Does the canal water in Venice smell bad?
 

I am planning a trip to Italy and wanted to include Venice, but someone has convinced my wife that the water in the canals smells bad, especially in the summer. Is this true?

Not in October when I went. Maybe a little in the summer, but if your wife won't go just because of that, I wouldn't take her just because she is too naive, to put it nicely, to appreciate such a fascinating, historic city.

To Richard:<BR><BR>Don't be put off by the rude and insensitive responses.<BR><BR>I will go to Venice myself for the first time. When you go to a big city in summer there is bound to be odour: the food, the people, the plant ... they are all part of the experience. <BR><BR>I remember some years ago I went to Hong KOng in July. Upon landing, when the airplane door was opened, there was a collective &quot;wow&quot; from all the passengers because of the sudden rush of stench rushing into the plane. But you know what, after the while you won't notice anything because the olfactory cells in the nose get &quot;tired&quot; very easily and become &quot;insensitive&quot;. <BR><BR>I don't know where you live, but many of us are fortunate enough to live in cities with clean water supplies and air, and travelling let us see how others live and appreciate what we have. <BR><BR>

I had heard that the canals in Venice smelled bad. When I was there one July, I didn't think they smelled any differently than a normal harbor.

There was no smell in April last year. I'd imagine there's some odor in the summer, but certainly not enough to keep you away.

Venice does not smell. It is one of the most magical enchanting places on this earth.

We stayed two nights in Venice August 29 and 30. Our room overlooked the Grand Canal (across from the RR station) and we left the windows open. We were very surprised to find that there was no bad odor at all. And I'm very sensitive to bad odors! And riding the vaparettos we didn't notice any problem; just smells like water. Probably the person that told this to your wife was there years ago before they dredged the canals - anyway - not a problem.

The sewage is dumped directly into the canals, isn't it? Just curious:).

A friend of mine just returned from Venice about a month ago and he said both he and his wife enjoyed it very much and it was their top favorite of all the places they went to. They wish to go back. He went about 15 years ago as a teenager and said it's much better now than it was then. So I think it's cleaned up some. Another person I know went in the last year and said there was no smell at all. I was worried it would be like a sewer too, but feel it is not to be missed. It is such a unique city in of itself and has so much history. I think if you go, it will be beautiful. I am going in March.

Thanks to all who seriously replied. I knew when I posted this that I would get some derogatory responses and possibly be accused of being a troll, but the person who told my wife that Venice smelled bad is her boss who travels all around the world and generally does not criticize the places he visits. In any event, I am happy to hear that the canals do not smell bad and look forward to our trip.

I must admit that I tend to visit Venice early in the year but I've been once in August. To me the smell was just like a river, not unpleasant at all.

The Grand Canal is huge and deep enough for large cruise ships but the smaller canals don't get as much water flowing through them so occasionally the water can smell a little stale but it was not overwhelming or particularly offensive. No worries. Enjoy!

Wondering--<BR><BR>That question came up on this board a few months ago. There was an episode of NOVA (the sicence show on PBS) which said that. <BR><BR>I don't know if there was a definitive answer, some said that the episode was ood and out of date, and that there is a sewage treatment system in place now.

We recently returned from our first trip to Venice, 4 days in late July with 80-90 degree temps each day. We were pleasantly suprised that there were no odors from the water, the sole exception being a whiff of ocean salt water when we were in a gondola. Can't say the same for our fellow passengers on the overcrowded vaporetti, however.

Hi df,

Have you posted a trip report yet?

Ira, I did not post a trip report yet, but I have been posting random comments here and there where I think it might be helpful. By the way, we did appreciate your advice on many topics. Thanks.

&quot;Can't say the same for our fellow passengers on the overcrowded vaporetti, however. &quot;

I'll bet it was the same guy who sat next to me on the plane.
((H))

Sorry Bix but the Grand Canal is only about 15 feet deep and you won't see cruise ships going down it. There are some that can park on the edge of the city however.

We were there this June and it was in the 90's every day. Once or twice in our four days there I got a hint of river smell. Nothing unpleasant and certainly nothing to dampen the beauty of one of the worlds most unique cities.

We were there two weeks ago (in the heat of summer) and never noticed a smell, nor any mosquitos. We were pleansanty surprised by both.

I was there for four days last week. The canals did not smell and we thought the city was wonderful.

Not only do the canals not smell but, if you get up early in the morning, you will see the entire city filed with garbage collectors. Truly amazing. I can't even imagine what a huge municipal job it is to clean that city every day, with all the tourist. I'm from San Francisco and we could take a lesson from the Venetians!

Not when we went in November - and it flooded the entire city every day! We had to walk on platforms around the city &quot;streets/alleys&quot; and water did not smell.

Last time we were there in August - when if it's going to smell, it's going to smell. Everything was fine, except on some of the tiny back-canals, where there was a bit of a tepid smell, but nothing that detracted from our enjoyment of Venice, one of the most magical places on earth.

