
- Venice. General information + Beaches of Venice
Getting to the beach resorts of Italy via Verona is probably not the best idea (unless cheap tickets turn up - see www.skyscanner.ru, www.momondo.ru, www.aviasales.ru and other air ticket search engines). However, one cannot help but notice that from Verona it is a stone's throw to Lake Garda (Lago di Garda), where there are also beaches. It is clear that a beach holiday on the shore of an alpine lake is not at all the same as a holiday at sea. However, this opportunity should not be overlooked. Moreover, Garda is interesting not only as a beach resort, but also as a thermal resort. From this point of view, it is worth taking a closer look in particular at Sirmione(Sirmione).
However, let's return to the seaside resorts and pay attention to the next point. Verona may be interesting as a transit point on the way to the beach resorts of the Adriatic if you plan to travel to Italy by train (read more about the train service between Russia and Italy).
Again, like Verona, Milan boasts its proximity to lakes. In addition to Garda, it is worth mentioning at least two more lakes - Como(Lago di Como) And Maggiore(Lago Maggiore), – where you can also find beaches.
- General information: about Milan, about Bergamo
- Flights: to Milan and Bergamo
- Transfers: ,
- Car rental points: in Malpensa, at Bergamo airport
Genoa, as already mentioned, is located on the shores of the Ligurian Sea, and the most convenient way to get to the beach resorts of Liguria is not through Milan, but through Genoa. In addition, from Russia to Genoa you can not only fly non-stop, but also take a direct train. There are a huge number of options: Liguria has both sandy and pebble beaches.
To the west of Genoa, for example, there are Sanremo(San Remo), Diano Marina(Diano Marina), Alassio(Alassio), Pietra Ligure(Pietra Ligure) And Finale Ligure(Finale Ligure). The beaches in the western part of Liguria are quite wide, long, often sandy, although pebbles are not uncommon. All these places are not so far from Genoa, but if you wish, you can find beaches closer: for example, in Arenzano(Arenzano)– here the beach is pebbly – or in Kogoleto(Cogoleto)– the beaches are partly sandy, partly pebble.
There are also many interesting places east of Genoa. For the most part, the beaches of eastern Liguria are pebbly and do not differ in length (probably with the exception of the beach in Lavagna). But the water here is clean and the places are picturesque. Attention should be paid, for example, to Sorry(Sori) And Camogli(Camogli)– both places are located near Genoa. A little further is located Santa Margherita Ligure(Santa Margherita Ligure). Even further - Sestri Levante(Sestri Levante); By the way, there is a beautiful sandy beach here. The further you go, the rockier the terrain becomes, but there are also places for swimming. There are beaches even in the Cinque Terre. The most interesting ones are in Monterosso al Mare(Monterosso al Mare): there are both sandy and pebble (more details).
All listed resorts in Liguria are accessible via railway transport. Genoa Airport (Aeroporto di Genova Cristoforo Colombo, GOA), in turn, has convenient connections with the Sestri Ponente train station (Genova Sestri Ponente Aeroporto).
Detailed review of beach resorts Ligurian coast presented in this article.
Let's return to the shore of the Adriatic Sea, where, in addition to the resorts discussed, there is a well-known Rimini(Rimini). Wide sandy beaches, calm seas and an excellently developed tourist infrastructure - all this attracts a huge number of beach lovers to Rimini and its surroundings. There is a place here for families with children, and for noisy young people, and for older tourists (read more about hotels and areas of Rimini). In addition, this is a favorite destination of Russian tour operators. Therefore, before thinking about an independent trip to Rimini, you should carefully study the offers of travel agencies (you can look at the same and). There is a high probability that buying a tour to Rimini will be cheaper than organizing a vacation yourself.
Conveniently, Rimini has its own international airport (Aeroporto di Rimini Federico Fellini, RMI), from where you can even walk to some hotels (see, for example, Hotel Ascot). In addition, it is convenient to get to Rimini through Bologna Airport (Aeroporto di Bologna Guglielmo Marconi, BLQ).
At the same time, it is absolutely not necessary to limit yourself to Rimini and its immediate surroundings. If you like the Adriatic, but you are not attracted to either Rimini or Riccione(Riccione), neither Cattolica(Cattolica), neither Milano Marittima(Milano Marittima), then it’s worth taking a closer look at those located further south Pesaro(Pesaro), Fano(Fano) And Senigallia(Senigallia). Here there are the same wide sandy beaches and a smooth entrance to the sea. These resorts are also conveniently accessible via Rimini Airport. It is also worth keeping in mind Ancona Airport (Aeroporto delle Marche, AOI).
