Just how bad does Venice smell?
 

I know, I know - it's an indelicate question, however, we are traveling with friends to Venice and other locales in Italy at the beginning of May /07 and they have been hearing from recent returnees that Venice is unpleasant due to the canal odors. I am unconcerned but don't want to feel guilty about forcing them to spend 4 (glorious) days there.
Can anyone update me? Many thanks in advance.
Regards to my excellent Fodorite friends.
Judith

We were there in May/05 and didn't notice any smell at all.

I was there for a week and it did't smell.

The only reeking parts of Venice my nose has encountered are on some small canals but generally this won't be a problem during normal times. That said there have been celebrated occasions where a stench from the large lagoon, from i think algae decomposing, has wafter over the town. Haven't heard of this recently and would be a remote occurence i believe. I can't fathom a more wonderful place to 'force' someone to stay for 4 days.

I have been to Venice twice, both times in July, and I never noticed a smell.

I was there in June of 2006....no smell at all.

As above, twice in Venice, both times in August. The only time I smelled anything bad was one small side canal that was drained and appeared to be under repair.

Thanks for your replies. I was in Venice many years ago and the only nose-holding episode occurred when I got lost in the small canal area. Other than that, Venice is just so wonderfully different from the rest of Italy that it would be a shame to shorten our stay there.

No smell in October, November or December.

At least 4 times, never smelled anything. Other than the food in front of me at dinner.

Hi Judith,

Many folks, especially those from Mid-America confuse the aroma of salt water with "smell".

If you go past a small canal that's been drained for repairs, you could be accosted by a "smell".

Otherwise, Venice is reasonably odor free.

Enjoy your visit.

((I))

or the armpits of the elbow to elbow crowds on main drags in summer!

I only smelled an off odor when they were dredging out a small canal. But even if your companions do find a smelly spot it isn't your fault for goodness sakes. Have fun.

Now the smell of all the dog poo is another story...

I never smelled anything when I was there. Venice is glorious!

I hear this all the time and don't get it. We've been to Venice several times and have never noticed a smell. We've been there in May/June and in October/November.
As stated above, if a canal is drained for repairs, it will smell bad; same as for any canal or river in the US.
I have noticed a LOT more disagreeable smells right here in the US when visiting larger cities, especially when you walk by some storm sewer openings.
Go to Venice, take a deep breath, and enjoy the beauty of La Serenissima!
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I have to admit that I noticed a "smell" in Venice when I was there, although I find that pretty much every city I visit "smells" - not necessarily badly, just different than Vancouver...it's part of what I like about traveling - noticing and appreciating the differences between where I am and where I'm from.
I especially like the smells when walking through markets - the spice carts, the cheese carts, the flower stalls...

I was there last March and did not notice any unpleasant smells.
Enjoy!!!

Some people are so used to Disney-esque holidays where everything is pristine, they don't know what the real world is like. I've heard folks say they don't like the smell in Pikes Place Market and Fisherman's Wharf - too "fishy" :)

If your friends are anything like that - then you might actually have a problem.

Have been to Venice several times and never noticed any odor. However, I haven;t been there in July/August - and I think then - at low water you might get some of the typical low tide odor from backwater canals.

If you think it will bother you don't take a hotel on one of the backwater canals - or mkae sure it has sealable windows and good AC (that you'll need anyway in the summer).

I was there in October '03, and I noticed a definite smell.

After living in Seattle 15 years of my life off of Puget Sound, you'd think I'd know that smell, but I'd spent the more recent 3 years in Denver, far from any ocean, and only after my 2nd day did I realize that all it was was a very pungeant Salt Water Smell.

It's not sewer water, just the ocean brine...once you realize it like I did, it's much less offensive. HA

Jules

We were there last year for three days and never smelt anything. From what I understand it's hit or miss on that one but doesn;t happen very often.

