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.

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).