venice off-season resources
SERVICES
Venice Link provides vaparetto (waterbus tickets), private and shared water taxis, entrance to museums, plus day excursions to surrounding islands. www.venicelink.com
Venezia Unica Card is the official city pass to museums, events, shows, with deep discounts. You create your own itinerary. www.veneziaunica.it
TRADITIONAL HISTORICAL MUST-SEES
Basilica San Marco, St. Mark’s Church, San Marco, 328. Tel: +39-041-270-8311. Open daily for prayers and sightseeing. www.basilicasanmarco.it
The Campanile di San Marco, San Marco 328. Great views of Piazza San Marco from atop the bell tower. www.aviewoncities.com/venice/campanile.htm
Palazzo Ducale, The Doge’s Palace, Piazza San Marco. This massive Gothic structure housed public offices, courtrooms, prisons, the Doge’s apartments, stables, armories, and other facilities. www.palazzoducale.visitmuve.it
Ponte di Rialto, The Rialto Bridge. Shops line both sides of this beloved landmark crossing the Grand Canal.
Torre dell’ Orologio, the clock tower, Piazza San Marco. Info and tickets to the astrological clock that’s been keeping time for Venetians for over 500 years. www.torreorologio.visitmuve.it
ACCOMMODATIONS
Airbnb, apartment and house rentals. You can rent entire accommodation or share with owners. www.airbnb.com
Homeaway, another well-known apartment and house rental. www.homeaway.com
Hotel Bucintoro, Castello 2135/a. Tel: +39-041528-9909. Beautiful four star hotel with a nauticul theme situated on the San Marco Water Basin, Rates from $238. www.hotelbucintoro.com
TOURS
Urban Adventures Cicchetti and Wine Tour, Tel: +39338-8847-405. Offers a great orientation to local neighborhoods and taverns serving wine and cicchetti, Italy’s version of tapas. www.urbanadventures.com
CANTINAS/OSTERIAS/RESTAURANTS
All’ Arco, San Polo 436, Calle de l’ochialer. Tel: +39-041-520-5666. Sample their slices of bread with raw ham and pecorino or asiago cheese and truffle cream made with robiola cheese/vegetables and soppressa (a soft and young type of salami). Heaven!
Caffè Centrale, Calle Piscina de Frezzaria, 169. Tel: +39-041-887-6642. Is my must visit restaurant each trip to Venice. Via Piscina de Frezzaria 169. Private entrance for water taxis and gondolas: Rio dei Barcaroli. www.caffecentralevenezia.com
Cantina Do Mori, San Polo 429. Tel: +39-041-5225401. The slice of fresh baked bread with baccalà mantecato (a salt cod spread) atop is to die for.
Cantina Do Spade, San Polo 859. Tel: +39-041521-0583. Try their mozzarella in carrozza; a deepfried sandwich made with soft bread, filled with mozzarella cheese and anchovies or with ham, and olive ripiene, which is a big green olive filled with meat and deep fried. www.cantinadospade.com
Osteria Alla Ciurma, San Polo, 406 Calle Galeazza. I really like their cicchetti served with ham or soppressa with asiago.
Osteria Al Sacre e Profano, San Polo 502. Tel: +39-041-520-1931. My favorite of all five taverns, this is also a sit down restaurant.
EXCELLENT MUSUEMS
Ca’ Rezzonico, Dorsoduro 3136. Tel: +39-041-2410-100. Museum of 18th Century Venice and the palatial home of the Rezzonico family. www.carezzonico.visitmuve.it
Gallerie Accademia, Campo della Carita | Dorsoduro 1050. Tel: +39-041-522-2247. An incredible collection of Venetian paintings. www.gallerieaccademia.it
Museum Correr, Piazza San Marco. Tel: +39-041-2405211. Imperial apartments of the former King of Italy, and also many ongoing exhibitions. www.correr.visitmuve.it
Palazzo Cavalli, San Marco 2847 | Campo Santo Stefano. Tel: +39-041-2407-711. A palace that is home to Venice’s Science, Letters, and Art and has many ongoing exhibitions. www.palazzofranchetti.it
Palazzo Fortuny, San Marco 3958. Tel: +39-0415200-995. The sumptuous home and showcase of Mariano Fortuny’s multitude of creative talents. www.fortuny.visitmuve.it
Peggy Guggenheim Collection, just east of the Accademia bridge along the Grand Canal. Tel: +39041-2405-411 Peggy Guggenheim’s palace she lived in and the collection of her 20th-century art. www.guggenheim-venice.it
ENTERTAINMENT
Chiesa San Vidal, Campo San Vidal San Marco 2862/B. Tel: +39-348-190-8939. Top notch musical evenings often featuring Venice’s Verdi. www.classictic.com/en/venice/chiesa_di_san_vidal
Musica a Palazzo, San Marco 2504 | Palazzo Barbarigo Minotto. Tel: +39-340-971-7272. Fantastic operatic love duets and concert-style operas set in an amazing palace. www.musicapalazzo.com
Teatro La Fenice, San Marco 1965. Tel: +041-786511. A jewel box of a theatre with an ongoing repertoire of operas. www.teatrolafenice.it
