Regional Information
Venice
At a Glance
Currency: Euro (€)
Population: 310,000
Language: Italian, English widely spoken
Local Time: Irish and UK time +1 hour
Voltage: 230V – continental adaptors purchased in Ireland / UK can be used
Flight Duration: Approx. 3 hours
Airport: Venice Marco Polo airport is located approx. 13km (8 miles) north of the city. It is reachable by either land or water – land journey takes about 30min and boat trip takes 30-70min, depending on the route chosen
Climate: The weather is most pleasant in spring and autumn – with clear, crisp days. Summers are hot and winter days can be cool and damp. Mist often enhances Venice’s mysterious atmosphere.
Overview
Located in the north-east of Italy, Venice is still one of the world’s most thoroughly unique destinations, a city that inspires even the most jaded of travellers. Quite simply, it is unlike anywhere else on the planet, with a collage of 116 islands connected by 409 bridges, where cars are banned and everyone, including postmen and the police, go by boat.
Highlights
Ca' d'Oro - This magnificent Gothic structure houses the Galleria Franchetti, an impressive collection of bronzes, tapestries and paintings from the 15th and 16th centuries; many works are by Titian. A big incentive for visiting is the chance to take in the panorama from the balconies over the Grand Canal on the 1st and 2nd floors.
Ca' Rezzonico Museo del Settecento Veneziano - Designed by Longhena this magnificent mansion houses a collection of 18th-century art, including furniture and some fine ceiling frescoes by Tiepolo. It is worth visiting for the views over the Grand Canal alone.
Gallerie dell'Accademia - The Gallerie dell'Accademia houses Venice's single most important art collection, which brilliantly illustrates the progression of Venetian art from the 14th to 18th centuries.
Palazzo Ducale - The Doge's Palace is a rare example of civil Venetian Gothic and was home to the doge and to all arms of government, including prisons, for much of the thousand or so years of the Republic. The palace's two magnificent Gothic facades in white Istrian stone and pink Veronese marble face the water and Piazzetta San Marco.
Pellestrina - Pellestrina is a small island near the southernmost tip of the Lido. It is home to fishing villages, lacemakers and Murazzi. The seawalls of Istrian stone protected the lagoon from the Adriatic's swell from 1782 until the horrific floods of 1966. A walk along the deserted ribbon of grey sand is the perfect antidote to those crowded Venetian alleyways.
Ponte di Rialto - The Rialto has always been the commercial heart of Venice, so it is hardly surprising that the first bridge over the Grand Canal was built here. Today the area is still famous for its bustling fruit and vegetable market and the bridge itself is often neck-deep in stalls selling tourist souvenirs.
Squero di San Trovaso - On the banks of the leafy Rio di San Trovaso, one of Venice's most attractive waterways, you can see one of the few working squeros (gondola workshops) left in the city and witness the masterful craftsmanship first hand. From the right bank you can look across to the vessels in various states of (dis) repair.
St Mark's Basilica - St Mark's is one of the most spectacular houses of worship in the world, attesting to the Venetian Republic's former maritime and commercial might. Adorned with an incredible array of plundered treasures it is a seething mass of domes and arches. The dress code requires knees, shoulders and upper arms to be covered.
St Mark's Square - Napoleon dubbed it the “finest drawing room in Europe” and visitors and pigeons alike have been flocking here for centuries to strut and crow. There is a constant carnival atmosphere thanks to the cacophony of duelling cafe orchestras, cooing pigeons and constant traffic of waiters serving alfresco dinners.
Getting Around
Walking in Venice can be a rewarding pursuit. Be prepared to get lost in the timeless backstreets, dead-end alleys, canalside fondamente and deserted squares that make up the real Venice. Vaporetto (water bus) is the quintessential method of getting around Venice; you won't find too many public transport routes as unforgettable as vaporetto No 1's trip along the Grand Canal. Buses run from Piazzale Roma to Mestre and other mainland destinations but it is probably the least exciting way to get around the city.
Health/Security
Most Italians take mineral water with their meals; however, tap water is safe everywhere, as are public drinking fountains. Unsafe sources will be marked ACQUA NON POTABILE. If tap water comes out cloudy, it is only the calcium or other minerals inherent in a water supply that often comes untreated from fresh springs. Venice is essentially a safe city but has a reputation for young pickpockets. Generally, tourists should take the precautions they would in any city. Avoid carrying large sums of cash or leaving belongings unattended.
Useful Contacts
Irish Consulate, Milan: Piazza S. Pietro in Gessate 2, 20122 Milano
Tel: + 39 02 551 87569, Fax: + 39 02 551 87 570
Email: Antonia.Marsaglia@flashnet.it
Web: www.embassyofireland.it
British Consulate, Venice: Piazzale Donatori di Sangue, 2/5, 30171 Venezia-Mestre VE
Tel: + 39 041 505 5990, Fax: + 39 041 950 254
Email: britconvenice@tin.it
Web: www.ukve.it or www.ukinitaly.fco.gov.uk/en
Tourist Office, Venice: Piazza San Marco
Tel: + 39 041 5226356 / 5298730, Fax: + 39 041 5298730
Local Emergency Services: Ambulance 118 / Fire 115 / Police 112
Calling Venice from Irl/UK: 00 + 39 + 041 + the number
Calling Ireland from Venice: 00 + 353 + area code + the number
Calling the UK from Venice: 00 + 44 + area code + the number
Useful Website
www.visitvenice.co.uk