The last stop of our trip was to Queen of the Adriatic- Venice, a must-visit place in Italy for its connected bridges and Canals. To reach from the bus station to the mainland of Venice, we hop onto a ferry ride for approximately 30 minutes, where everyone can just lay back and enjoy the view it has to offer.
Once we reached the mainland, we found out that the whole day would be spent in Venice and also a short trip to the nearby islands of Burano and Murano. I joined 4 other friends on the trip to explore Venice. We decided to try the Gondola before it got crowded as the tourists were pouring in large volumes.
On the way to hire a Gondola, you would need to walk past two bridges. One can notice people taking pictures of a particular bridge. This bridge is called the ‘Bridge of Sighs‘. It is a dark alley that connects the new prison to Doge’s interrogation room. We learnt from the gondolier that there were only two people in history to escape this person- one was a monk and the other was none other than the great lover- Cassanova.
Before getting on the Gondola, we took a detour to one of the largest squares- St. Mark’s Square. It lies between Doge’s palace and a Bibliotheca. Walking through one end of the square leads to Rialto- the commercial center and series of shops.
We got on a Gondola ride for the next 45 minutes. There are different Gondola rides, a short route and a longer route. We took the longer route which would last 45 minutes.
Do listen to the Gondolier as they would decide the seating of each passenger in order to balance the Gondola. Everything rests on the Gondolier for the next 45 minutes as he navigates you through the canals and bridges. Our Gondolier kept us busy with stories of Venice and each landmark and we had a casual talk throughout the ride.
Our first landmark was going under the ‘Bridge of Sighs’ and through a narrow water street to reach open waters and get a glimpse of the famous Rialto bridge.
All these places bring you memories of different movies that were shot in Venice like James Bond, The Tourist, Indiana Jones and many more. As we continued the journey, we crossed the cathedral of Venice and took the narrowest street where only a boat from a direction can pass.
After a fun ride for almost an hour (rather than 45 minutes), we arrived at the starting location. We bid goodbyes to the Gondolier and continued our exploration of Venice. We split into two groups for lunch and agreed to meet at the boat for the ride to Burano.
If you are a seafood lover, make sure to try the sardines or anchovies. Another famous dish that can be seen in every shop is Panini- a stuffed bread sandwich. After grabbing a Panini, I continued my walk through the tourist-covered streets to reach the ‘Ponte dell’ Accademia’ over the Grand Canal of Venice.
It offers a stunning view of Basilica Santa Maria in the distance. The bridge connects to the Academia art museum and we can walk to the end of the island behind the Basilica.
Murano
Murano, an island famous for its glassblowing. The island is home to many glass factories and workshops, where visitors can watch skilled glassblowers create beautiful works of art. Murano’s glassblowers have been producing high-quality glassware for centuries and their work is considered some of the finest in the world. Visitors can also visit the Glass Museum on the island to learn about the history of glassblowing and to see some of the most impressive glassworks created by Murano’s glassblowers. We were unlucky as the glass workshops were closed by the time we arrived. We got some souvenirs and witnessed some beautiful glassware.
From Murano, we next took a ride to Burano.
Burano
Burano, on the other hand, a small island located in the Northern Venetian lagoon, is known for its brightly coloured houses, picturesque canals, and lacemaking. Walking around the island is like stepping into a rainbow, as every street is lined with houses in different shades of pink, blue, yellow, and green. This is because the islanders were required to paint their houses in bright colours in the past to make them visible to sailors in the foggy lagoon. Today, Burano is a popular tourist destination for its vibrant streets and beautiful lace-making, with many local shops selling handmade lace products.
Do make sure to visit these islands, as they are completely different from mainland Venice. In conclusion, the trip was well organised by Uniflucht and should be considered an option if you want to visit these places on a budget.
Useful Links
Visit Venezia Official — The guide of the city of Venezia
Burano Italy, a Venice’s island — Tour Guide and Official Site (isoladiburano.it)
