Ashley Judd in Venice
So you say you like Italian food, wine, bars, restaurants, jazz concerts, history, architecture, glass and mask shops? Well who doesn’t right? Except this city has one more thing: a Secret Venice. Backstreets with stone footbridges that is so fun exploring- secret bars, secret clubs, secret squares- but it doesn’t end there. There are pleasant surprises lying just in the yonder.
After you ride the gondola along the serene canals, and after you visit Doge’s Palace, St. Marks Square, Basilica, Teatro La Fenice, you still got to venture into some of these fanciful items:
1. Take a day trip to the Dolomites. The Dolomites are a mountain range and form part of The Alps. These mountains are surrounded by quaint towns filled with trattorias, cafes, ski resorts, boutiques and mountain trails. Here you can escape the city and get some time to slow down and see a different side of Italy.
2. Take a tour of the three beautiful islands: Murano – which is known for their glass factory, Burano – known for their colorful houses and lace production, and Torcello – a quiet town with few tourists. You can buy tickets on Viator.
3. Meander the streets until you reach Scala Contarini del Bovolo. It’s famous for its winding staircase on the facade of the building and its interesting architecture. It is a true hidden gem. Along the way, stop for some Italian pastries in the lesser known neighborhoods surrounding this beautiful building.
4. Take an elevator to the top of the Campanile also known as the Bell Tower in Piazza San Marco. Here, you will get a gorgeous view of St. Marks Square and the roof of St. Marks Basilica. This view will be postcard-worthy!
5. Love to cook? Take a cooking course at Acquolina Cooking School! You will make homemade pasta in a less-crowded area of Venice – Lido Island. It’s off the beaten path and will make you feel like you are soaking in the culture of Italy. After the pasta is done, you get to eat it and enjoy the fruits of your labor.
6. Eat at the Taverna Da Baffo. It has some of the best pasta in the city and let’s be honest….you can never have enough pasta.
7. Take a wine tour. Italy has some of the oldest wine-producing regions in the world and is the largest producer of wine by volume. There are numerous tour operators such as Urban Adventures and The Venetian Vine along with these various tours on Viator. You can also try the Cicchetti and Wine tour so you can sample Venetian-style tapas while you drink delicious wines. How can you say no to food AND wine?
If you want to escape Venice for a few hours, head to small towns in Veneto or the Valpolicella region and visit their vineyards.
8. Go to the Venice Jazz Club. If you like live music, this will be perfect for you and your friends. However, there is a cover charge of around 20 euro, but it includes one free drink. Again, this one is off the beaten path.
9. Sit back and have a drink at happy hour at Chet Bar. For a more local feel, head here and sip some amazing drinks at a very affordable price. It’s located in Santa Margherita Square. However, if you go later at night, students make up the majority of clientele. Not that that’s a bad thing.
Other local bars include Al Chioschetto, Vincent Bar, Taverna del Campiello Remer, Naranzaria, and Bancogiro.
10. My personal favorite- walk the city by night with a guided ghost tour. In a city as old as Venice, there will be plenty of ghost stories to keep your attention. Gotta love Ghost stories.
Who says you need a romantic partner to see one of the best cities in the world? Not us! Grab some friends and start your adventure.
-KS
