Italy certainly is the home of fine ice cream, and that’s no less true in Venice. Look around you in any part of Venice (especially in the more popular tourist areas during summer) and you’ll see at least two or three people licking their multi-coloured ice cream cones of home made gelati – ice cream in Italian.

You don’t have to walk very far anywhere in Venice to find a cafe or kiosk selling a dozen or more flavours, ranging from ones with exotic-sounding Italian names to more familiar ones and, of course, ubiquitous vanilla. But don’t be fooled, even the vanilla is so tasty you’d swear you’ve come across a real vanilla pod inside your ice cream.

What makes the taste so wonderful seems to be something that simply makes the flavours more real and authentic. many ice cream flavours today are synthetic and taste synthetic and lack the creaminess of ‘old-style’ ice cream. One spoonful of Venitian ice cream and you’ll be certain that you’re eating the real thing.

Finding the ‘best’ ice cream in Venice is a matter of debate, and sometimes legend. Some visitors will return home with dreamy eyes and tales of how they found the heaven of ice creams ‘nearby our hotel in a small alley’ but ask for details and few will recall the name or exact place of the outlet. But rest assured, ice cream vendors dot the city and you won’t have to walk very far to find one.

So whether you’re looking for a snack for yourself or something to motivate the kids with to endure yet another museum visit, you can’t go wrong with Venice ice cream.

Venice isn’t for everyone. Critics would say it’s overcrowded, dirty, filled with smelly water, and overpriced. All of these are true to some extent or another. On the other hand it’s one of the world’s most unique, romantic, and historically rich cities in the world. So is it the kind of place you’d like to visit or not? Here are some pointers to help you decided whether to put Venice on your next European holiday itenerary.

1. You’re a romantic type. You appreciate beautiful sunsets, a good red wine, poetic places, and being and sharing an experience or place with someone special. Venice is – and has been for centuries – one big lover’s paradise. Start looking forward to that after-dinner evening stroll through the misty, quiet alleys with your loved one. It’ll be an experience you’ll never forget.

2. You’re into art, especially Rennaissance and Baroque painting, architecture and sculpture. you can wander trhrough a dozen art museums and not feel that you’re seeing the same thing over and over. Names like Tintoretto,  and xx ring a bell, and you think that if Michealangelo was alive today, that he should be president. Then Venice will be a heavenly place for you.

3. You’re scared of water, not to talk of creaky boats and dicy-looking bridges. Venice’s vaporettos – water buses – is the standard form of transport if you want to move around much. While perfectly safe, from a distance most of them look one step up from ancient tramp steamers (‘vaporetto does indeed mean ’steam boat’). Also, you’ll be intimidated by having to walk on the unprotected side of countless canals filled with rather ominous-looking, murky water. If this is you, rather visit Las Vegas.

4. You dislike cramped accommodation. Unless you’re particularly well-off, chances are you’ll be staying in a hotel room half the size you’re used to in most other parts of the world. Space is at a premium in Venice, and most hotel rooms are smallish, especially the bathrooms. While perfectly adequate, they can feel very claustrophobic especially if you’ll be sharing them with children. Rather settle for an apartment in that case.

5. You’re into photography. If you’re on your way to publishing your first coffee table book or simply want to hone your composition skills, Venice will keep you busy for weeks on end. There are endless opportunities and conditions for taking amazing photographs. Tip: Get yourself out of bed at dawn one morning and take a walk to St. Mark’s Square, before the tourists arrive.

6. The Venice alleyways and labirynthian canals are the most pleasant way to get lost… if you’re that type of person. Venice doesn’t have a street grid, so finding your way and mapping where you are isn’t always the easiest thing to do. The best way to explore Venice is simply to start walking in a certain direction and enjoying the scenery. If that doesn’t appeal to you then a guided tour or sticking to the vaporettos may be the best option.

8. This may be a bit controversial, but if I was a ten-year old in Venice, I’d be bored stiff. There are no malls, no fun rides (unless you count the vaporetto) and no movie houses. During sunny weather you may want to visit the beaches of the Lido, but only if your kids aren’t used to surfer wave coastlines. If they are, they’ll be having a good laugh at the tepid, tiny waves of the Adriatic.