North of Rimini you can pay attention to such places as Lido Adriano(Lido Adriano) And Punta Marina(Punta Marina), which is not far from Ravenna.
- General information: about Rimini, about Bologna
- Flights: to Rimini, to Bologna
- Transfers: ,
- Car rental points: at Rimini airport, at Bologna airport
Pisa is perfect as a transit point on the way to the spacious sandy beaches of the so-called Tuscan Riviera (aka Versilia). In particular, from Pisa Airport (Aeroporto di Pisa Galileo Galilei, PSA), in just over an hour you can take a bus (for more details, see www.pisa-airport.com) to such popular seaside resorts as Viareggio(Viareggio) And Lido di Camaiore(Lido di Camaiore). Nearby also Forte dei Marmi(Forte dei Marmi), Marina di Massa(Marina di Massa) And Marina di Carrara(Marina di Carrara).
Eastern Liguria with its cozy beaches, picturesque bays and other natural beauties, by and large, are also not far away, and if you are interested in this particular region, then Pisa should be kept in mind as an alternative to the considered Genoa.
Also, look south from Pisa. There are many interesting places: for example, Marina di Cecina(Marina di Cecina), San Vincenzo (San Vincenzo) And Follonica(Follonica). These are fairly calm resorts, perfect for families with children.
Separately, it is worth mentioning about the island Elbe(Elba), where you can find beaches for every taste: sandy, pebble, and rocky. Elba, by the way, has its own small airport (Aeroporto dell "Elba). You can fly here from Pisa (see www.silverairitalia.it) and some other cities. A more traditional way to get to Elba is by ferry from Piombino, You can get to Piombino by train.
For more information about beach resorts in Tuscany, check out this article. By the way, all of the above places can also be reached through Florence (Aeroporto di Firenze-Peretola, FLR). However, Pisa is closer and flying to Pisa (at least from Russia) is more convenient and cheaper than flying to Florence.
- General information: about Pisa, about Florence
- Flights: to Pisa, to Florence
- Transfers: ,
- Car rental points: at Pisa airport, at Florence airport
The outskirts of Rome are also not deprived of beach resorts (the beaches here are often sandy). For example, just a few minutes' drive from Rome's Fiumicino Airport (Aeroporto di Roma–Fiumicino Leonardo da Vinci, FCO) is resort town Lido di Ostia(Lido di Ostia). From a logistics point of view, you can’t imagine anything better (you can get here from the airport by Cotral bus), but from a quality point of view, there are much more interesting options.
If you focus on the immediate surroundings of the Italian capital, then you should pay attention to Anzio(Anzio) And Nettuno(Nettuno). It is convenient to get to these resorts from Rome by rail - the ride takes about an hour.
But perhaps the most interesting beach resorts are located further south. This is, first of all, San Felice Circeo(San Felice Circeo), Terracina(Terracina), Sperlonga(Sperlonga) And Gaeta(Gaeta). True, getting to these places by public transport is not as convenient as getting to Anzio and Nettuno. Therefore, in addition, let us also mention Formia(Formia): There are beaches here and you can get there from Rome by direct train. Moreover, from railway station Formia can easily be reached by taxi or by bus to the same Gaeta - the ride is about 15 minutes.
Concerning Sorrento(Sorrento), then directly in the city there are almost no beaches as such. One of the few lucky exceptions is the La Tonnarella hotel with access to a small private beach (small pebbles). However, it is convenient to get to Sorrento from Naples (for example, by train on the Circumvesuviana railway - see www.eavsrl.it). From the point of view of a beach holiday in Sorrento, it makes sense to focus on places such as Meta(Meta) And Marina di Puolo(Marina di Puolo).
On the Amalfi Coast, the situation with beaches is better - you can swim and sunbathe like in the ones mentioned Amalfi(Amalfi) And Positano(Positano), and in other towns - Praiano(Praiano), Majori(Maiori), Minori(Minori) etc. The beaches here are pebbly, small and very picturesque. From Naples to Amalfitana you can travel by bus (see www.sitasudtrasporti.it) directly or with a transfer to Salerno (first by rail, and then again by bus).
