lacoquine

I need help! I have been reading guidebooks, this forum and other websites trying to formulate a "tour" that will optimize our time in Venice as well as provide a "real" experience, i.e., not museum/church/tour-filled.

So, which would other posters suggest: Ca Rezzonico or Accademia? What about Scuola San Rocco? Is the Secret Itineraries a must-see/do? The Correr Museum? I realize most of these venues are jam-packed and likely each could take several hours vs the one or two noted in guidebooks! And, of course, there are the package deals (one price for admission to more than one venue)--are they really (again, in terms of what we should try to see--even weighing our own preferences, of course)? See where I am going here?

I will admit being a tad overwhelmed, as you can tell. We will arrive in Venice on a Monday, spend two nights and then the day on Wednesday (probably leave by 6 or 7PM). That should afford us plenty of time, I know. But,like so many others this may be our only visit for quite some time so every minute really counts!

I appreciate your help. This forum is so valuable!!!

Thanks in advance.

Julie_Hurst

I'm sure you are aware that you will get varied opinions, just like how many nites in Florence & Tuscany or none at all!

Anyway, our favorite was Ca Rezzonico. Of course, we liked Correr & Accademia. So, it is a wonderful thing - not having time for everything means you must return!

Our favorites, after San Marco, were:
1. Strolling in St. Elena area & sitting in the pretty parks there & watching the locals.

2. Burano - the absolutely gorgeously painted buildings - of all hues - great photos.

3. Now this may seem strange to many, but Cimitero (sp?) island - the Venice cemetery. The history there is awesome; some graves with Roman numerals they are so old. The crypts are overwhelmingly beautiful. The graves are so well cared for & all have an abundance of flowers - the colors are eye candy! (We are respectfully quiet & don't take photos, of course)

4. Strolling thru all of the neighborhoods, selecting a different one each day.

Enjoy, Julie

dejafaux

Im not going to be much help as far as museums and groups, etc. We just spent 3 days in Venice. I had planned a few things but ended up not making it to any of the appointments because by the time we got there and saw what we were looking at, we totally changed our minds on what we wanted to see! Hop on a vaporetto and look around to see where you want to go. There will be alot of people since this is really the only public mode of transportation. San Marco square is a zoo during the day but after the sun goes down, you can sit and have a few drinks, listen to the duelling orchestras... We did take a gondola at sunset (5 girls not so romantic gt there are tons of art galleries right now. Walk along the dosurduro (I know I just butchered that) there are alot of free art shows... mostly contemporary. I went to one that was pitch black and you had to lay down on mats on the floor to look up at the movie that was showing... We didnt plan the secret itinerary but I would have loved to see the inside of the prison..

We went to Murano... interesting to see how its done not so interesting to be shuffled from one room to the next being pressured to buy things, my suggestion, take the vaporetto instead of their 'complimentary taxi'..

Just start walking and get lost (and you will I promise) thats the best way to do it... and have fun of course, if you get tired, have a gelatto and relax

suze

I've been to Venice twice, 4-5 both times. I just wandered around... all day every day without a plan.

Statia

IMHO, the Tintoretto's at Scoula San Rocco are not to be missed. We saw them on our second trip and wished we'd gone there the first time.

We also really enjoyed the history of the Correr Museum.

I liked the Accademia better than Ca Rezzonico, but we had limited time there so that could be swaying my opinion.

Personally, I would leave the outer islands for another visit since you have such limited time. There is so much to see in Venice proper alone.

mr_go

Wandering semi-lost through the streets of Venice, popping into a little shop, church or cafe on an impulse, seeing what you might find around the next corner...this is one of the singular experiences of world travel. Do not deprive yourself of it, just to see yet another musty gallery, palazzo or museum.

How I envy you, lacoquine. Because no matter how many times I may return to that incomparable, majestic maze of a city, I will NEVER again get to experience it for the first time!

Savor every moment.

yk

If you want to experience "real" Venice then you'll have to stay far far away from the tourist sights.

I will get flamed for saying this, but majority of Venice feels like a 600 yr-old Disneyland to me. It's all tourists, tourists, and more tourists everywhere. All the shops sell tourist souvenirs. It wasn't until we wandered all the way to Castello when we found some "real" folks living in Venice.

Anyway, we have visited Scuola San Rocco - the Tintoretto is not to be missed. You won't spend a few hours there...

We enjoyed the Ca' Rezzonico. Not crowded at all. We prefer that to Accademia though of course, if you're into Venetian Renaissance paintings, you cannot miss Accademia (very crowded though).

We have also been to the Correr - it has some nice paintings by Carpaccio, Bellini etc, and scupltures by Canova. It wasn't that crowded.

You should not miss the Titian at the Frari church.

