Latest Posts
Manarola, Italy: A Marvelous Village On The Mediterranean
Known in the past as magna roea due to the presence of a windmill, Manarola is a marvelous village set along the eastern layer of the Apennines and the Ligurian sea, and it’s one of the so-called Cinque Terre.
Panoramic View of Manarola, Italy
The typical multicolored, genoan-style houses, the presence of the little river Groppo, and the unique location of a complex built on the ridge of the mountain, creates a stunning and unbelievable picture.
The parallel alleys of the village, climbing up the rocky wall, are connected by slate stairways, making Manarola the perfect place for lovers of quiet holidays and photographers.
Street View of Manarola
It’s also recommendable during Christmas celebrations, when the hill of Manarola becomes a giant crib with human-sized figures, built among the olive groves and the vineyards, realized by the local artisan Mario Andreoli. This is the biggest crib in the world.
Manarola View
Every year, the same artist transforms the hill above Manarola in a Way of the Cross during Easter celebrations.
The main attractions of Manarola and the surrounding areas are the crystal sea and the nature. One of the favorite ways to explore the National Park of the Cinque Terre is the via dell’Amore (Road of Love), a panoramic path built in 1920 on the side of the mountain connecting Riomaggiore and Manarola, which is a part of a bigger path that connects the other villages, Monterosso, Corniglia and Vernazza. UNESCO rewarded this path in 1997 as World Heritage.
Via dell'Amore or Lovers Walk in Cinque Terre, Italy
Manarola has a long and important history; the first documents date its birth back to 830 AD.
The most valuable monuments in the village are the Romanesque churches, like San Lorenzo, with the impressive rose window representing a crown with human and lion heads and the paintings over the main altar representing Madonna, the Saints, and San Lorenzo. The church was built in 1338, more or less like the church of San Giovanni Battista in Riomaggiore.
The Church of San Giovanni Battista in Riomaggiore
It’s possible to admire the old castle, now transformed into a private house, the romantic cemetery placed on the edge of Punta Bonfiglio, and the characteristic winch used to lower the boats in the middle of the sea.
Lovers of cuisine will have to taste the fantastic flavor of the local wine, famous since the XII century, perfect with the fish specialties like the mussels and the anchovies of Monterosso. The olive oil was rewarded by the EU with the D.O.P. Mark and the grappa (a strong liqueur with digestive properties), is absolutely priceless.
It is definitely a place to visit.
Venice, Italy – An Orientation to Venice
There is no simply other city on Earth like Venice. Its iconic canals and unique cityscape have drawn visitors for centuries. Royalty, authors, statesmen, movie stars and ordinary people have come here, and been changed by the city’s spirit and beauty. They call it La Serenissima, meaning the most serene.
Venice. The Grand Canal - View from Rialto
From the Piazza San Marco to the Bridge of Sighs, and out to the Venetian Islands, a trip to Venice is a trip to the heart and the soul of Italy.
HOW TO GET TO VENICE
Arriving by plane
If you’re flying into Venice, you will probably arrive at Marco Polo airport, on the mainland.
Venice When Flying Into Marco Polo Airport
From here, there are several ways you can get to the city center and your hotel.
1) You can take a water taxi with set rates, depending on where you are going, and how many people are in your group. The water taxi is quite expensive.
2) You can take a water bus called Alilaguna. This costs much less than the taxi, and they have several lines that can take you all over the city. The ticket agent can tell you which stop is closest to your hotel, and then you can walk from that stop.
3) You can take a shuttle bus to Piazzale Roma, which is the bus / car / train hub in Venice. This is not exactly a charming introduction to Venice, but many people do arrive this way. From here, you could get a water taxi or vaporetto to your hotel, or just walk if you are staying near here.
You may fly into Treviso Airport instead, especially if you’re flying on Ryannair. From here, there are buses that take you to Piazzale Roma.
Water taxi prices
Alilaguna water bus from the airport
Airport shuttle bus
Arriving by train
Taking the train can be an excellent way to travel around Italy, or further afield in Europe. If you’re arriving in Venice on the train, you will pull into the Santa Lucia Railway Station, which sits at the entrance to the Grand Canal.
Italian Train
You can easily walk down the Strada Nuova to the city center from there, or you can take a vaporetto (water bus) from the jetties right across from the train station, or you can get a water taxi.
Arriving by car
Small Italian Car
With all the paintings and photos of boats and canals, you probably already realize that Venice is not the world’s most car-friendly city, but you can drive there. It will involve dropping off your rental car, or parking your car and leaving it before you head into the historic and watery center of town.
