Venice - A former Mediterranean superpower

Long after Rome fell and long before Italy rose, there were many small countries across the Apeninne peninsula and none of them had become as powerful and as well known as the little trade harbor built inside the lagoon in the north of the Adriatic sea. A town that thanks to its location and layout became a symbol for generations, resulting in nicknaming various cities and towns across the globe as "Venice of" - Welcome to Venice of Venice!

Being built on 118 small islands in the shallow waters of the lagoon and connected by more than 400 bridges it gave the town a layout like none other in its times. Protected by the waters from the mainland and the long Italian and Istrian shores from the Mediterranean, the town could thrive for centuries not affected by any major European disasters in the middle ages or early modern times. That's one of the reasons why the old town of Venice has been preserved in its Gothic and Renaissance layout till this day. And while being the trade superpower of the Mediterranean till the beginning of oversea voyages, we can witness today the beauty of this medieval architecture at its peak.

Piazza San Marco

Probably the N. 1 tourist spot in Venice would be the San Marco Basilica and Square. Enjoy the view of this beautiful marvel of Itallo-Byzantine architecture. The admission to the basilica is free, but you should consider to make a reservation online (for 1,50 Eur) for the queue can take up 5 hours otherwise. Don't forget that you are in one of the most touristy spots in the world.
Connected to the cathedral, you will find the Campanile of St. Mark, a beautiful Romanesque tower providing you unusual views of the town and the whole lagoon. The admission fee is 8 EUR.

Palazzo Ducale
The Doge's palace used to be the residence of the Doge of Venice, the actual leader of the town and its mercantile empire during the peak years. Now it houses Museum. You can buy the tickets at the Palace itself, across the Piazza San Marco at Museo Correr or, most conveniently, online which will get rid off the annoying waiting times you will experience at almost any landmark in Venice.

Ponte di Rialto
As stated above, there are more than 400 bridges in Venice, but none is more famous than this piece of beauty. The Rialto bridge spanning across the banks of the town's central canal, Canal Grande, is one of the most iconic views of Venice. Whether you are a architecture geek or just hopeless romantic, head out in here and keep dreaming of the times when this was more than just a top selfie spot in Italy. :)

Canals and gondolas
There are dozens of other museums and churches in Venice and you can see them all even while walking, but if you really want to get the atmosphere of Venice to soak in, then take a trip on the canals. There is probably nothing more romantic (and more expensive) than a two-person voyage in the typical Venetian gondola. If you are a little more down-to-earth type or do not want to waste you money, a Vaporetto could be an option for you. You can buy a ticket for this waterbus for 7 EUR one-way (20 EUR day pass) and it will not only take you on a sightseeing tour on the Canal Grande, but also to some of the neighboring islands, most notably Lido di Venezia with its endless beaches.

Get in
There are two international airports in the vicinity - Venice Marko Pollo and Treviso, with the latter being smaller and serving mostly budget airlines like Ryanair, Wizzair and Transavia. Therefore, Venice is well connected to the rest of Europe. The airports are connected by bus with the old town (buses arriving at Piazzale Roma). The return tickets cost 15 EUR for San Marco and 22 EUR for Treviso.
If you choose to arrive by bus, the main bus terminal is at the Piazzale Roma from where you can take a vaporetto (or walk) to the center.
The trains will take you to Venezia Santa Luca station which is the terminal station for all travel, so you shouldn't miss it. It is situated on one of the islands so further transportation to your destination in the town should not be a problem. 

In conclusion
Venice is located in Italy, so the main language here is Italian although some people still use the old Venetian (do not confuse them, people seem to become really crunchy when you do). Although, as already said, this is the Italian number one tourist destination, so you should be ok with your English practically everywhere in the town. The currency is Euro and they use standard type C outlet. Also, Venice is probably the world's largest urban pedestrian zone, so leave you car elsewhere. :)

See you next time :)

Lex