A night in Venice. Just one night. Is it possible? Of course! Is it a good idea? Maybe. I, for one, was glad our family decided to fit it in to our trip. I mean, we were in Italy, so why the heck not? Besides, in order to write the best travel blogs about traveling to Venice, it is probably a good idea to at least spend one night in Venice!
Ever since I was four years old, I have dreamt of visiting the land that has waterways instead of paved streets. My neighbor, who I called Aunt Sybil (although she wasn't my aunt, you know one of those situations) was a world traveler when she was alive. She was wonderful about always bringing me a doll from the places she traveled, and then she would show me photographs of her adventures. No doubt she is partly to blame for my passion to travel and see the world, making such an impression on me at that young age.
Well, I remember when Sybil showed me photos of her trip to Venice. As a little girl, I doubted the place could be real, and thought, "If it is real, it must be the most amazing place in the world and I have to go there!" You can imagine my delight and elation when the day finally arrived last August.
Getting to Venice was easy enough from the train. It stops at the edge of land (as trains must do) and then you board a water taxi to visit the islands. There are many islands in the area, but we only had time to see San Marco. I would have loved to have spent a week exploring. As it was, we just had time to enjoy our one night, before we rushed off the next day.
We visited in August 2023, and figured out quickly that it was the most crowded time of year to be there. Next time (I hope there is a next time) I would like to visit in May or June. Even with the crowds and being especially hot, the magic of Venice was all around. I felt like I was in a book setting, or a scene in a movie.
My daughter and I fell in love with the way people dressed in Italy. Sigh. High class. Beauty is everywhere. The architecture, the landscape, the people. The U.S. statues and monuments are so plain, boring, and small in comparison to the palaces, cathedrals, clocks, and decor of Italy... It was a bit overwhelming, in the best kinf of way. And dreamy.
We stayed in an apartment we found on Booking.com. The price was super inexpensive, but the apartment turned out to be wonderful. It was close to the palace courtyard in San Marco Square. You walk under the old clock that has been keeping time for over 500 years–Torre dell'Orologio–turn down a narrow alley, and the apartment building is on the right.
Inside the narrow and decorative walls, it is like a maze, and very easy to get lost. The buildings are tall and the alleyways are narrow. But the architecture, the shops, the restaurants, and the live music that plays everywhere make getting lost nothing short of wonderful.
My grandmother was Italian, and when she was alive, she used to display knick knacks in a China cabinet in her kitchen. Some of them were blown glass figurines: a Siamese cat, mice, gondolas, a rose. We passed several shop windows that had the same colorful blown glass trinkets that my grandmother used to adore. I felt like she was with me the entire time, in the land where her parents were born and raised.
In the evening, the palace courtyard came alive with music and romance. Gondolas
strolling by with couples, dimly lit bridges and walkways... oh heavenly my! Surreal. Classical orchestras were set up in every corner of the massive courtyard, you could stroll from one stage to the next and enjoy non-stop world-class music. Notes of familiar orchestral tunes floated up from violinists, cellists, grand pianos as people dined and danced. What a dream!
How I long to return to Venice. Perhaps one day I will. But I'm thankful that I've had the opportunity to see it and experience it in person! If you have the chance to visit Venice (Venezia), be sure to see San Marco Square and the palace courtyard at night! Oh, and don't forget to find the Bridge of Sighs. I never found it. 😕
Traveling there in the near future? I might be able to squeeze into your suitcase...
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