Go to the Islands (Burano). and other Venice, Italy Things to Do Tips

This is Burano, a well populated fishing village, filled with very colourful canal side houses and a church with a very precariously leaning tower. Burano is famous for lace making, and many shops (especially those near the boat landing) specialise in lace. On the main street in Burano are restaurants & trattoria, Ice Cream shops, gift shops and so on. At the end of this street, and in front of the 'leaning church' is avery pleasant square - Piazza Galuppi.
The colourful houses and the quiet backwater feel make this a very special place. We came here 3 times during our stay, once in the day and twice in the evening, for a meal. The main street is really nice in the early evening, and it's great to take your meal and watch the locals taking their 'passagatio'.

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Directions: Northern lagoon. You need to take the boat that calls at all the islands - the place to catch this is Fondamenta Nuova, at the 'top' end of Venice.

This is the lighthuse on Murano.
Murano is famous for its glassware, and a visit into some of the glassworks can be quiet nice. The main canal is lined with shops selling glassware, and some of it is frankly hideous (and a lot of it is not made on Murano too, so check). On the other hand, there are some nice pieces to be found too, though most of these were way to heavy for us to consider taking home as we'd exceed our luggage allowance.

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Directions: Nothern Lagoon - it's not far from Fondamenta Nuova to Murano, and as well as the all-islands boats there is a dedicated service that goes only to Murano.

The Island behind Susan is Poveglia, and the picture is taken in Malamocco, on the island of Lido.
Lido is the only of the Venetian islands to have roads (and therefore cars). It is a very long island - some 8km long - and it's quite interesting (and quite a change) to take a cycle ride from one end to the other. See the travelogue for more details.

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Directions: Across the water from St. Marks, only about 10 minutes by boat.

An elaborate external staircase winds its way up the side of an old Palazza. Apparently the owner went on holiday and left instructions with a local builder to 'build me a staircase'. This is the result.

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Directions: Off the south side of Campo Manin, to the North East of St. Marks square. It's clearly visible from the top of the Campanile.

Well, it's a floating market! Not many of those in western europe!

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Directions: Could be almost anywhere (by definition) but is most comonly found in Dorsoduro near the Punta dei Pugni on Rio di San Barnaba and in Catello at the end of Via Guiseppe Garibaldi on Rio di Sant' Anna.
Other Contact: On certain days the market barge

A Squero is a boatbuilder - more exactly a Gondola builder. There are not many left in Venice, and the most famous (and most picturesque) is Squero di San Trovaso.

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Directions: Just off the Zattere in Dorsoduro - turn off Zattere at Ponte Lungo, along Fondamenta Nani.
Other Contact: Just behind the Squero is the ch

Venice is the origin of the word 'ghetto'. It originally was 'geto' (a foundry) and this area was initially a foundry until the jews of Venice were forced to live here in 1516.
The buildings in the Ghetto area are different to other venetian buildings, because lack of space forced them to cram more floors into the height of buildings available to them.

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Directions: Cannaregio - go up the Canal di Cannaregio (off the Grand Canal just along from the train station) along the Fondamenta Pescharia and then turn right just before Palazzo Nani, along Calle Del Forno (o
Other Contact: In the picture is the memorial w

This (and the next picture) are taken in Castello.
This is perhaps the best area of Venice to see 'everyday life'. It's an area that doesn't have a lot of 'tourist attractions' in the normal sense, but is an area full of activity on the one hand, and peaceful 'inactivity' on the other. It's a place where the real people of Venice live, and the streets (or canals) are often festooned with washing hanging to dry, small local markets, a market barge, people attending their everyday business, small bars and cafes, quite campos, small chuches... Don't miss this area if you are here for a few days.

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Directions: To the east of St. Marks. Walk along the waterfront (Riva degli Schiavoni, Riva Ca Di Dio, Riva San Biagio) and the turn left up Via Giuseppe Garibaldi and beyond. Also take a look up by the Arsenale

A fisherman repairs his nets on the jetty in front of his house.

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Address: Call di San Pietro, Castello.

You've got to admit that the Italians have a sense of style. Some of it we joke about - the guys permanently in sunglasses, even indoors or at night - but somehow they carry it off. I think in Middlesbrough it wouldn't go down so well, and girls going out by day wearing 'almost lingerie' would certainly make you stand out amongst the rest of the Boro girls, in their jogging suits :-S

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Address: All over Venice (well, all over Italy)