In recent times, more and more of us have become big fans of short city break holidays, and have learned to love iconic locations such as Paris, London and New York. The impressive collections of landmarks, museums, visitor attractions and parks give the tourist a range of must-visit places to include on the itinerary, ensuring travellers of all ages enjoy a wonderful time and take home memories that will last a lifetime.
There’s only one problem with this, though, and that comes when we have visited several of these cities. When the time comes to look back a few years later, it’s not always easy to remember which events occurred where. We recall walking down a wide street, for example, but was it the Champs-Élysées, Whitehall or Fifth Avenue? And the museum that we loved – it’s difficult to remember whether it was the Tate Modern, the Louvre or the Guggenheim.
One simple solution to this seeming homogeneity is to visit a city that really is completely unique, and that’s why Venice is proving to be such a popular destination. This wonderful metropolis has no real streets to speak of, just canals, so the pedestrians have to rely on walkways and bridges when they explore the city. It provides a wonderful change from the norm, and of course some spectacular photo opportunities as well.
A view to die for
The Rialto Bridge is perhaps the most famous landmark in the whole of Venice, and the crown itself is the best place to witness the teeming majesty that is the Grand Canal, the de facto Main Street of the city. Although the bridge itself is often crowded with tourists all eager to enjoy the vista, a little space will always become available in the end. You simply have to be patient until you find some elbow room.
Most tourists would agree that the best way to get a true feel of any city is to walk around as much as possible, because the sights, sounds and smells are right there waiting for you to enjoy them. In Venice, every major landmark is within easy reach for visitors, so there’s no reason to miss out on anything, and the pleasant walking environment all adds to the overwhelming feeling of uniqueness about this wonderful city.
Having said that, there is one public transport experience that really shouldn’t be missed, and that’s the famous waterbus service. The Vaporetto, as it’s called, collects passengers from jetties in the same way as road-going buses pick people up at stops. It’s easy and affordable, and it gives you a wonderful chance to see all of the glories that Venice has to offer, so make sure it’s on your itinerary. Learn more about the best travel destinations, on this website: www.champduboult.com
