Getting Lost in Venice!

by Tsvete Popp
St. Mark's Basilica and the Campanile in Venice, Italy, with tourists in the square.

Getting lost in Venice is one of the greatest joys that Italy has to offer! There is no better place on earth to make the well-known statement, that not all those who are wandering the streets of Venice are lost. The best knowledge gained through my experience in visiting Venice three times is that getting lost is the only place worth going to! During my first and second time spent in the city of 400 bridges, I was consciously making the major mistake to follow the travel guides and to search for saved places on Google Maps. My third visit was truly different as we got happily lost in Venice!

The Doge's Palace and St. Mark's Lion in Venice, Italy, with people in the foreground.

Palazzo Ducale

 

Doge's Palace facade in Venice, Italy featuring ornate Gothic architecture and detailed arches.

Palazzo Ducale

 

The Campanile in Piazza San Marco stands tall on a cloudy day in Venice, Italy.

Piazza San Marco

 

There is one fact about Venice that you’ll find in every travel guide or travel post about Venice – it is very unlikely and almost impossible that you’ll get tired of Venice! And this is completely true. Even after being here for several times, each time I ended up with finding a lot of new places and gorgeous photo motives worth the attention.

 

St. Mark's Basilica and Campanile in Piazza San Marco, Venice, Italy, with cloudy skies above.

Piazza San Marco


Person feeding pigeons in St. Mark's Square, Venice, Italy, surrounded by historic architecture.

Piazza San Marco


St. Mark's Basilica with ornate facade in Venice, Italy, featuring mosaics and arches.

Basilica di San Marco


Crowds outside St. Mark's Basilica in Venice, Italy, with its ornate Byzantine facade.

Basilica di San Marco

 

For those that have been to Venice could easily confirm the fact, that getting lost in Venice is a seductive thing – mesmerizing, beautiful, enchanting, mystical and unreckoned. Many authors and lyricists have pointed out the fact of getting lost in the beauty of a city. But the truth is that most of the time you are literally lost. Venice is a labyrinth of endless alleyways, narrow streets, canals, bridges, small local restaurants, cafes, beautiful buildings, hidden courtyards and plenty of dead ends … The fine art of having any clue where you are on the map and learning to love it!

 

“A realist, in Venice, would become a romantic by mere faithfulness to what he saw before him.” Arthur Symons

 

Intricate facade of St. Mark's Basilica with mosaics and statues in Venice, Italy.

Basilica di San Marco


Tourists at St. Mark's Square with Basilica and Campanile in Venice, Italy.

Piazza San Marco on a Rainy Day


Scenic canal with lush greenery and buildings in Venice, Italy.

The Small Hidden Canals

 

There is no doubt you should visit and spend some time at Saint Mark’s Square, but make sure it is in the early morning or very late afternoon. My advice is after visiting the main places such as Saint Mark Square, Grand Canal and Rialto Bridge (the most crowded areas of Venice for good reason), forget about the Google Starred Places and other maps and get away from the tourist crush of Venice.

 

Narrow canal with rustic buildings and boats in Venice, Italy.

The Small Canals


Crowded street scene with umbrellas and steps in Venice, Italy.

Rialto Bridge

 

Take any narrow street leading away from San Marco, and then another one, and another one… That’s it! At some point, you will no longer have an idea where you really are. Ta daaa! You’re happily lost in Venice! But don’t worry – all over the city you will notice the signposted routes (yellow signs!) leading to the main attractions of Venice, so there is absolutely no chance you’ll miss them. Just make sure you leave enough time to go ahead into the private side of Venice where you could wander for hours and feel the vibrant local Venetian life!

 

Tourists on the Rialto Bridge and a gondola on the Grand Canal in Venice, Italy.

Rialto Bridge


Colorful canal-side buildings and boats in Venice, Italy under cloudy skies.

Canal Grande


Venice canal scene with boats and colorful buildings under a cloudy sky.

Canal Grande


Ornate Venetian carnival mask with green and gold details in Venice, Italy.

Carnival Mask


Venice display features an ornate feathered mask and elaborate costume.

Carnival Costumes

Charming canal with a stone bridge and colorful flowers in Venice, Italy.

 

I always like to run away from the crowds. The quality of your visit turns better and better with each meter of additional distance between you and the tourist site of Venice. The never-ending maze of Venezia will lead you to some not-well-known local pasticceria, local grocery stores, fresh laundry hanging above the canals, children playgrounds and noisy cafes – the proof that Venice is still home for some people… here is the heart of Venice and the magical place every tourist is searching in the wrong place for!

 

Gondolas glide under a bridge along a canal in Venice, Italy, lined with historic buildings.

Narrow brick alley in Venice, Italy, with quaint historic buildings lining the path.

The Streets of Venice


Narrow canal in Venice, Italy, with rustic brick buildings and two pigeons on the ledge.

The Small Canals of Venice, Italy

Gondolier in Venice, Italy, navigating a gondola on a narrow canal beside historic buildings.

Narrow alleyway with colorful buildings and steps in Venice, Italy.

Quiet canal in Venice, Italy with moored boats and rustic buildings.

Blue butterfly sculpture in a garden, Venice, Italy.

Hidden Treasures on the Streets of Venice


Two bowls of Bigoi pasta on a table in Venice, Italy.

Bigoi, Best Home Made Pasta in the City


Fresh pasta in a Venice shop window with staff preparing food, Italy.

Bigoi, Best Home Made Pasta in in the City


St Mark's Clocktower with zodiac dial in Venice, Italy.

Torre dell'Orologio


Inside Café Florian, a historic café in Venice, Italy, with ornate decor and seated patrons.

Florian, the oldest Coffee House in Venice

 

Let your feeling guide you and your feed take you on a journey – Venice is the right place! That’s why I will visit Venice again and again and I’ll never get tired of it!

 

St. Mark's Basilica and the Campanile in Venice, Italy, with tourists in the square.

Piazza San Marco

Have you been to Venice? What are your favourite activities and sheltered secrets about this city? Curious to read about it!

Enjoy your day!



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