Romantic Gateway - VENICE

VENICE – ‘The City of Love’, the name spells romance.  It is in fact one of the most Romantic places in the world.  A perfect place to go for your honeymoon, where romance is in the air, in each and every part of Venice.  The ideal and ultimate Gateway for the most romantic place on earth.

When you hear about Venice, the first thing you picture in front of your eyes are the Gondolas.  These are the perfect transport for a romantic ride through the backwaters of Venice sitting next to your loved one and the oarsman behind you, the picture perfect romantic snap.  There are various spots where you can hire a gondola.  A ride costs you anything between $90 to $150, depending on the route and time taken.  The other options are the Grand Canal Boatride in a Vaporetto (water bus) which is $7 – 8, or a Traghetto for a 90 second ride (75 cents).  For a truly great experience through the Gondola, try this route – Start from Piazza San Marco – Grand Canal – under ‘Bridge of Sighs’ – Church of Chiesa di Santa Maria del Giglio at La Fenice Theatre.  Watch the play or ballet and then have a meal at the nearby trattorias or street hotels for a traditional Italian cuisine.

The views of Venice are the best that one can get of a romantic postcard, may it be riding in a vaporetto or feeding pigeons at Piazza San Marco.

Piazzo San Marco – This is the busiest place in Venice as well as one of the grandest square all over Europe.  People gather here all throughout the day and night, some take pictures of romantic Venice, while other feed the pigeons, some others just watch and relax absorbing the atmosphere.  It is also known as St.Mark’s square as it has the famous St.Mark’s cathedral near it.  Also there are the Doge’s Palace and the Companile along with several museums on Piazzo San Marco.

Grand Canal or Canalazzo – It is a two mile long waterway with magnificent views on both sides of the riverfront and has impressive palaces of past seafaring merchants.  One can take the vaporetto (water bus) ride day or night to see the real beauty of Grand Canal.

Murano Island – This island is famous for its glass work and glass artisans.  Here you will have a practical knowledge of how glass blowing is done.  There are various shops where you can buy glass mementoes made from these glass factories. 

Burano – is famous for laces and shops selling a variety of laces are found here.

·        If you and your partner are interested in religion and churches, Venice has a lot to offer along with St. Mark’s church.  There is the Basilica della salute and Basilica dei Frari among others. 

·        For the art lovers, the Guggenheim Museum which is located on the Grand Canal has an art collection of the 20^th Century.  Another museum ‘The Gallerie dell Accademia’ is situated nearby which has an incredible art collection of Venetian artists.

·        Speaking of art, don’t miss the Teatro La Fenice Theatre which is Venice’s famed opera house and hosts some exceptional ballet shows and popular plays.

Venice is a relatively safe place to walking around anytime of the day or even at night.  Try to go for a romantic stroll through the streets of Venice at night, hand-in-hand and see the brightly-lit city which often gives you a visualization of a dream city.  

Dinning in Venice is also a romantic experience with the street eateries giving you an assortment of Italian food, where you can laze out and watch the historical surroundings of Venice. 

The best time for a romantic outing to Venice is the summer season in the months of May and June.  Please note that from September to April, Venice has floods which may disturb your calendar.