South of Salerno you can pay attention to Paestum(Paestum), Agropolis(Agropoli) And Marina di Ascea(Marina di Ascea). The beaches here are sandy, prices are reasonable, but the resort infrastructure is often (in Asheya, for example) not very well developed. But it’s convenient to get to from Naples – an hour and a half ride by rail. Not so convenient to get to places like Santa Maria di Castellabate(Santa Maria di Castellabate) And Cape Palinuro(Capo Palinuro). However, they also deserve mention, and if you travel by car, take a special look at them.
One of the most interesting places in the vicinity of Naples from the point of view of a beach holiday is the island Ischia(Ischia). There are many beaches in Ischia, and in addition to them there are thermal springs. You can get there by ferry.
It is worth bearing in mind in particular airport Lamezia Terme(Aeroporto di Lamezia Terme, SUF). To the north of it there is, for example, Amantea(Amantea), and to the south - Tropea(Tropea) with their wonderful sandy beaches. This is Calabria - the region is far from the richest, but the sea and beaches here are excellent. It is worth noting that many resorts in Calabria, including Amantea and Tropea, can be easily reached by rail from Naples or even from Rome (although the journey, of course, is not close and quite long). Another airport in Calabria is located in Reggio Calabria(Reggio Calabria, Aeroporto dello Stretto, REG). Nearby we note such a resort as Shilla(Scilla).
Don't overlook Puglia either. You can focus on the region here Salento(Salento)– “the heel of Italy” – in general, and places like Galipoli(Galipoli), Otranto(Otranto) and their immediate surroundings in particular. The region is also of interest Gargano(Gargano)- “spur of the Italian boot.” And even in Bari(Bari) And Brindisi(Brindisi), where the main local airports are located (Aeroporto di Bari-Palese, BRI, and Aeroporto di Brindisi-Casale, BDS), you can find places for a beach holiday.
To two airports in Venice itself, Marco Polo and Treviso, you can sometimes find cheap, although not very convenient, flights from Russia, for example, through Kyiv with Fly One from 5,000 rubles. one way or via Chisinau with Moldavian Airlines 10,000 rubles. There and back again. An hour's drive away (from 8 euros by train) is Verona airport, where there are more options from budget airlines (direct flights from S7 - 8,000 rubles in both directions). And two and a half hours by train (from 20 euros) are Milan airports, where there is an even greater choice of cheap flights, for example, flights of the low-cost airline Pobeda.
Where to live
Absolutely all hotels and b&b in Venice are too expensive to be considered a reasonable option.
Ways to save on Airbnb:
- go from mid-October to February (this, by the way, Brodsky did every year, although for other reasons - he considered Venice much more more beautiful in winter, and not without reason)
- settle on the coast in Mestre, from where there are trains (10 minutes journey) and buses to Venice, including night buses (10–20 minutes journey)
- go for a month and bargain with the apartment owners - this is how the author managed to live for a month in September-October for 800 euros/room in a beautiful apartment in Cannaregio with a common living room overlooking one of the canals
Either way, your tools are Airbnb.com and patience.
Connection
SIM cards can be bought in Italian offices mobile operators, there are usually English speaking staff. It costs approximately 25 euros: 15 euros for a SIM card and 10 euros/month. for a tariff with the Internet. The WIND operator has an offer of 20 GB of traffic per month for 9 euros, which solves the Internet problem almost completely. Free Wi-Fi is available in many cafes and museums, and in some places you can also find free municipal Wi-Fi, but you shouldn’t count on it too much.
You can drink everywhere in Venice What to drink and eat
The most famous local wine is prosecco, a sparkling brut produced in the Treviso region near Venice, costs between 1-2 euros per bottle in the supermarket or per liter in a wine shop, where they will pour it into a disposable plastic bottle. You can drink anywhere and anytime, take it - go and drink, or better yet, sit on one of the benches on the Zaterre embankment and pretend to be Brodsky
Cicchetti- this is the Venetian contribution to the culture of street food: small sandwiches or snacks with wine from local delicacies like cod soaked in milk. Instead of dining in expensive tourist restaurants, it is better to go to one of the bars in the Rialto area and pick up cicchetti near the counter (showing the bartender the plates behind a glass display) for 1-3 euros apiece and dine on them with prosecco.
The best cicchetterias in Venice:
Cicchetti in Dai Zemei St. Mark's Square, packed to capacity with tourists, is a visual stereotype worn to tears. The most expensive cafes, where the price of a simple cappuccino reaches 12 euros, are.