The Ponte della Liberta connects Venice to the mainland. This bridge will get you into Venice, to either the Tronchetto or Piazzale Roma, where there are a number of indoor and outdoor parking lots. You may have better luck finding a spot at Tronchetto, since Piazzale Roma is used by all the car rental agencies, and by every Venetian with a car. Parking fees vary from lot to lot.
Once you unload your luggage, you can easily reach the city center by taking a vaporetto (a Venice water bus), a water taxi, or you can walk.
LAYOUT OF VENICE
Venice (Venezia, in Italian) is one of the most charming cities you could ever visit, but it can also be daunting, for many of the same reasons. Built on more than 100 small islands in the saltwater Venetian Lagoon, along the shoreline of the Po and Piave Rivers, there are enough natural geographic barriers and diversions to make the most dedicated urban planner cry.
Venice From Above
While its winding streets, romantic bridges and watery canals are unique and picturesque; they can also be quite confounding.
It may seem like a bit of a maze, but once you figure it out, Venice is fairly accessible.
The old city center is divided into six parts, called sestieri. They are Castello, Cannaregio, San Marco, Santa Croce, Dorsoduro, and San Polo. The islands around Venice are Giudecca, San Giorgio, Murano, Burano, Torcello and the Lido.
WHERE TO STAY IN VENICE
Each of the districts in Venice and the Venetian Islands has its own distinct rhythm and flavor. San Marco is the heart of Venice, and it’s the tourist hot spot. If you’re in Venice for only a short time and want to see everything, you want to stay in San Marco.
People in San Marco
East of that is Castello, Venice’s largest and most varied district, stretching from near the Rialto out past the Arsenal and the Public Gardens. Furthest to the north is the mostly residential district of Cannaregio. These are both lovely districts with plenty of hotels if you’re planning a longer, more leisurely stay in Venice.
If you prefer to stay where there’s great nightlife, San Polo is home to Rialto Bridge, busy markets, and some of the finest restaurants in Venice. Arty and studenty Dorsoduro is also busy and vibrant.
Santa Croce is mostly residential, and where you will find the public garages, the ferry to the beaches on the Lido, and the port. This is the place to stay if you’re planning regular day trips outside the city.
Mestre is technically part of Venice, but sits on the Italian mainland. It’s your cheapest option, but it’s also the furthest out and the least appealing.
GETTING AROUND IN VENICE
You can easily make your way around the city by water bus, or vaporetto. There are also water taxis, but like at the airport, this is your most expensive option. If you just need to get from one side of the Grand Canal to the other, you can hop on a cheap and pretty gondola ferry, or traghetto, which cross at a number of places on the Grand Canal.
Gondolas Crossing The Grand Canal - Venice, Italy
The very best way to get around Venice is on foot.
Make sure you invest in a detailed map of Venice that includes all the vaporetto and traghetto stops.
Vapporetto (water bus) info & route map
EXPLORING VENICE
Make sure to take the time for a tour of the Venetian Islands. A three-hour excursion leaves from the pier at Riva degli Schiavoni, taking you past San Giorgio and San Francesco del Deserto, then makes stops and brief tours at Murano, Torcello and Burano. If you want more time to explore, vapporetti leave for the islands every hour from the Fondamenta Nuove. Check the water bus map and schedule for specifics on where you want to go.
If you feel like a day at the beach, head to the Lido, a narrow strip of land between Venice and the Adriatic Sea. It’s a 20 minute boat ride from St. Mark’s, and was built into a summer resort in the early 1900s.
Lido is a narrow strip of land between Venice and the Adriatic Sea
While it doesn’t compare with the best of sun spots in the Mediterranean, its leafy streets and sandy beaches are lovely, and a nice change from Venice.
Wherever you choose to stay in Venice, you are guaranteed to enjoy its enchanting canals, beautiful buildings and fascinating history. Wander its calli, campi and campielli without being afraid of getting lost. You’re bound to discover something fascinating around the next corner.
VENICE RESOURCES
10 Top Things to Do in Tuscany, Italy
Tuscany is a gorgeous area of Italy with olive groves and magnificent wild beauty. It also has outstanding ancient towns filled with Renaissance art for you to admire. So what are our top ten things to do in Tuscany? … Read article…
Venice, Italy – An Orientation to Venice
There is no simply other city on Earth like Venice. Its iconic canals and unique cityscape have drawn visitors for centuries. Royalty, authors, statesmen, movie stars and ordinary people have come … [Read More...]
Recent Comments