ROUGHGUIDES venice 1 CONTENTS 04 MAKE A SPLASH Venice is a city surrounded by water so see what splashes can be make on your visit 06 CARNIVAL See what the annual carnival is all about 08 WINE AND DINE Visit the best Italian restaurants on the islands with our help 10 SHOPPING From the best areas to find the designer shops to the little hidden treasures 12 NIGHTLIFE Venice is known as a peaceful, beautiful city. Let us introduce you to the best clubs 2 3 The magical city of Venice is made iconic by its canals, criss Rialto Market crossed with bridges and flowing with gondolas and other What would a trip to such an exquisite coast-bound city be water-bound excitement. A trip to Venice can be a truly without taking in some of its local fish delicacies? The Rialto breathtaking experience with its mixture of astonishing Market is the best place to see the freshly caught delights of historical buildings, artwork, a fantastic culture of fresh the day. The market is split into two parts, the Pescaria for and delicious foods and a vibrant party atmosphere. At the the fish section and the Erbaria for the fruits and vegetables. heart of the city, is the water that connects Venice to the The best time to go is early in the morning as the crowds surrounding islands and allows swift and enchanting travel are still fairly thin and the produce for that day will not be within the city itself. fresher. Take a Gondola Along The Grand Canal La Laguna Surely the most iconic thing about Venice is its colourful The Venetian Lagoon is the beautiful enclosed bay on the and busy spectacle of waterways, bridges and gondolas. Adriatic Sea that houses the city of Venice and many smaller, You can buy a pass that will let you use the gondolas when yet just as beautiful, islands. For an unforgettable day needed for a certain period of time and with this, you can consider taking a water taxi to three of the most interesting hop on and off. Along the Grand Canal you will find various islands in the lagoon, Murano, Burano and Torcello. The architectural delights from the Renaissance and even earlier island Murano is famous for its glass making which it has that give the boat ride along the canal – a truly wondrous practiced there since the 13th century, Burano is known for feeling, especially when the sun is setting. its high quality lace and the multitude of small but brightly painted houses, and finally Torcello, at one point in history larger and more powerful than Venice, now contains a mere Aqualandia waits you everyday! 20 citizens! You can see the former splendour of Torcello which includes spectacular Byzantine era architecture and Why not take a boat across to Lido and enjoy a day at the mosaics and you can take a look at the Cathedral of Santa water park! Aqualandia, voted 9 times as being the No.1 Maria Assunta which was founded in 639 BC and contains Aquatictheme park in Italy, creates a real Caribbean Isle many works from the 11th and 12th century. close to Venice. An Oasis of entertainment on 80.000 sq. m , where you can find attractions for every age group, from Take A Break To Take It All In relaxing to having fun to extreme sports. And if all else fails the best way to relax is to take your shoes MAKE A SPLASH Aqualandia is much more than a traditional water park. It’s and socks off and dangle your feet in the cooling waters of a true themed fun island, with 26 attractions (including the the canals and watch the exciting, vibrant city go by outside highest water-slide in the world and the Europe’s highest Generator hostel Venice. Perfect after a long day of exploring bungee jumping tower), 7 shows and 4 animation activities this marvellous city. 4 5 HIDE BEHIND THE MASK Among Italy’s most beloved carnivals, particular mention can jump into this world of ancient splendour, reliving the goes to the Carnival of Venice. Carnival tradition of long ago. The first official document with which the Carnival of Ven- Some of the most spectacular moments during the Venetian ice was declared a public celebration dates back to 1296 – an carnival are the Flight of the Angel (or Flight of Colombian), edict by the Senate of the “most Serene Republic,” making a tradition that began with a Turkish acrobat in mid-1500s. the day before Lent a holiday. In this amazing spectacle an artist in flesh and bone hangs Established by the Venetian oligarchy as a concession to the from a metal cable, and, suspended in air, makes his descent people, its objective was fun and merrymaking, where the from the top of St. Mark’s Bell Tower to the Doge’s