But few people know that after 12 at night, when the cafes on the square close, the tables remain standing, and everyone is allowed to sit there with their own drinks and food.
A night picnic on an empty San Marco - it’s as if the mosaics on the façade of the cathedral and the portals of the Doge’s Palace are illuminated just for you.
One of the cheapest bars in Italy, oddly enough, is located in one of its most expensive cities. "Bakareto da Lele" - legendary place among local workers and thrifty visitors: a glass of chardonnay or cabernet - 60 cents, sandwiches - for a euro. You need to sit down like local students - on the steps of the neighboring church of San Nicolo da Tolentini - and watch as professors from the best architectural university in Italy and the future Rem Koolhaas with Zahami Hadid come out of the gateway.
In Venice, despite the gloomy prophecies, there is still local residents. There are not many of them, 55 thousand people for millions of tourists, but this means that the city still has shops and services for its own. In the back streets of Cannaregio and Castello you can find cheap pastry shops, discount Prix supermarkets, discounts in local branches of the COOP supermarket chain, unfashionable bakeries with delicious bread and pastries, cheap bars, cheese and butcher shops with local products and fruit and vegetable shops tents where everything costs less than on busy streets and canals. An 18-minute train ride (1.25 euros) from the Venice station, in Mestre, a suburb of Venice on the mainland, there is an Auchan right next to the stop, where food costs 20-30% cheaper than in the city, despite all that Italian quality and diversity - do you feel how life in Venice is becoming quite affordable?
A seagull sharing a croissant A type of fast food that has become widespread in Venice in recent years is “quick service spaghetti.” Go to the free cash register, choose the type of freshly prepared pasta, the type of sauce and toppings - and get all this splendor in a cardboard box for 5 euros.
Sitting on the embankment or on a bench at the nearest campo, you get a budget romantic dinner with a view.
A trip along the Vaporetto route 1 and 2 for 1.5 euros completely replaces excursion tours along the Grand Canal and gondola rides (which cost crazy money and are only disappointing).
Picnic on St. Mark's Square at night with Venetian legend Gleb Smirnov Things to do
Peoplewatching: There are no cars in Venice, and despite the availability of water taxis for exorbitant prices and public sea trams for relatively reasonable prices, the most convenient way to get around is on foot. Therefore, on the Venetian streets and campos, the rich and famous mingle with the common people into one of the most interesting crowds on Earth.
People who in other places can only be seen in tinted limousines or at private receptions walk the streets along with ordinary people, making up a bright and extravagant assemblage: old millionaires in Chanel and Tiffany coexist with longshoremen, movie stars from all over the world share the pavement with loud people Chinese tourists, and rich Silicon Valley startupers with gray-haired art critics from Siberia.
This circumstance provides great opportunities for peoplewatching lovers and even greater opportunities for peoplewatching lovers with a camera and an Instagram account.
Venice is not so much a city-museum as city of museums. Almost every palazzo and church hosts one or another exhibition, cultural event, concert and conference from time to time. This means that you can not only walk the streets and look at the facades, but also get inside a huge number of houses, palaces and churches, and often for free.
From May to November, the Biennale is held in Venice: an exhibition of architecture in even years, and contemporary art in odd years. At this time, numerous venues outside the main exhibition areas in the Arsenale and Biennale Gardens host exhibitions accompanying the main project, and entry there is often free for everyone, which makes it possible not so much to see art, but simply to visit the inside of many Venetian palazzos.
Queue for prayer in the Basilica of San Marco (entrance on the left side of the building) If you have a press card (a laminated card with your photo on which press is written in English, someone’s signature and a round seal with Russian letters that are not understandable outside your homeland), then you will save a lot of money on your visit museums, which are quite expensive here.
Half of the places have free entry for journalists, in particular you can save 20 euros for two when visiting the Ca' d'Oro palace with its impressive Gothic ground-floor courtyard, balconies overlooking the Grand Canal and Andrea Mantegna's absolutely stunning Saint Sebastian. But they don’t allow you to see Carpaccio at the Scuola di San Giorgio degli Schiavon with a press card - you’ll have to pay 5 euros per nose (but it’s worth it).
There is no need to stand in a long line at the Campanile of San Marco - this is such a high tower on the square of the same name - and pay a lot of money for the opportunity to look at the city from above. In the recently opened mall Fondaco dei Tedesci (formerly a 15th-century community of German merchants, restored in 2016 by a team led by Rem Koolhaas) has an excellent free viewing platform with the best view of the Grand Canal in Venice and no queues.