Yes Venice is dirty, filthy and EXTREMELY smelly. Please warn everyone of this and insist they stay away. Especially in the second half of September 2008. I am reliably informed it will be particularly bad and I will be investigating this phenomena (El Vino effect)in closer detail. Needless to say I will be submitting a full report in this forum of the smell problem and the resultant drop in tourist numbers as well as a review of badly patronized restaurants, bargain accommodation and gondola rides at cut price rates. >:)

We'll be staying at Antiche Figure on the Grand Canal. I, for one, will be investing in nose plugs for my friends. They are pretty good sports, but I'm a bit thin-skinned and would hate to think that their enjoyment would be in any way reduced by spending 4 days in potentially smelly Venice!
Your comments are well-taken. It's been quite a long time since I last visited there and my memories of it are only happy ones.
Judith

You're kidding about the nose plugs, right?

There's a sea scent to the air, and as reported it may be more intense in the small out of the way canals where the water moves more slowly or they're dredging.

Why in the world would you even go to Venice if you are that worried and convinced that your friends will have a smelly experience?
We stayed on the Grand Canal in both January and April - no smells.

why would you take the smells, if any, of Venice personally? why would your friends? if they are that precious I would rethink traveling with them at all. They have to be strong if they are going to travel, things happen. Good luck with them!!

Well, of course, I'm kidding about the nose plugs. I think you're getting a little off track here with your postings.

Thanks to all of you who were kind enough to respond with what the actualities are of today's Venice. They don't seem far off what I enjoyed years ago.

The friends who are traveling with me and my husband are of the "friends for life" variety - more than 40years - and I want them to have a really good time, too.

oh, I see, they won't blame you but you want them to have a nice time. Good for you.

Here is an article..http://www.metro.co.uk/news/article....ticle_id=31672

Personally, as many times as I have been in Venice I have never been bothered by "smells" but it seems to be an ongoing comment for as long as I can remember.

Hi

I was there in June a few years back (see the trip reports and pictures on http://gardkarlsen.com/italy_venice.htm ) I had also heard about the bad smell but I did not notice any of this at all.

Regards
Gard
http://gardkarlsen.com - trip reports and pictures

From the sights & sounds of a place you can now add 'smell'!!I'm sure most of you will agree that a particular smell (read perfume / aroma ) brings back fond memories of places & people.So,wear your fav perfume or cologne to supress the odor of Venice, if any, for lasting memories.

In my experience, the cannals don't smell bad. In general, they smell of sea (well, of course), but is that bad? However, I stayed at a convent on my last trip to Venice and the window had a view of a rear back canal and I have to say that it was the only time I can honestly say that I ran into a smelly canal. I've been to Venice in Summer, so I don't know if it depends on the season. Besides, I don't think there's a city in the world which every single nook and cranny smells good. Venice is like any other city in the world (well, in that sense). It's not "so" perfect, but it's not something that you can say "I can't stand it".

As with anything, if you go to Venice expecting it to smell bad it will as you will interpret even pleasant smells as "bad."

Muskoka,
We stayed at the Antiche Figure and just loved it! It's a charming, small hotel, spotlessly clean and with excellent service. We upgraded to one of the front rooms with a little 'Juliet' balcony and it was well worth it to have the Grand Canal out our front window with the gondolas 'parked' below. There are double-glazed windows and wood shutters so noise is not a problem. Have a wonderful time!

The only time i noticed a slight "sulfurous/rotting egg" odor was usually in the bathrooms (and noticed this more in hotels on the Italian Riviera) and chalked it up to old plumbing.

But as for strong canal odors - didn't notice any.

I've been to Venice, in winter and summer and never got a smell.

I'm glad to hear that Antiche Figure is as charming in reality as the anecdotes would have me believe. We should be off to a great start come May.

We were in Venice during the heatwave in July 2006. No Smell. Loved Venice.

We were there last May, and noticed no unpleasant smells at all. (No dog poo, either.) Our hotel room was on the first floor, just ten feet above the confluence of two small canals. We kept the windows open all the time, to enjoy the amazing views, and noticed no smells whatsoever.

I'm thinking it's more an urban myth than reality. Or maybe a thing of the past that has been cleaned up now.
:)>-