The Piazza (Square) of St Mark is the central point in Venice. It’s on the bank of the Grand Canal and features Venice’s most beautiful and impressive landmarks, from the Campanile (tower) with the winged lion (Venice’s official ‘mascot’) keeping watch to the fifteen-hundred-year-old Basilica and the Doge’s (King) magnificent Palace.

Ask what people remember about St Mark’s and one of the things will be ‘crowds’. The tourist throng in St Mark’s, especially in summer, is something to be reckoned with, especially if you’re not staying for long and have to make the most of your time. Here are a few tips that will make your visit to St Mark’s more enjoyable.

1. Visit St Mark’s in the early morning or late afternoon. You’ll be avoid being pushed and shoved in long lines of people waiting to enter into the buildings on the Square. If you give early enough you’ll catch the Square almost devoid of people, which in itself is a great experience, especially if you’re a photographer.

2. Before you visit the attractions on St Mark Square, you have to hand in any bags you’re carrying at a deposit point below the Clock Tower. You don’t want to fall into a queue at the Campanile only to find that out twenty minutes later.

3. Similar to any other tourist spot in the world, curios and food bought on St Mark’s Square will be much more expensive than those located five minutes’ walk from the Square.

4. An exception to the above tip is coffee at Florian’s, a historic cafe on the Square. IT was visited by many of the painters and writers that visited Venice through the years, and was once considered a hangout of the intellectuals and politicians of the city. Be prepared to pay a premium for the priviledge though…

5. Authorities are encouraging people not to feed the hundreds of pigeons that live on the Square. That’ll be hard to resist if you have children though. Small packets of bird food is on sale, making it even easier.

6. There’s a LOT to see on St Mark’s, and it’ll take you a full day to take everything there is to see in. The most visited ones are the Doge’s Palace, the Correr Museum, the Basilica and the Campanile. They’re all worth it, but can become a bit tiring, especially if you’re not that much into culture and art. If you stay long enough you can split your visit over two days.

7. There’s a famous legend about an ill-fatged Doge that landed at St Mark’s Square, and walk ashore between the two pillars only to meet his end some time later. Since then superstitious types consider it bad luck to walk inbetween the pillars. Just so you know.

You’re ambling along one of Venice’s numerous little alleyways one bright, sunny morning. You’re taking in the centuries-old ambience for which Venice is known worldwide: Red geraniums flowing brightly in window flower boxes, neighbours chatting amiably, and the ubiquitous Venice cat lazing on a sunny balcony.

Then you’re sgtopped in you tracks by a flood of water covering the alley from side to side, and lapping at the side doorways. Anxioiusly you enquire around whether Venice has sunk overnight. Will only the rooftops be sticking out by nightfall? You notice that passersby simply acknowledge your concerns with a knowing smile or a comforting laugh.

You also happen to notice that they all seem  to be well prepared for the flood, as most are wearing rather fasionable wellington boots. Also, most doorways have contraptions in front of them preventing water from seeping into hallways.

This flood occurrence is what Venetians refer to as ‘acqua alta’ and it’s a fairly common phenomenon with which everyday life in the city has to cope with. What is it caused by? Well, Venice is located in a large but extremely shallow lagoon, which is subject to sea tides. When the tide rises water sometimes spills over into the alleys and campos, particularly during winter, when high tides are more pronounced than during other times of the year. The overspill varies from a few centimetres to half-a-metre, depending on the place and season.

There are various ways in which Venice copes with acqua alta. Water boots of all shapes and colours are a common sight and you’ll be able to buy a pair at most shoe shops. In many areas, including the main tourist hub on St. Mark’s Square, you’ll notice long, moveable  running boards that people walk along in areas that are under water. And as mentioned, flood prone doorways are protected by metal plates that stop water from seeping in.

The flooding is hardly dangerous, and even times where it has caused serious damage has been few and far between. Most certainly, it’ll rather make yoiur time in Venice more interesting rather than posing any kind of concern. It’s one of the quirks that make traveling to unknown places interesting and unique.
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