View from the roof of Fondaco dei Tedeschi It’s logical to start diving into Venetian theme not from exploring the beauties of the city itself, but from the island of Torcello, as the art critic Ruskin did in the 19th century: there is the oldest temple in the lagoon (ancient than the Basilica of San Marco), the most impressive Byzantine mosaics and, in general, a sense of the beginning of all this subsequent Venetian splendor . Then you can go to San Marco and other churches in the city to see how it developed and changed.
If you want to look at the mosaics of the Basilica of San Marco not in 15 minutes in a crowd of groups of Chinese tourists, but comfortably, sitting and listening to organ music, then you can go to Sunday mass (schedule on the website of the Basilica of San Marco), telling the guard “per preghiera” , they say, to prayer, and in the company of the same life hackers, enjoy the Byzantine mosaics on the church vaults. This pleasure is, of course, free.
Venice is not a club city, but club life you need to go to Mestre or neighboring Padua. You can spend time in Venice among cheerful, drunken youth at Campo Santa Margherita, where local university students and visiting youth drink from evening until night.
The fun spills out from the crowded bars onto the square, nearby embankments and bridges, and the entire city space becomes one big student party.
There you can also have a snack after midnight (which is rare in the city) at the Al Volo pizzeria - an institution of local partygoers.
An alternative route for those who like to drink correctly and in a local way: the Fondamenta Misericordia embankment in the north of the city, in Cannaregio, where along the unexpectedly straight and long embankment there are a dozen good bars for Venetians and visitors who know the city and the right places.
"High Water" on St. Mark's Square The Veneto region, or Venice, is the most frequently visited region of Italy. To a greater extent, this is due to Venice, which is not only one of the three most visited Italian cities, but is also included in various ratings of the most popular centers in Europe. Also, this is a favorite place for many newlyweds. And this is not surprising, because walking on gondolas and kissing on cozy bridges is so romantic. But this region can boast of more than just Venice. Here is the famous Verona - the setting of the play "Romeo and Juliet", written by Shakespeare, as well as ski resorts famous throughout Europe, such as Cortina d'Ampezzo and Civetta.
The capital of the region is Venice and this region is divided into seven provinces: Venice, Verona, Belluno, Padua, Rovigo, Treviso, Vicenza and includes 579 communes. The population is almost five million people, which makes it possible to occupy fifth position in the country in terms of this indicator, but in terms of the size of its territory it ranks only eighth. Note that the region is one of the most developed in Italy and has a rich cultural heritage. Tens of millions of tourists come here every year, and local residents, in addition to Italian, also speak Venetian.
Agriculture is an important source of income for the Venice region. Tobacco, cherries, corn, peas are grown here; fishing, food and textile industries play an important role. In addition, tourism also contributes a lot of money to the budget. The GDP is 9.4% of the country's total and the region has a small border with Austria and access to the Adriatic Sea. It must be said that Venice has a very rich history.
Photo: Didier Descouens/Wikimedia Commons
At one time, barbarians, Germanic tribes, as well as Byzantium ruled here. The 12th century can be considered the heyday, when Venice became the capital of the region and over time, many nearby territories and islands came under the rule of the Venetian Republic. However, in the 18th century Napoleon extended his power here and after his collapse these lands went to Austria, but then became part of Italy.
Venice
Venice is a province with a population of just over 850 thousand people and with the capital in the city of Venice. About 260 thousand residents live in the capital itself. It should be noted that this city is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List and it is a unique place for tourists, because such a location can be found very rarely. The main attractions can be listed for a very long time and Venice itself is already of great interest, however, below we will list the most interesting places to visit.
Photo: kirkandmimi / pixabay.com Arriving in Venice, you need to take a ride along the famous Grand Canal. You can do this on a gondola, but it will not be a cheap pleasure. If you want to save money, then you can use the Vaporetto water buses. St. Mark's Square may be a trivial attraction, but you can't live without it. Here you can see the Doge's Palace, St. Mark's Basilica, the clock tower and two granite columns that overlook the canal. The Cathedral of Santa Maria della Salute, built in the 17th century, looks very majestic and was built in honor of ridding the city of the plague, which claimed a huge number of lives.
