Venice, Italy Trip: Part 4

This is the final episode of my 11-day trip to Italy (June 8-18, 2018), starting in Rome, Florence, Tuscany, and ending in Venice.

Readers who have not yet read the previous chapter can go back and read it now.

When in Rome, Italy trip Part 1: https://th.readme.me/p/17612

One Day in Florence, Italy trip Part 2: https://th.readme.me/p/17862

Road Trip to Tuscany, Italy: Part 3

Link to Part 3: https://th.readme.me/p/18346

Part 4 opens with a view from the train from Florence to Venice.

The train journey from Florence to Venice takes approximately 3-4 hours, depending on the speed of the train selected.

Venice is a city of islands, connected by a network of bridges. It is a very old city, and as such, there are many old bridges in Venice. Once you have crossed over to Venice, there are no cars in the city. You must travel by boat or on foot.

Upon arriving in Venice, the first day was already dusk. Let's take a look at the atmosphere in the early evening.

Before checking into our accommodation, we decided to find a restaurant for dinner. As usual, we opted for Chinese cuisine, which is both satisfying and familiar. It's important to note that all restaurants in Venice charge a table fee, making them more expensive compared to other cities.

I came across an ice cream shop near the front of the hotel. I love this shop, and each flavor looks incredibly delicious.

Here's a close-up shot for you.

After a satisfying meal, we checked into our hotel. For this trip, we stayed in Venice for three nights at the Hotel Universo E Nord. The location was incredibly convenient, as we could walk straight from the train station to the hotel after crossing a bridge.

The hotel offers a breakfast buffet.

Without further ado, let's dive into a quick review. Starting on the 2nd day, we embarked on a walking exploration of Venice. As mentioned earlier, Venice is entirely car-free, so walking is the only way to get around.

The city is characterized by narrow alleys and old buildings. Most travel blogs recommend exploring these areas on foot, as getting lost is part of the experience.

A gondola ride in Venice starts at 80 euros, which is about 3,100 baht. Since it's more cost-effective with more people, I skipped the gondola ride this time and saved the money for other activities. After exploring the city on foot, we'll take a water bus to visit other islands in Venice.

The Ponte di Rialto is a beautiful and historic bridge that spans the Grand Canal in Venice.

Masks, a symbol of Venice, are celebrated in a centuries-old festival held every February. The tradition of mask-wearing in Venice dates back over 700 years and served as a symbol of freedom. When masked, social hierarchies were dissolved, and anonymity reigned.

Arriving at St. Mark's Square, the square where St. Mark's Basilica stands.

St. Mark's Basilica

The Bridge of Sighs, a beautiful and ancient bridge, is named after the prisoners who crossed it on their way to prison. Today, it is a romantic bridge where couples come to admire the beautiful views, especially when a gondola passes under the bridge.

To reach the hospital when you are sick, you have to take a boat.

Embark on a Venetian Island Hopping Adventure

Having explored the mainland landmarks of Venice, it's time to venture further and discover the charm of its surrounding islands. A convenient and affordable way to do this is by utilizing the vaporetto, Venice's public water bus system.

Located at designated piers throughout the city, vaporetto ticket booths offer day passes that allow unlimited travel to various islands. With a valid pass, you can hop on and off at your leisure, exploring the diverse offerings of each island. However, it's crucial to check the vaporetto schedule beforehand to ensure you don't miss your desired connections.

So, let the island hopping adventure begin!

Here is a video of the atmosphere on the boat.

The first island to visit is Murano Island. These islands are located near the city of Venice. It takes 10-15 minutes by boat to reach the island.

Murano is an island of vibrant colors, home to the renowned Glass Factory, where exquisite glassware is crafted.

Come and visit the church.

After visiting Murano, we continued to another island, Torcello, which is a small island like a resort island.

This family photo idea on the bridge is adorable.

Every island has an ancient church.

The island also boasts a small vineyard.

Continuing on to another island, Lido. This island is large and has a beach. Cars can be taken on the ferry. While riding the boat, I wondered where they were taking the cars.

This hotel even has a Thai flag, which was a surprise. After doing some research, I discovered that the hotel has a Thai Wellness Center inside, offering authentic Thai massage from northern Thailand.

We have arrived at the beach on Lido Island.

There are buses on the island.

Exhausted, we returned to rest on the main island of Venice.

I was lucky enough to catch the sunset.

After a good night's rest, we will continue our island hopping adventure the next day.

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Today, we begin by walking to the other side. As mentioned, Venice is entirely made up of islands. Therefore, whether we take the bus or the train, we must cross this bridge to reach Venice.

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Today, we will explore the other side and find a pier to take a boat to other islands. Don't worry about finding a pier in Venice. There are docks all over the city. We just need to see where we want to go and what time the boat leaves.

This is the flag of Venice, Italy. Each city in Italy has its own flag.

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We continued our journey by boat to another island, San Michele Cemetery. This entire island is a cemetery and was once used as a prison. It has a long history, having served as a burial ground for soldiers since World War I.

I can only share photos of the architectural structures, as photography is prohibited within the cemetery to show respect for the deceased.

The tree is very big.

Let's continue to another island, Giudecca.

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Found this on the Gallery page, so I took a picture to share.

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This island also has a Hilton hotel.

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After returning from Giudecca, enjoy a delicious spaghetti carbonara for dinner. If you're looking for a more affordable option, consider purchasing a take-home pizza and enjoying it at your hotel. This is a convenient and budget-friendly choice.

Ending my Italian trip in Venice, I returned to the hotel to pack my bags as I had to catch an early flight back to Rome to connect to my flight back to Thailand.

For those who are planning to visit Italy, it's not as scary as you think. You just need to do your homework, prepare yourself, walk and travel mindfully, use a cross-body bag, and keep your money and credit cards in different places. I guarantee you'll have plenty of interesting new experiences. You won't know until you try it yourself.

Where will I take you on my next trip? Stay tuned.

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