 |
|
Five Myths about VeniceIs Venice "too touristy"? Is a Venetian vacation more expensive than a shopping excursion to Valentino? Is this nautical Never-Neverland about to sink like the Titanic? Your humble writers try to bring a common-sense perspective to the most frequent misapprehensions about Venice.
Myth 1: Venice is overrun by tourists.
Still, there are ways to avoid the crowds:
Myth 2: Venice is too expensive.
If you're on a tight budget, avoid hotels near the Piazza San Marco and investigate other possibilities such as convents or youth hostels. See our Where to Sleep in Venice article for advice and accommodation links. Meals needn't be costly, either. Pizzerias are easy to find, and stand-up bars offer sandwiches and other light fare. Best of all, exploring Venice on foot won't cost you a cent--and distances are so short that just about everything is within walking distance. Myth 3: The canals stink, and the water is filthy.
Industrial pollution is a problem in Venice, just as it is in most urban areas. Still, the Venetian lagoon remains one of the richest natural habitats for fish, birds, and plant life in the entire Mediterranean region, and both it and the city's canals are cleansed twice a day by tides from the Adriatic Sea. Myth 4: Venice is the new Atlantis.
The main threat to Venice isn't an imminent "Slurp!" from the clay beneath the lagoon; it's flooding from the acqua alta or high water that occurs when certain maritime and meteorological events coincide (e.g., low atmospheric pressure combined with an unusually high tide and a scirocco wind that pushes water up the narrow Adriatic Sea and into the Venetian Lagoon). When the acqua alta warning sirens blow, Venice city workers lay down elevated walkways and the natives haul out their galoshes. But don't worry--you're unlikely to drown in bed. And in any case, there's an ongoing project to raise pavements in low-lying areas of the city to minimize soggy sidewalks. Myth 5: Beware of thieves on motorscooters.This warning may be valid in Rome or Naples, but you'll encounter few thieving Vesparazzi in Venice. For one thing, wheeled vehicles (except handcarts and baby carriages) are illegal in most of the city. Still, if a tough-looking character charges toward your gondola on a JetSki, hang onto your purse or wallet. And watch out for pickpockets, who flock to Venice and other major tourist cities of Europe during high season. |
The premier travel-planning site
Too many bridges, too little time? Venice for Cruisers: 
Need a car in Europe? Auto Europe guarantees the lowest rental rates for standard cars, sports cars, SUVs, luxury cars, chauffered sedans, and RVs. Its Web site also has driving information for 38 countries. If you live outside the EU, a tax-free Renault or Peugeot tourist lease can be cheaper than renting. Minimum driver age is 18, there' s no upper age limit, and rates include insurance. See: Short-term car leasing. Our blogs:
|
|
| Europe for Visitors - Home | Site Information |
|
True, Venice is sinking--but at a fairly modest rate.
Capping of artesian wells in Venice and nearby mainland towns has
slowed the subsidence to a quarter of an inch per year.