If you are going to Venice soon, don't miss the Venice Biennale. We went in 2005 and enjoyed our visit there.

kfusto

"but majority of Venice feels like a 600 yr-old Disneyland to me".

This was my initial impression 34 years ago (first visit) and for each successive visit. I am one of those who does not find magic in Venice and really have no desire to return.

Sassafrass

Hi Lacoquine,

I am one of those "crazy about Venice" people. As mr-go indicated, Venice is the major sight: magical in the early morning, astonishing during the day, and mysterious at night. All of Venice is so wonderous, I have been six times and spent little time in the museums, even though I am a painter.
However, on one trip, I did visit many churches to see works of art in the spaces for which they were intended. The Titian in S. Maria Dei Frari is a great example.

So, you are right not to want your time too tour filled. Plan as much as you like by priority for your own interests (whatever you choose will be perfect - for you), but do as dejafaux did and go with your heart once you get there. Don't feel tied to any museums, churches, etc. You may find San Marco, Doges' Palace and one or two other things are plenty, and want to spend most of your time outside, just walking. You might enjoy late night vaporetto rides. You might consider a concert in one of the churches in the late afternoon or evening.

There is more than enough to do in Venice, and I would save the islands for another trip. If you do go to any of the islands, I recommend Burrano over Murano. That is also very personal and it takes longer to get there.

When are you going?

chimani

I agree with Suze - a major part of the joy of Venice is to just wander. The way to kill the joy is to have a pre-set itinerary, that you must keep to at all costs, because that's your plan, or you have paid for some special deal in advance.

Honestly, you have spent a fortune to get there, so what does it matter if you end up going somewhere on day 2 and paying full whack when you could have got in for half price if you'd gone on Day I. It doesn't matter one little bit.

Well it might if you were camping and eating sandwiches for every meal to save money - but I bet you're not!!
Me neither.

Suggest making a very early start on your first day (skip the lavish brekkie) and walk to St Marks. Go inside; then explore the backstreets to the North.

make your way eventually to the lagoon and get on any water bus going pretty much anywhere - but maybe best to head for a stop on the south side of the grand canal and wander some more.

Oh, I'd better stop.

Venice is not very big really - just try and get out on the water and get a good map. You can't really get lost!!

If you had three days then I would suggest the trip out to Torcello with stops on the way. The church there is stunning.

Enjoy!

Jake1

With only 2 days (more or less), you have barely enough time to scratch the surface of Venice.

There is just so much to see and do that it would help to know what your particular interests are: art, architecture, music, activities (e.g., gondola rides, beach, other lagoon islands, etc.), speciality museums (e.g., ecology, lace, glass, etc.), soaking up the culture (i.e., getting away from the "Daytrippers' Alley" areas), history????

Ralphie

re Scuola San Rocco: I enjoyed the paintings there-a lovely way to spend a rainy afternoon.

as for the Disneyland comparison, I've never felt that way about Venice, and this is probably because I prefer to visit there in the late Autumn or early Winter, I avoid Piazza san Marco and other high-tourist-traffic areas like the plague unless it's at night after all the day-trippers have gone away.

lacoquine

Wow! Thanks to all posters (so far!). I am feeling a bit less overwhelmed.

We are going mid-Sept, and hoping that the tourists will be a tad fewer in number.

We will have to tailor our museum/church visits to what really appeals, as advised. And we will definitely "get lost" in Venice. That is one thing I have consistently heard from all sources!!

I do plan on purchasing the 3 day vaporetto pass. Not sure re the combined museum passes. And we will surely do a gondola ride (ooh, that sounded Disney-esque). It just has to be done.

Thanks, again!

Julie_Hurst

right on, Ralphie! That is how we visit Venice. Always walk the streets around San Marco square; avoid SM square. Our favorite spots are in the non-tourist areas.

Plus, never go in high season; always off season; late Autumn, early winter; makes for cooler walking weather too.

All of that makes a very different & very enjoyable Venice.

Julie

takemealong

If you have never been to Venice, then I think you should spend some time in San Marco. I was there in late September of 2006 and did NOT find the crowds overwhelming at that time. I visited the interior of the Basilica of San Marco in the late afternoon as well as taking the elevator to the top of the Campanile. The wait to enter was no more than 20-25 minutes each.

Museums: I think that how much time you spend in a museum and how many you visit depends upon your interest in the types of art housed in a museum.

Even though I am an amateur artist, I prefer to spend my time seeing the major sights of a city and roaming its streets. This personal preference applies to any city, not just Venice.

I know that some posters skip the expense of a gondola ride and substitute a ride on the vaporetto. I rode the vaporettos (which were crowded) but would not have missed a gondola ride. I think your decision regarding this depends somewhat upon your budget.

You should most definitely allow some time for the back streets of Venice.

I enjoyed Burano (some do not). However, the trip out and back are time consuming so you have to factor that into the amount of time that you have.