A number of years ago there was a period of time when Venice suspended the periodic cleaning of side canals--for budget reasons. There were odor problems for a while because of this. But that period ended some time ago. When they drain a canal to clean it, there will be some odor of wet mud and sediment. The vast majority of sewage produced in the city is piped to the mainland for treatment. Otherwise, you have normal ocean smells--people who aren't used to the ocean might find that unusual.

You are welcome, df. Glad to have been of service.

BTW. You are required to post a full and complete trip report, including where you ate, what you ate and what it cost, within 30 days of returning from a trip or the forum administrators send a signal to yur computer that melts down the motherboard.

Beware.

LOL, Ira. And remember, df, you musn't offend anyone in writing your trip report, so don't say anything bad about any place you went, and tell us about every meal but not every bite you ate, and be sure to put in the personal experiences that make the report more touching, but don't make it too long, just give us the highlights, but don't forget the picturesque details..... hehehe ;)
QueenMab

I often wonder if the people who think that Venice smells bad are people who do not live near water, such as a lake or ocean. I have gotten a whiff from the canals, but they smell like ocean water to me which is not a bad smell, but I live near the ocean and go often and am accustomed to that particular odor. I have been to Venice 4 times before and am going in August for my 5th trip in as many years. I have never smelled a &quot;bothersome&quot; smell.

Wife and I were there last July and that was my concen also but did not find any offensive odors. Venice without a doubt one of the most fascinating cities on this Planet. Will return in 04. Have a great time.

I was in Venice in April and the city was totally GLORIOUS! Oh to have been able to spend more time exploring all those little alleyways. (Going back next April I hope.) Anyway, I filled an empty water bottle with water from the Grand Canal. This was done at departure in front of the train station. I was stunned at how clear the water was (there were a few pieces of algae in it.) I am a clinical microbiologist and my mission was to culture the water upon return. I did and guess what, there was no growth of any bacteria at all. Of course I did not culture for viruses. The water must be salt water which would not support the growth of some of the bacteria or viruses you would find in contaminated water. There was a very slight smell a couple of times in our room which overlooked the Grand Canal but certainly nothing more than what I have experienced anytime near the water in many places. I can tell you that in Philadelphia (my soul mate US city), in the summer there are incredibly bad sewage smells wafting forth from the manholes......... Do not pass up the opportunity to go to Venice for any reason whatsoever. It is magical. The history alone makes your heart and soul soar. And those handsome gondolieros, sigh.

Smell or not..don't plan on falling in!

I think it's one of those things that people like to say to make them sound as if they know what they are talking about, even when they don't. Venice is magical (and I've been to places that smell a lot worse!). Go - you'll love it!!

Hel,

I think you're absolutely right about &gt;&gt;I think it's one of those things that people like to say to make them sound as if they know what they are talking about, even when they don't.&lt;&lt;

Recently on this board, a woman who was in Venice at the same time as I was (not together, but the dates she gave were the same as when I was there) stated in her message that the smell of the canals was awful. When I pointed out that I was there at the same time that she was and the canals didn't smell and I was there with a group and no one thought it smelled, she responded and obviously thought she'd be very smart and insult me by making a comment about the fact that I was in Venice with an organized tour. It made me laugh because I don't know what difference it makes, tour or no tours. Unless she somehow thinks that tour operators shoot their tourists with some kind of hypnotic drugs that prevents them from smelling. Anyway, I do think that canals smelling is something that people have heard before and when they don't know what to say, they just repeat. Though, I wouldn't be surprised if they did at times. I was there in the first week of July, it was hot and there was NO smell.

Richard, I hope you did go to Venice and enjoyed it. It truly is a &quot;magical&quot; place.

I, too, had heard this for many years, and was never very excited to go there. We went last summer (my husband put it on our itinerary), and it was one of the highlights of my life. No, it did not smell. I dream of Venice, and hope to go back someday. I know that everyone else has used the word &quot;magical&quot;, but I can't think of a better one. It truly is. I am still in awe of how anyone could have ever conceived of such a city. There is nowhere else like it----truly fascinating. Take your wife----and be sure to take her on a gondola ride at sunset..............

My guess is that most people who think the canals smell bad are from Kansas or some such place and haven't a clue what the sea smells like. I've been to Venice on 4 seperate occasions, and never had a whiff of anything that wasn't normal sea smells.

YEP, SIX VISITS AND NARY A BAD WHIFF.

People either love Venice madly or have a dozen reasons to be cynical about it.

I suspect they are also cynical about mom and apple pie. Go and be blessed.

I can't be friends with someone who doesn't love Venice.

As for canal smell...Venice is very much alive and kicking and they've been doing much dredging of the canals in recent years which provides nice relief from this problem. However, the job isn't complete and certain neighborhoods in July/August remain pretty stinky. These aren't heavily touristy neighborhoods, though.

Many tourists don't realize that Venice doesn't have a sewage system. The canals are it and this is the way it's been for centuries. There is talk of creating a sewage system. All we can do is hope.

Regarding tourists who avoid Venice because they might smell some fowl odor...THEY SHOULD STAY HOME because Venice doesn't need such shallow people walking its precious pavement. Potpourri for brains? You bet.

I'll take Venice's canal smell anyday to NYC's sidewalks, buses, and subways, which wreak of urine every day of the year.