Claire

I'm going to Italy in August, and right now <BR>am planning to spend 2 days in Venice and 2 <BR>days at Lake Garda at the end of my trip. I've heard that many people disliked Venice, so I'm considering going back to Forte dei Marmi and skipping Venice and Lake Garda. Will I be disappointed if I don't see Venice?

cheryl

I guess it depends on what you like, but I can't imagine being in Italy and not going to Venice. We find it so magical that my husband wants to end all of our European trips there!

cheryl

I guess it depends on what you like, but I can't imagine being in Italy and not going to Venice. We find it so magical that my husband wants to end all of our European trips there!

elaine

I love Venice down to my toes, I would never give up an opportunity to go there. However, I have not been there in August. I've heard that it's hot and very very crowded in the summer, so it would be a shame if you went there and didn't like it for those two reasons. <BR>At its best Venice is historic, charming, beautiful, unique. and enchanting, and two days will barely scratch the surface. If you can eke out that unforgettable experience, by all means go. If you will already be tired and out of patience at the end of your trip, perhaps save Venice for another time. <BR>

Paulo

Forced by job related circumstances, Claire, in the last 20 years we always visited Venice in July or August. These constitute the "shoulder" season. It's hot (I, for one, do need lodging with A/C), many restaurants are closed (specially in August - Italian vacations) and there is an excessive number of "low quality" (in the words of Venetians) visitors (loads of day trippers and concentration of youngsters with backpacks - i.e., tourists that spend relatively little). It's much easier, though, to get a room (except very chep ones) or a table in a restaurant (once again excluding very cheap ones) in July/August than it is roughly during Carnival, Eastern, May/June, September/October or New Year's Eve week. <BR> <BR>If your approach for visiting Venice is going for the starred sites of guide books, you're in for a disapointment. Rush to San Marco, visit the Basilica, climb the tower, on to the Doges Palace, the Accademia, etc, a trip to Murano sweting it out in a glass blowing factory or in the unshaded main glass shopping street won't be pleasant at all with a bunch of people hot breathing on your neck, to say the least. When visiting Venice, priority should be given to stroll, to loose onselve as often as possible. If you combine a lot of strolling with a few starred sites I am certain you will enjoy yourself and you'll want to go back as soon as possible. I could name more than a dozen of locations in Venice where you won't find more than half a dozen tourists in sight ... Just to identify a few, the whole area from Campo Bandiera e Moro and Campo San Lorenzo to the Arsenale; the edge of the Castello sestiere to the Public Gardens, Campo dei Gesuiti, Campo Misericordia to Campo dei Mori and Madonna dell'Orto, Campo San Alvise, Calle Lunga San Barnaba to Campo San Sebastiano. The whole Jewish Ghetto is also almost empty (English guided tours to the museum and sinagogues average not more than 15 people and Italian guided tours, not more than 3 or 4!). Early mornings and evenings are very pleasant and the load of tourists is nothing out of the ordinary (at 7am, even Piazza San Marco is completely empty!). <BR> <BR> If you decide giving it a shot, drop me a line informing at what time you're planning to arrive and to leave, and what your main interests are. I can give you a few hints (e.g., how to avoid crowds/queue for visiting the Basilica, best time for visiting the Accademia/San Rocco/Ca'Rezzonico/Peggy Guggenheim/etc if you care for, etc) and give you some suggestions on how to divide your time and where to stroll ... <BR> <BR>Paulo <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR>

dan

Haven't been to Venice yet, but I can tell you that there are ways to beat the crowds anywhere. Get up early (most places seem to become crowded after about 10:00 a.m.) and hit the backstreets for more local flavor and fewer people. I know I look forward to sunrise on the Palazo San Marco.

martha

I'm one of the people who doesn't love Venice and even I think you should go. Most people find it magical, and you need to know whether you're one of them so you can plan your next trip accordingly.

Dawn

Claire, are you staying Forte dei Marmi?, my husband is from there.

Carol

Hi Claire: <BR> <BR>Having just returned from Paris, Venice, Florence and London, I must say that we wished our two days in Venice had been twenty days! <BR> <BR>Yes, Venice is a magic city. Lots of twists and turns and surprises around every corner. We absolutely adored it. <BR> <BR>I had heard that the food wasn't that great in Venice (it had been twenty-one years since I was last there), but the food we had was some of the best on our trip! <BR> <BR>I'll give a strong vote for Venice, but I'd probably stay longer than two days. (Although August may be a lot more crowded than when we were just there). <BR> <BR>A restaurant we enjoyed was Trattoria Vittoria (Campo S. Geremia 313) - to the left of the train station down Lista Di Spagna (I had heard this wasn't a great area, but we enjoyed it a lot - great people-watching!). We had a memorable dinner of proscuitto and melon, risotto con fruit del mare (risotto with sea food), spaghetti with clams (my husband says this was the best pasta he's ever had), and I had a fresh fish that was fantastic. And the house wine. It was wonderful. <BR> <BR>So there's another vote for Venice. <BR> <BR>By the way, Forte dei Marmi is the home of Andrea Bocelli's vineyard - are you a fan? <BR> <BR>Have a great trip! <BR>

Seamus

Having been to venice both in the less crowded, cooler time and the more crowded, warmer times, I vote for the former hands down. BUT if this may be your only chance to get to Venice, do not miss it. It is truly an enchanted/enchanting place.