Venice, regionally known as Venezia, is a city synonymous with romance and steeped in history and culture.
From its winding canals, intricate bridges and grand architecture, Venice is one of Italy’s most picturesque cities and a popular destination for travellers. Having visited family there since I was a little girl, I can confirm that the floating city is all that it seems – and more.
Cruising to Venice
On 12 July 2021, the Italian government announced that all large cruise ships would be banned from entering the Giudecca canal. The ban followed almost a decade of environmentalist campaigns which were sparked by the capsizing of Costa Concordia near Giglio Island in early 2012.
Venice has been battling rising water levels and floods for centuries, sinking 1-2 millimetres each year. Locals worried that not only did the larger ships sail dangerously close to the city’s historic buildings, but they contributed to the erosion of the city’s foundations. In 2013, the government banned ships weighing more than 95,000 tonnes from entering the main canal, but the legislation was later overturned.
The new ban applies to ships that are
- Larger than 25,000 GRT
- Greater than 180 metres in length
- Taller than 35 metres and
- Have a production exceeding 0.1% of sulphur
Ships exceeding these limits will now have to dock at Porto Marghera, Venice’s industrial port. The government has stated that the long-term goal is to build a new port on the Adriatic Sea – the start date is yet to be confirmed.
As a result of the ban, some operators have had to remove Venice from their Mediterranean cruise itineraries altogether. Others, such as Seabourn Cruises, are having to dock at the Venice Cruise Terminal. But luckily, there are a number of lines with a collection of smaller ships that are still able to dock as usual, including Windstar Cruises and SeaDream Yacht Club.
If you’re thinking of boarding a cruise to Venice this summer, there are a number of must-sees and must-dos that you should be sure to tick off your Venetian bucket list. Below are our top five picks.
Piazza San Marco
Piazza San Marco is home to Venice’s most famous buildings, including Palazzo Ducale and Basilica di San Marco.
Often known in English as St. Mark’s Square, Piazza San Marco is a location of great importance. As Venice’s largest square, visitors can expect to find the city’s most famous buildings all in one place, including Palazzo Ducale and Basilica di San Marco. Palazzo Ducale was home to the elected ruler of Venice during the mediaeval and renaissance periods and as such stands as a symbol of the city’s powerful and wealthy past. Basilica di San Marco is so named because it is the final resting place of Mark the Evangelist.
Napoleon once described Piazza San Marco as ‘the finest drawing room of Europe’ – why not pay a visit and judge for yourself?
Ponte di Rialto
Ponte di Rialto is the oldest and most renowned of the hundreds of bridges that span the Grand Canal.
More commonly known as Rialto Bridge, Ponte di Rialto is the oldest and certainly most renowned of the four main bridges that span the Grand Canal. Unlike most tourist attractions, Ponte di Rialto is often visited by locals, largely because it is such an important crossing place. The bridge connects the districts of San Marco and San Polo where visitors can opt for a quiet stroll along the cobbles, away from the hustle and bustle of the shops and markets that line it, including Venice’s famous fish market.
Ponte di Rialto has featured in a number of the highest-grossing films of all time, including Casino Royale and Spiderman: Far From Home.
Gondola ride
Once the main mode of transportation in Venice, gondolas are now more often used by travellers wanting to explore the city.
One of the best ways to see Ponte di Rialto is on a gondola ride, particularly mid-late afternoon if you’re travelling with your partner. Legend has it that if lovers kiss under Ponte di Rialto as the sun sets and as the bells of Campanile di San Marco ring, they will have eternal love.
Why not travel down the city of canals and see as much as the city has to offer on the very symbol of Venice?
Murano
Visitors can watch a live glassmaking demonstration at the famous Museo del Vetro in Murano.
Murano is a nearby island – or to be more specific, a collection of seven islands – renowned for its glassmaking. At Museo del Vetro, visitors can admire one of the largest collections of Murano glass in the world, spanning from the fifteenth century all the way to now. The collection also includes an archaeological section that contains noteworthy Roman glassworks dating back to the first century A.D. Visitors can also watch a live glassmaking demonstration and purchase a souvenir such as a vase or even a piece of jewellery in the glass shop.
Burano
Burano is another nearby island and is one of the most colourful places in the world. Every two years, the residents will repaint the facades of their homes. They are not allowed to choose the colour but will be told to paint it a specific colour by the local government. It is believed that the houses were originally painted bright and cheery colours so that the local fishermen could spot them on a dark and gloomy day and thus avoid crashing onto the shore.
Burano is also famous for its lacemaking. For many of the island’s female inhabitants, lacemaking is a way of life, so much so that passersby can expect to be invited into the resident’s shops to admire their handy work. The island is home to some of Italy’s most creative professionals, including composer Baldassare Galuppi and sculptor Remigio Barbaro.
For just €20 per person, visitors can book an English-speaking guided tour of Murano, Burano and a third Venetian island called Torcello.
If you’re heading on a cruise to Venice this summer, let us know which of our top five picks is your favourite below!
