Lonely Planet Pocket Venice: Top Experiences - Local Life (Pocket Guide)

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They’re traghetti – kind of like communal gondolas – which cross the canal at six points along its length. The great thing about a traghetto ride? You’re getting the same on-the-water experience as a gondola, but it only costs €2. T

It’s true that what most people think of when they imagine Venice is only the part of the city that’s floating on the Lagoon, but the mainland is only a bridge away and very much a part of the greater Venice area. So if you’re intrigued by a location outside of the usual city centre routes, you could take the day off and head to Parco San Giuliano in Mestre, the last city on the mainland before the bridge to Venice. A huge 74-hectare (183-acre) green space meant first and foremost as a flora and fauna preservation area, the Parco San Giuliano is also well-equipped for outdoor activities like skating, biking and football. If you want to organise a day out with family and friends, then this is definitely a place you should keep in mind. Today, you can still walk along the street, just as they did – the only thing that’s changed is that it’s now pedestrianized and the “most elegant street in Europe,” according to 19th-century historian Cesare Cantù. The jewel in Vicenza’s crown, though, is the Teatro Olimpico – a jaw-dropping theatre by Palladio, its interior crafted entirely from wood, stucco and plaster to aid the acoustics. Its trompe l’oeil stage set is the oldest in the world. If you have a car, it’s worth driving around the countryside, which is littered with sumptuous villas also designed by Palladio – La Rotonda is one of the finest. Venice is not stroller-friendly either, with numerous staircases throughout the city making for an exhaustive workout for parents. When Jewish merchants fled the Spanish Inquisition for Venice in 1541, there was no place left in the Ghetto to go but up: in buildings around the Campo del Ghetto Nuovo, upper storeys housed new arrivals, synagogues and publishing houses. A plain wooden cupola in the corner of the campo (square) marks the location of the Schola Canton. Next door is the Schola Tedesca, while the rooftop Schola Italiana is a simple synagogue built by newly arrived and largely destitute Italian Jews, who had fled from Spanish-controlled southern Italy. Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.Regular buses don’t circulate on the Lagoon, of course, and their primary function is to connect Venice to Mestre on the mainland and then move around Mestre itself. Some lines, though, do reach Venice and stop at Piazzale Roma, not too far away from the Santa Lucia railway station. Besides the open, free-to-access beach, you can enjoy leisurely walks through Sant’Erasmo's many gardens and orchards, and try a locally produced white wine from the Orto di Venezia domain. Lido di Jesolo How to get to Padova from Venice: The easiest way to get there is by train. Fast trains can take as little as 26 minutes, and slower (cheaper) regional trains can take double that time. 2. Pay homage to Romeo and Juliet in Verona That’s the same for any destination, of course, but it’s more extreme in Venice, partly because of the overcrowding and partly because there are just two main sights that a lot of people come for, Piazza San Marco and the Rialto Bridge. I always say a week is the best way to explore the city, and possibly add in a day trip further afield, but if time is tight, five days should be enough to get a good idea of the city and the islands. In three days, you can get a taster of the main sights and islands, though it’s unlikely that you’ll "get" Venice as a place, or an atmosphere. 5. Plan your journeys

Venice is, of course, synonymous with the Carnevale. The exact date depends on when Easter falls that year, which determines Lent and in turn decides the date of the Carnevale. Regardless, it’s a truly breathtaking time to visit when the city fills up with colors, masks and extravagant costumes. One of the main events of the Carnevale is the Volo dell’Angelo – the flight of the angel – when a performer hanging on a zip line descends onto St Mark’s Square from the Campanile. The Tommie Hollywood is a chic, modern boutique hotel located in the heart of Downtown Hollywood, California. The hotel features stylish rooms that are bright with pops of vibrant color throughout. The hotel's highlight is the rooftop pool with stunning views of the Hollywood Hills. The hotel also offers a 24-hour fitness center, business center and concierge services. With its convenient location near popular attractions such as the Hollywood Walk of Fame, the Tommie Hollywood Hotel is an ideal choice for travelers looking to explore all Los Angeles offers. Another great Venetian celebration that's also free to enjoy is the Festa del Redentore. Each third Sunday of July the city gets together to commemorate the end of the terrible 16th-century plague epidemic with spectacular fireworks that light up the canals – especially around the area of the island of Giudecca. So you want to buy something locally made to take home with you, and you’re confronted by shop after shop with wonderful-looking masks, stationery and what looks like Murano glass – how do you know what’s real and what’s fake? The first clue is the price – if it’s on the cheaper side of what you’ve seen, it’s likely made in a factory. Children love getting around the city. The city's fleet of water taxis, vaporetti (public waterbuses), gondolas and private boats insure constant fascination. Although Venice does presents its own set of unique challenges: parents don’t need to worry about their kids crossing the street without looking both ways, but the constant concern of falling into a canal isn't exactly a welcome trade-off.While many have attempted to draw a link between the dry canals and climate change, it’s not directly the case at this time, according to Dr Warren Cairns, a senior environmental scientist at Venice’s CNR Institute for Polar Sciences.

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You’re going to be taking a lot of boats in Venice – here’s how to know which one to take. From the airport, if you want to arrive by water, take the Alilaguna ferry – a private company that has different routes and stops around the city. Alilaguna also has a couple of tourist lines out to the islands.

This is one of Italy’s chi-chiest ski resorts, but there’s plenty to do year round, from hiking to eating (try the Michelin-starred SanBrite, whose owners source all their ingredients locally). This is part of the Ladin community, an ancient population of the mountains that have their own language and traditions. Learn about the Ladins, and the Regole – essentially a collection of centuries-standing families who "govern" the town – at the Ethnographic Museum, housed in an old sawmill. Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more. Yes, a beach in Venice – in fact the Lido is one long beach, kilometer after kilometer of perfect sugary sand. If you need a rest from the sightseeing, don’t sit at a bar and shell out for a spritz – just take the vaporetto across to the Lido and lie down. Avoid the iconsLearning to voga (Venice's signature stand-up rowing technique employed by gondolieri throughout the city's canals) is another fantastic option. Row Venice will have the kids piloting their own gambero (shrimp-tailed boat) in no time. Planning tips Every four years Venice hosts the Regata delle Antiche Repubbliche Marinare – the regatta of the ancient maritime republics. The four contestants are Venice, Genoa, Pisa and Amalfi. Each of the four maritime republics has a turn hosting the Regata delle Antiche Repubbliche Marinare.