My loved ones describe me as practical and realistic. I view places and situations through this lens, often leading to many how and why questions. My camera lens, however, helps me see and enjoy the beautiful, the old, the funny, and the different. In Venice, there was much to enjoy, appreciate, ponder, and wonder about. Known as the “City of Canals” or the “Floating City,” Venice is picturesque and fascinating.

Tourism in Venice

The canals of Venice’s historic quarter make it one of the most visited places in Europe. Last year, 20 million travellers visited Venice, which has only 50,000 inhabitants. To mitigate the impact of overtourism, city officials have implemented several measures. In 2021, they banned cruise ships from docking, limited tour group sizes to 25 people, and introduced a fee for day visitors.

We ended our holiday with a short visit to this beautiful historical city. We arrived at St. Lucia Venice train station on a hot Sunday afternoon. Our accommodation was about 2 kilometres away, and although I love walking, this walk was almost too much for me. Tourists crowded the streets, and we had to navigate through the masses with our luggage, sweat streaming down my back. Carrying my packed suitcase and backpack over the many canal bridges, each with numerous steps was particularly challenging. I was grateful that Charl handled the navigation.

Venice start preparing for the tourists in the early morning

Waking up early in the morning as a city awakens, excites me. In Venice, the inhabitants had prepared everything very early for the new day. The aroma of freshly ground coffee and pastries hung in the air. Seabirds screamed excitedly at the fish market. Traders unpacked supplies from their mobile stalls. Boats on the canals brought in goods for shops and restaurants while removing rubbish. All this must happen in the early hours because, during the day, tourists on gondolas fill the canals.

Gondolas on the canals

Gondolas are a historic and traditional part of Venice, offering an iconic way to explore the city. In the 17th and 18th centuries, gondolas peaked in popularity, with an estimated 10,000 in Venice. In contrast, only about 400 are primarily used for tourism these days.

Early in the morning, we saw gondoliers preparing the boats for the day. Becoming a gondolier requires over 400 hours of training over six months. Besides mastering gondola manoeuvring and lifesaving skills, they also learn foreign languages and Venetian history and culture.

St. Mark’s Basilica

The Basilica di San Marco (St. Mark’s Basilica) is the cathedral church of Venice and, along with its square, is the most famous and beautiful landmark in the city.

According to tradition, Mark founded the church in Egypt and was appointed bishop of Alexandria after serving with Peter in Rome. People believed he died there as a martyr. Eight centuries after he died in AD 68, the Venetians brought his body to Venice. The city’s ruling class wanted St. Mark as the patron saint of their economic status, so they arranged to smuggle his body out of Egypt.

Murano die glass island

We visited Murano, the glass island, by taxi boat. Glasswork is an ancient art form, and it was one of the most significant commercial industries of the Venetian Republic for centuries. In 1291, city authorities moved the glass furnaces to Murano to protect the city centre from fire risks and to safeguard trade secrets about the production process. This relocation also allowed the glass masters to exchange skills and techniques, elevating the art form to new heights.

We attended a demonstration where we saw artists working and blowing glass using centuries-old techniques to create beautiful ornaments. Afterwards, we visited an exhibition showcasing the most stunning works of art.

The Venice Carnaval

Vendors sold masks for the Venice Carnival at most stalls and markets. This event is renowned worldwide for its beautiful costumes and masks. The celebration lasts ten days in February, during which people dress up and participate in organised parades or simple processions on the streets.

The Carnival traces its origins to the Middle Ages and continued for several centuries. People abolished the tradition in 1797 but revived it in 1979. It attracts around 3 million visitors annually.

Venice is one of Italy’s most beautiful cities

The Floating City, with its winding canals, striking architecture, and beautiful bridges, is undoubtedly one of Italy’s most stunning cities. The statue of the white hands in Venice left me with a message. They symbolise the need to build bridges and overcome differences. Each set of hands represents a different human value like love or wisdom.

If you enjoy travel, Venice is worth visiting and experiencing. However, I recommend choosing the time of year for your visit with care and travelling as lightly as possible.

Regards

Emsia