Venice - the real Italy and something completely for itself is written by Jesper Munk Hansen
The best country in the boot country - Venice
Have you been in Italy? Or do you still have your first visit to Støvlelandet for good? I have been in Italy 17 times. The first time I visited this amazing country, I was 5 years old and was on 'drive yourself vacation'with the family to Lake Garda - known as Lake Garda in Danish. Ever since the first time I fell in love with Italy and have considered it my second home country.
I have also visited Venice - or Venice as it is called in Italian - and it is a must to take a walk past the city. Venice is located in northeastern Italy in the region Veneto, where the city is also the capital and has just over a quarter of a million inhabitants. But despite being an Italian city, it's like coming to a completely different country when you cross the bridge and enter this adventurous city.
Some might say that it is 'the real Italy'. Because it's like Lady and the Tramp with small streets, gondolas with singing, accordion music and a relaxed lifestyle. When you cross the first bridge from the mainland, the only engine sound you can hear is from the boats in the water. It is liberating to have to park the car outside the city, although it can be a bit expensive to stay in the large parking garages for an entire day. But it does, in turn, give an atmosphere without equal that few elsewhere in Italy can match.
Instagram-friendly surroundings in Venice
Now it's starting to look like the Venice you know from the pictures. People stop at the water's edge to take pictures of the many sights in Venice, and here one realizes how popular the city is. You can both hear and see Americans, Africans, Asians and Europeans trying to find the best Instagram spot to the perfect image in the perfect city.
It is teeming with ordinary tourists, Instagrammers and travel bloggers, of whom more and more are gradually arriving. Everyone looking for the perfect photo of sights in Venice. We continue in the direction of the Ponte Rialto – the Rialto Bridge – which is packed with people. Still, we manage to get some pictures of a sailing gondola, which we see from the top of the bridge.
You can quickly get lost in Venice, which has a lot of similar streets and dead ends. Suddenly you can be standing in a private backyard if you have learned to go left instead of right. That's part of the charm here.
If you want a little break from the many people, you can sit in a small café or restaurant and have a drink or eat one of the well-known pizzas. But there will almost always be a queue to get a table. Therefore, patience is a virtue - both in the restaurants and in the city in general.
It is also advisable to sit down to the water and get an ice cream while the gondolas and boats sail by. Then one can enjoy the sight of the city at its very own pace and watch how the locals live their lives.
Piazza San Marco and motor ban
After a little hour's walk through the city, we are almost there St. Mark's Square, Piazza San Marco. One of the biggest attractions in Venice. I have been in Venice both when it has been bright sunshine and when it has been terrible rain, flooding and cloudbursts. But it's still an equally great experience every time.
When you stand in Piazza San Marco and look at the tower, you can consider whether the long queue in front is affordable or whether the square should just be viewed from the ground. I did the latter and set out on a little adventure in some of the side streets to the square. It was also a trip to the water, where the gondolas come sailing with happy and relaxed tourists from inside the city towards the lagoon and the Lido on the other side of the water.
There are many hotels in Venice, but it can be a bit cumbersome to transport yourself into the city if you have a large suitcase with you. Because there is a ban on motor vehicles in the small crooked streets of the city. In addition, be prepared for the fact that there are constantly many people if you choose to stay in Venice itself during your stay.
It can be recommended to find a hotel in a nearby town as Padova - The oldest city in northern Italy. It is just under 40 kilometers from Padua to Venice, and it is cheap to rent a car in Italy.
My second home country Italy
Venice is an incredibly interesting and inspiring city where you can have many hours to walk. It is very different from the rest of Italy and is definitely worth a visit. At the time of writing, I have been there three times - most recently in April 2018.
I'm going to Italy again soon, but the next two trips to Italy are not going to Venice. On the other hand, I have to Toscana and Trieste on my next two trips to Italy. I have a dream of visiting all 20 regions of Italy and I am barely halfway at the moment.
My best advice about traveling in Italy is: If you've never been to Italy, just hurry up and get going. You owe it to yourself to experience one of the world's most exciting countries, which I call 'my second home country'.
Have a nice trip to Italy's unforgettable canal city Venice or Venezia as they say in Italy!
See much more about traveling in Italy's many exciting regions here
What to see in Venice - sights and attractions in Venice
- Ducal Palace - Doge's Palace
- Grand Canal
- Basilica di San Marco - Markuskirken
- Piazza San Marco - St. Mark's Square
- Teatro La Fenice - Venice Opera House
- Gondola
- Ponte dei Sospiri - Sukkenes Bro
- Rialto Bridge - Rialto Bridge
Did you know: Here are the 7 cities in Europe with the most hours of sunshine
7: Nice in France – 342 hours/month
6: Valencia in Spain – 343 hours/month
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