The Ca'd'Oro Palace, which can be found in the Cannaregio quarter, is also definitely worth visiting. Let’s not forget about the Venetian bridges, which are called “Bridge of Sighs”, “Constitution” and the symbol of the city, the Rialto Bridge. Located near Venice famous island Burano and many tourists come here precisely to take photos against the backdrop of colorful houses and post them on social networks. I must admit that the buildings really look very fabulous and bright.
Verona
Verona is a province with the capital of the same name and with a population of just over 920 thousand inhabitants, which includes 98 communes. Verona itself is home to just over 260 thousand people. If we talk about the terrain, it is quite mountainous and in these parts there is the largest natural bridge in all of Europe, called “Ponte di Veja”. Verona is quite popular among tourists and the city is visited annually by about 3 million people, who are attracted by the many preserved architectural monuments, as well as various cultural events and musical events.
Photo: Ste93r / pixabay.com We recommend visiting Piazza delle Erbe, as well as the huge amphitheater Arena di Verona, where the annual opera festival, and also hosts concerts and performances. If you climb the Lamberti Tower, it offers very stunning views. Everyone who comes to Verona cannot ignore Juliet's house. The house, built in the 13th century at 23 Via Capello according to Shakespeare's tragedy, was once the home of the heroine of this famous play.
Among other significant attractions, it is worth highlighting the stone bridge Ponte Pietra, the Merchant's House in Piazza delle Erbe, Palazzo Maffei, which was built in the 15th century, Castelvecchio Castle, Cathedral, Arches of the Scaligers, as well as the amazing fountain of the Verona Madonna. The pearl of the region is Lake Garda, which is located 30 km from Verona.
Padua
Padua is a province with the capital of the same name and a population of just over 900 thousand people. It has 104 communes and is the most populous in this region of Italy. In general, it must be said that this area is rich in architectural monuments, ancient castles and nature reserves. In the northwestern part of the Venice region are the Euganean Hills, which are famous for their valleys and unique natural views and landscapes. If you want to treat your health, we recommend going to the thermal resorts of Abano and Montegrotto, which are considered the largest in all of Europe.
Photo: pxhere.com The main decoration of Padua can be considered Prato della Valle. It is considered one of the largest in Italy, but it is more impressive appearance. In the middle there is an island with statues of prominent Paduans, with lawns and trees, surrounded by a moat with water, and it all looks extraordinarily beautiful. In addition, you should visit the Basilica of St. Anthony, the Basilica of St. Giustina, the Zuckermann Palace, visit the Piazza dei Signori and Piazza delle Erbe, and also look at the Cathedral of Padua.
Another interesting place to visit is the Palazzo della Ragione, which once served as the city's courtroom and is still one of the largest halls that is not supported by columns. You can also walk around Botanical Garden, which is included in world fund heritage.
Treviso
Treviso is a province where almost 900 thousand people live and its capital is the city of the same name Treviso. This capital can be called “Venice in miniature”, which is confirmed by the local residents themselves and there are a total of 95 communes in its composition. This region was founded by the Celts, but it still gained its prosperity thanks to the Romans. Nowadays wine, furniture, shoes and textiles are produced here, as well as various engineering equipment and this area is considered economically developed.
Photo: Boris Maric / Wikimedia Commons It should be noted that a holiday in this region of Venice will give tourists not only unforgettable natural landscapes, but also allow them to see many preserved castles, palaces, significant architectural monuments, parks and historical villas. The main waterways are the Piave and Sile rivers. Of the main attractions, it is worth highlighting Piazza dei Signori, which has witnessed many events happening here for many centuries. historical events. It contains the main city buildings: Palazzo dei Trecento, Palazzo dei Podesta and the city tower Torre Civica, which is a local symbol.
It must be said that there are always a lot of people here and if you are tired, you can take a break in one of the restaurants. Let's also highlight the Cathedral, which can be found on Piazzaa Duomo Square. It is dedicated to St. Peter and was built back in the 12th century. To summarize, this area is also famous for its unique wine and many culinary dishes, and if you love travel, good wine and delicious cuisine, then you should visit here.
Belluno
Belluno is a province with a population of 213 thousand inhabitants and with a capital in city of the same name Belluno. It consists of 67 communes. If we talk about the economy of the region, it is supported by agriculture, cheese production, household appliances and tourism, as well as by the production of glasses from some well-known companies. It should be noted that this is a fairly large area, but a significant part of it is occupied by the Dolomites. Most of the inhabitants live in the southern part, which is called the Valbelluna valley.
