Is Venice worth the trip?
Dec 14th, 2009, 05:35 AM
#41
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IMO, a person with mobility problems has a worse time in all of Italy. If you are unable to do steps, I'd wait. I'm trying to think of a train station with an escalator in Italy and can't. Perugia and Gubbio have escalators to reach higher parts of town and there are some finiculars in various places. In Venice, there are lots of bridges with steps. And, walking on the scaffolds if there is an acqua alta is problematic also.
That being said, DH and I have returned to Venice several times. The buildings on the accepted "to see" lists are magnificent. To see those same fog-enshrouded, shimmering icons rising from the water on a misty morning is pure magic. It was so easy for us to pretend that we were 14th century visitors in a place with secrets. We often took the vap up and down the Grand Canal just taking it all in.
Is it worth it? Only if you have a scintilla of a sense of wonder in you heart....
That being said, DH and I have returned to Venice several times. The buildings on the accepted "to see" lists are magnificent. To see those same fog-enshrouded, shimmering icons rising from the water on a misty morning is pure magic. It was so easy for us to pretend that we were 14th century visitors in a place with secrets. We often took the vap up and down the Grand Canal just taking it all in.
Is it worth it? Only if you have a scintilla of a sense of wonder in you heart....
Dec 14th, 2009, 07:41 AM
#42
My wife is HIGHLY allergic to mold and mildew, but she really wanted to see Venice during our recent first visit to Italy. So we planned for only two nights, thinking that if the mold situation was as bad as we'd heard, then we would leave before it really started to affect her. We cautiously changed that to three nights the more we read about Venice. As it turned out she was not bothered by mold whatsoever. The three nights we spent there could have easily been doubled or tripled. Point being, of course, take with a grain of salt the negative information you earlier received, now totally countered by this thread!
If I may offer up one photo of an expensive and hackneyed tourist experience in Venice, one my wife and I initially figured we would avoid during our time there. Thirty minutes after taking the photo we were doing the same thing. We were wonderfully lost down a remote back alley at the time. It was a highlight of our trip.
http://www.pbase.com/mangoman/image/117932663/original
If I may offer up one photo of an expensive and hackneyed tourist experience in Venice, one my wife and I initially figured we would avoid during our time there. Thirty minutes after taking the photo we were doing the same thing. We were wonderfully lost down a remote back alley at the time. It was a highlight of our trip.
http://www.pbase.com/mangoman/image/117932663/original
Dec 14th, 2009, 10:32 AM
#43
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We've been to Venice 3 times and hope to go back again. It's is like no other place on earth!!! I've had people tell me they don't like it because "everything is so old". What do they expect? Just the buildings standing over the centuries is a wonder in itself when you consider being built in the water and the beatings they get from the tide.
Go, enjoy, walk, stop for a glass of wine and start all over again. It's magnificent.
Go, enjoy, walk, stop for a glass of wine and start all over again. It's magnificent.
Dec 14th, 2009, 11:07 AM
#44
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We went the third week of October and it was perfect. It wasn't empty but it wasn't drastically crowded. The weather was comfortable.
I would hate to miss Venice anytime but as long as it's outside of the main tourist season, it won't be too bad.
I would hate to miss Venice anytime but as long as it's outside of the main tourist season, it won't be too bad.
Dec 14th, 2009, 03:29 PM
#50
Thanks for comments on my photos, much appreciated, but Venice as a backdrop does make life easier for the photographer.
TDudette, I do have some photos of pigeons, but not feeding them... One photo I wish I did have, but could not easily take, was of us dancing on St. Marks Square at 10:00 PM one night. Another wonderful (and free) Venetian moment that we will never forget. The memory will suffice.
TDudette, I do have some photos of pigeons, but not feeding them... One photo I wish I did have, but could not easily take, was of us dancing on St. Marks Square at 10:00 PM one night. Another wonderful (and free) Venetian moment that we will never forget. The memory will suffice.
Dec 14th, 2009, 06:11 PM
#51
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I LOVE Venice. I've been twice, both during the off-season (late Nov and March). It was absolutely wonderful, and I would return in a minute. We had no issues with crowds or flooding, and I would agree with a previous poster that it's essential to get "lost" in Venice.
I would also recommend Burano, known for its lace-making and delightfully brightly painted houses.
From what I've heard, I would certainly agree that it's important to avoid going in the summer season.
Easter might actually be a pretty decent time to go.
I would also recommend Burano, known for its lace-making and delightfully brightly painted houses.
From what I've heard, I would certainly agree that it's important to avoid going in the summer season.
Easter might actually be a pretty decent time to go.
Dec 15th, 2009, 09:45 AM
#54
TDudette, thanks for suggestion and offer. I can do that as well, and in fact might for a slide show for friends. Truth be known, I look much better when I am on the other side of the camera! Not so my wife. 
But we were putting our salsa dance lessons to good use out there!
But we were putting our salsa dance lessons to good use out there!
Dec 15th, 2009, 03:24 PM
#58
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I had heard all the negatives about Venice - old, moldy, rundown, crowed, expensive, confusing - and almost skipped it. That would have been a huge mistake. It is one of the most extraordinary places in the world and is unique.
One other thing. The reputation about being hard to navigate is complete nonsense It is far easier to get around than Rome. The reason is simple: the streets are a maze but there are signs everywhere directing you to the major locations, St. Marks, Realto, etc. We never got lost at all.
One other thing. The reputation about being hard to navigate is complete nonsense It is far easier to get around than Rome. The reason is simple: the streets are a maze but there are signs everywhere directing you to the major locations, St. Marks, Realto, etc. We never got lost at all.
Dec 17th, 2009, 06:09 AM
#60
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My wife and I made Venice one of our stops on our honeymoon this last september (a recommended time to go). Our itinerary was 2 days in venice, 4 in lake como, 5 in Positano. The reason we only planned 2 days in venice was we read the same stuff you read (it smells, its crowded, its flooded) so we figured we would go see it before it fell into the ocean and at least say we went.
Our two days in venice were the most amazing of our whole trip. The place is amazing. I figure the people who complain about it are the ones who get off the cruiise ships in San marco sq by the thousands to buy a t shirt and a piece of glass. Venice is the most unique city in the world. My advice would be to go for 3 or 4 days, have no plans, get a b and b in the middle of the action (recommend Locanda Orseolo highly) and just get lost in the bridges and walkways. It is the most romantic place in the world. One caveat. I hear it is really crowded in Summer. I assume Easter is a shoulder season like september so it should be ok.
Our two days in venice were the most amazing of our whole trip. The place is amazing. I figure the people who complain about it are the ones who get off the cruiise ships in San marco sq by the thousands to buy a t shirt and a piece of glass. Venice is the most unique city in the world. My advice would be to go for 3 or 4 days, have no plans, get a b and b in the middle of the action (recommend Locanda Orseolo highly) and just get lost in the bridges and walkways. It is the most romantic place in the world. One caveat. I hear it is really crowded in Summer. I assume Easter is a shoulder season like september so it should be ok.
