Venice Cruise © Bensons
Overview:
The romantic and picturesque city of Venice is a favourite port
for most cruise passengers on a Mediterranean cruise itinerary.
With its gondola-lined canals, fine cuisine, pokey cobblestone
streets and ancient history, Venice attracts over 700,000 cruise
passengers every year.
Key attractions include the Piazza San Marco, the Chiesa di Santa
Maria Gloriosa dei Frari and the 17th-century Basilica di Santa
Maria della Salute and the Gallerie dell' Accademia.
Cruise ships dock at Venice's main port, the Terminal Venezia
Passeggeri's Marittima basin, which handles the largest ships and
is located near the 4-km causeway linking the historic city with
the mainland. The San Basilio terminal in the Giudecca Canal
handles smaller ships.
Contact:
Tourist Board of Venice
Tel: +39 041 5298711
www.turismovenezia.it
Transport:
Most cruise ships provide complimentary water shuttles to San
Marco Square, the centre of tourism in Venice. The rest of the city
is ideal to explore by foot. A bus service runs from the port to
Piazzale Roma where water taxis are available. Water taxis can also
be hired from the port at a more expensive fare. The vaporetti
(water buses running every 15 minutes) cost between €3.50 and
€5 euros per ride, depending on the destination. A one-day
Venice card is good for those planning on doing a lot of commuting.
There are no rental cars in Venice as there are no cars.
Attractions:
Steeped in history, there is no shortage of attractions for
visitors to enjoy in Venice. Visit the 10th century Bell Tower, the
Piazza San Marco, art galleries such as the Gallerie dell'
Accademia and the Peggy Guggenheim Collection and Grand Canal. The
numerous cathedrals and churches are also worth visiting, such as
the Chiesa di Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari and the 17th-century
Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute. The city is compact enough
for many of these attractions to be seen on a single day trip from
the cruise ship.
Restaurants:
- Ristorante Quadri - popular eatery serving international cuisine
overlooking San Mark's Sqaure
- Trattoria alla Rivetta - seafood restaurant popular with
locals
- Al Covo - trendy tourist-friendly restaurant serving Venetian
cuisine
Best dish: Venetian-style seafood pasta
Shopping:
The best shopping areas are located in just off San Marco Square
while most of the designer boutiques can be found in Accademia.
Tourist shops and other boutiques can be found in the Rialto, which
is the commercial core of Venice. Visit Venetia Studium on San
Marco for fine velvets and silks while all the fashionable shops
are located are on or off the main drag between the train station
and St Mark's Square.
Best buy: Glass jewellery, chandeliers or tableware
Excursions:
- Watch glass making on the island of Murano
- Take a gondola ride
- Visit the island village of Burano
- Visit Guidecca
- Visit the nearby city of Verona