Photo: kordi_vahle / pixabay.com Among the attractions worth noting is the Cathedral with a 70-meter bell tower on Cathedral Square, as well as the Palazzo dei Rettori, where the rulers of Belluno lived for several centuries. If you are interested in local nature, then go to National Park“Dolomite Bellunesi”. Since a significant part is occupied by mountains, some famous ski resorts are located in this region of Venice. For example, the fashionable Cortina d’Ampezzo has long been chosen by wealthy ski lovers.
An equally attractive resort is called Civetta, which is also considered one of best places for riding and relaxation. They are part of the largest ski area in the world, which is called “Dolomiti Superski” and includes twelve ski centers. It should be noted that all the resorts in this area have all the necessary infrastructure so that tourists can relax, ski, and go shopping.
Rovigo
Rovigo is a province with the capital of the same name, home to about 244 thousand people. Rice, corn, grapes are grown in this area, and some food industry enterprises are also located here. Among the more or less large settlements, it is worth highlighting Rovigo, Adria and Porto Viro. Considering that the province has access to the Adriatic Sea, there are resort villages with sandy beaches and clear sea water, for example, Rosolina Mare, Rosa Pineta, and Isola di Albarella.
Photo: Atigra / Wikimedia Commons From large rivers Let us highlight the Po and Adige, which generally determine the local landscape. If you like to eat, then in the small towns of this region of Venice you can taste delicious Italian dishes. If we talk about the sights of the city of Rovigo, then it is worth seeing the ancient towers of Torre Donna and Torre Mozza, which have been preserved from medieval castle. Experience the majestic Palazzo Roverella, which can be found on main square named after Victor Emmanuel II. Palazzo Roncale is also worthy of attention, which at one time was the residence of the noble family of the same name.
Visit the octagonal church of Beata Vergine del Soccorso, which is nicknamed the Rotunda, but especially worth mentioning is the Duomo di San Stefano - not a very remarkable temple from the outside, but looks very pompous inside. It was built back in the 15th century and there you can see the fresco “Madonna delle Grazie” and paintings by one famous Italian artist.
Vicenza
Vicenza is a province with the capital of the same name and a population of almost 900 thousand inhabitants, which includes 121 communes. Other big cities: Lonigo, Marostica, Thiene, and also Valdagno. Note that these parts have quite varied terrain, where you can find mountains and plains. If we talk about the city of Vicenza, today it is an important industrial center, where medium and small businesses are developed at a fairly decent level. It is very popular among tourists and if you get to these parts, you can see a lot of interesting things here, and you will also have a good opportunity to do different types active rest.
Photo: trolvag / Wikimedia Commons A must-see is the central Piazza dei Signori, where you can see the Palladian Basilica, construction of which began back in 1549. It must be said that the square itself has been the center of political life for many years. Among other significant attractions, it is worth noting the Chierikati Palace. The construction of this palazzo began in 1550 and was completed only 30 years later.
Fans of theatrical performances should check out the Olimpico Theater. The extraordinary beauty of the 16th-century La Loggia Palace, as well as the Temple of Our Lady with its high bell tower, will undoubtedly attract attention. Vicenza has many working museums, such as the Museum of Nature and Archaeology, the Palladio Museum, which displays the works of the great master, and the Museum of the Resistance, which tells about the struggle for Independence in this country at different times in its life.
Today, we tried to tell you about the Venice region and this is a rather interesting area of Italy, where you can see unique natural landscapes, many preserved historical monuments, castles and various cultural sites. As always, we definitely recommend you try the local delicacies and wine. In our next article we will tell you, which is located east of Rome on the Adriatic coast. You will learn about popular attractions and interesting places this region of Italy.
In the northern part of the lagoon you can relax on Cavaglino Beach. This is a beautiful place surrounded by lush vegetation. The sand on the beach is white and soft, with comfortable conditions. There are campsites, hotels, restaurants, and nightclubs nearby. This area is suitable for families with children. The average cost of a night's stay at the hotel will be 4,500 rubles.
In the south of the Venetian Lagoon, on the peninsula there is another beach - Sottomarina. Sand taken from the seabed is regularly added to both beaches. Many beaches belong to hotels, but there are also municipal ones. Sunbed and umbrella are paid: from 8 to 20 euros per set, depending on the season. You can also sit on the beach for free, using your own towel, as the locals do here. The entrance to the sea is gentle, you need to walk 50 meters to the depth. This is probably convenient for families with children, and there are also amusement parks nearby for them. The beach is interesting with its spit extending into the sea and its lighthouse. A three-day stay in a studio near the sea will cost about 6,000 rubles. There are hotels here for every taste and budget, you can rent an apartment, it’s easy to find, there are advertisements everywhere.
