The Carnival of Venice
This time of the year there’s one really good reason to visit Venice, Italy (during non-Pandemic times):
Its annual Carnival; one of the most magnificent festivals involving outrageous costumes, daily parades and competitions at Piazza San Marco, not to mention the fancy costume balls, reminding one of a long-gone era of Casanova and secret lovers meeting under a bridge at midnight.
It’s also a time where the city is filled with music, dance, and loads of fun. Even if you don’t go crazy and purchase or rent a whole costume, it’s worth bringing home a mask from Ca’Macana, one of the more authentic mask shops in Venice.
Ca’Macana in Central Venice
If dressing up isn’t your thing, then you can still partake in regular sightseeing, such as a romantic Gondola ride along Grand Canal, as well as riding through smaller and more intimate canals. Our gondoleur Filippo was awesome; telling us about the city’s history and providing us with a few extra blankets during the cold sunset.
For your shopping needs, visit Fondaco Dei Tedeschi; an upscale shopping center, which used to be the headquarters of the German merchants of Venice. Their rooftop terrace provides you with amazing views on both sides of the canal.
Rooftop view at Fondaco Dei Tedeschi
And how about a trip to the island of Murano, famous for its glass-blowing factories and handcrafting? It’s only a water taxi ride (or water bus, if you’re on a budget), away. Look for Davide Penso’s store; a local artist selling unique jewelry pieces and visit one of the factories to watch the artists at work. If you schedule a tour in advance, you can see how the glass-blowing process works (very impressive!), plus are shown the gallery with their art on display for sale. Have some dinero ready if you’re planning on making any big purchases.
Blissful Venetian streets
Needless to say, like anywhere else in Italy, the food is outstanding, as long as you avoid the very expensive tourist traps, which can lead you to eat not so great food for exorbitant prices. So, some good food research is essential! Let me help out a little bit by suggesting some local stables:
Al Graspo de Ila is an all-time favorite of mine. It offers delicious Italian food for affordable prices, has an extensive wine list, and a wonderful 3-course lunch special that will leave you wanting more.
Ostaria Boccadoro is another great dining option, and well suited for a nice dinner around town without breaking the bank. Try one of their spritzers, and go for the authentic ambience and quietness, which can be hard to come by in some Venetian restaurants.
Even if you’re not a hotel guest, you could dine at Il Pisanino, a charming fine dining restaurant located inside the Palazzetto Pisani Hotel. It’s a small boutique hotel in which a scene from the movie Casanova was shot (once again getting back to Casanova!). During the day, you can also go onto their balcony and take in the breathtaking view of Grand Canal while sipping on a cappuccino.
Now, during the current pandemic, travels are limited and the carnival will not take place as usual, but once it resumes its activities, winter is the ideal time to visit this romantic and charming city. It is a place to put on your future travel-bucket-list, when costume balls are once again possible, and Momosa’s at Harry’s Bar are a requisite to any dinner plans in and around Venice. Cheers to 2021!
Gondolas waiting for business