Palace. It mask dominated as a means to briefly ignore any signs of is a magnificent sight to see! belonging to social class, gender or religion. Today the Carnival of Venice is an evocative and much-antic- ipated popular feat, unique in terms of its history, its masks and its atmosphere. Highly-reputed and appreciated in all the world, it brings thousands of tourists to Italy every year. During the Lagoon’s two-week Carnival celebration, all can watch and take part in the numerous events and displays fill- ing the piazzas and main waterways of the city. As in the past, private parties and masquerade balls still hap- pen behind the scenes today, inside Venice’s grand noble pal- aces. In these places, where time seems to stand still, guests 6 7 BEST KEPT SECRETS When in Venice, escape the crowds and find the most stylish places for wine, cocktails, aperitifs and snacks with our in- sider guide to the Venice bar scene. BEST FOR A CLASSY COCKTAIL… BAR L’INCONTRO This stylish bar is a magical venue for an evening aperitif. The impeccable service is consistent with its location within the 5* Ca’Sagredo Hotel, but distinctive décor that conjures up a vintage tea house ensures Bar L’Incontro stands out as a destination in its own right. Bright and airy inside, the interiors have plenty of character: cocktails are made on a little brass trolley and the seats are quirkily mismatching. It‘s still highly refined though: the gold leaf, white marble and refined piano music add enough glamour to ensure things don’t become too bohemian. BEST FOR A SENSE OF HISTORY… HARRYS BAR A national treasure that’s also formally recognised as a na- tional landmark, Harry’s Bar is the place to go for a drink with a sense of occasion. Renowned as the birthplace of the bellini, this wonderful establishment on the St Mark’s wa- terfront was founded by Giuseppe Cipriani in 1931 and has reigned supreme over the city’s cocktail scene ever since. As one of the grand old dames of Venice nightlife, it’s no sur- prise that the bar has attracted many a poetic soul (it was Ernest Hemingway‘s favourite haunt for a time), but it offers the same warm welcome to everyone. BEST FOR WINE… ENOTECA AL VOLTO wvEvening drinks doesn’t have to mean cocktails, and that’s when this wonderful wine bar comes into its own. Another bar with more than a little history, Enoteca Al Volto has been welcoming oenophiles since 1936. Located just a few steps from the Rialto Bridge in Calle Cavalli. 8 9 SHOP UNTIL YOU DROP With every passing year the population of Venice falls, while that bears their name. Contribute to its survival by buying www.lisola.com) commercial rents increase. The result: small-scale family-run something, anything: freshly ground coffee, a twist of cumin This sells stunning modern glass pieces by Carlo Moretti. shops are an endangered species here. Venice has two major or some natural liquorice. shopping districts – the Mercerie, connecting the Piazza to JEWELLERY - CODOGNATO the area around the Rialto Bridge; and Calle Larga XXII MARKETS Calle Ascensione 1295, San Marco, Venice (00 39 041 5225042) Marzo, running west from the Piazza – and these zones are For the best Venetian market, head to the Rialto on the San Codognato sells macabre skull rings and serpent necklaces almost monopolized by Italian mega-brands such as Gucci, Polo (western) side of the bridge. There has been a market on and three generations of the same family have designed the Dolce e Gabbana and Prada, which you’ll find in every other this site for the best part of a millennium, and it’s still going jewellery. major tourist destination in Italy. On the island of Murano strong. Come early in the morning for local atmosphere and you’ll find a lot of showrooms selling local glass, but much of the freshest produce. The fish market is a riot of writhing MASKS - MONDO NOVO the cheaper stuff is mass-produced outside Italy – look for the marine life. Rio Terà Canal, campo Santa Margherita, Dorsoduro 3063, “Vetro Artistico Murano” trademark, the sign of authenticity. GALLERIA MARINA BAROVIER Venice (00 39 041 528 7344; www.mondonovomaschere.it) Likewise, most Carnival masks – the quintessential Venetian Salizada San Samuele, San Marco 3216, Venice. When he needed masks for that cheesy orgy scene in Eyes souvenirs – are manufactured abroad. For 1950s and 1960s Murano glass, head for the Galleria Wide Shut, Stanley Kubrick went to Mondo Novo. Even if Marina Barovier, which also organises contemporary glass you’re not planning an orgy, the emporium of this mask- FASHION exhibitions.