There are many cafes and restaurants on the beach where you can have an inexpensive meal. Lunch for two will cost approximately 2,000 rubles. Dinner will cost more - around 3,000 rubles. You can also provide yourself with a snack: inexpensive fresh fruit in a box - Macedonia dessert, famous Italian gelato - ice cream. Nearby is the ancient town of Chiagia with interesting ancient quarters.
Beaches of Lido Island
Lido Island has beautiful beaches, 13 kilometers long and 1 kilometer wide. The local resort is considered the most fashionable among Italians; the famous Venice Film Festival is held here. From Venice you can get to the island by vaporetto; on the other side of the island there is a beach. Behind the Church of St. Nicholas there is a clean, well-maintained municipal beach. A sunbed and umbrella will cost 14 euros. On the beach you can have a snack in numerous cafes and bars.
You can get around the island by bus or rent a bicycle. The main attraction of the island is the Church of St. Nicholas, which houses part of the relics of the saint. There is also an old Jewish cemetery on the island. On the Lido you can stroll along the green, beautiful streets and admire the ancient Italian courtyards. The central alley of Santa Maria Elisabetta leads from the vaporetto station to the beach. There are many shops, cafes, and boutiques here.
Resort Lido di Jesolo
In the northeast of the Venetian lagoon is the resort of Lido di Jesolo (Jesolo). The beaches here are wide, comfortable, and equipped with everything you need. The swimming season lasts from May to September. On the beach you can play volleyball and water sports. Fans of sophisticated entertainment will appreciate the fact that the resort has a golf club and a riding school. You can rent a bicycle. Some hotels provide this service free of charge.
Various competitions and relay races are held on the beach. You can visit a water park, an aquarium, a trampoline park, an amusement park and a go-kart track with your children. The resort offers its services at numerous spas, where you can get massages, body wraps, yoga sessions and other treatments. At the resort you can visit numerous cafes, restaurants and night bars in the evening. During the day, Lido di Jesolo is a calm, quiet Italian town with narrow, very pretty streets, villas, and courtyards.
Sights and entertainment in Venice
Tired of a beach holiday, a tourist may want to visit iconic cultural places. Of course, the best thing to do is go to Venice itself.
The heart of the city is St. Mark's Square. On it stands the majestic Gothic Doge's Palace, striking in its size, the beautiful San Marco Cathedral both outside and inside, a campanile (bell tower) from which you can view the panorama of the city, two columns with amazing sculptures, a clock tower... the area is divided into several parts , and you can walk along it for hours, just looking at the buildings, and even if you visit them!
- Carnival masks;
- Murano glass: dishes, decorations;
- Venetian lace;
- wool products;
- natural homemade cosmetics;
- dolls on strings;
- works by local artists - who knows, maybe this will be a future masterpiece;
- coffee, olive oil, pasta;
- Bellini champagne.
Kitchen in Venice
Venice is replete with various cafes and restaurants, and the best ones are not necessarily located in the very center - the owners of the establishments there are tired of tourists and it’s not a fact that they pay worthy of attention to your dishes.
Wealthy tourists can visit real Michelin-starred restaurants. And for those who are budget-conscious, choose a diner where you can dine at the counter and save on a table, because sometimes they charge a separate fee for a table.
An interesting place is located on the main square. This is the Florian cafe, where drinking coffee will cost about 700 rubles, but such historical figures as Lord Byron, Casanova, Brodsky drank coffee in this establishment... It’s worth the expense to sit and enjoy the atmosphere!
What dishes are popular in Venice? These are seafood appetizers - cicchetti. Oysters, cuttlefish, octopus... For meat lovers, it is worth trying a liver dish or the famous Italian ravioli (by the way, they come not only with meat, but with vegetables, cheese and even chocolate). Naturally, Italian ice cream is a must—no other country makes it like this. And of course, you should wash down your dinner with wine, because Italy is a country with a wonderful wine-making tradition.
So, Venice: it has a lot to offer both culture lovers and those who want to combine it with a soft, relaxed holiday. Beaches, parties, cuisine, beauty - all this awaits those who travel to Venice in 2020.