The very best way to enjoy Venice is to just walk, without wanting to get anywhere in particular.
Obviously you should see the highlights, like the Rialto bridge and Piazza St Marco and its beautiful church filled with gold mosaics, but there are surprises at very turn in Venice, more than just about anywhere else. Getting lost can be a delight.
Having said that, it can be wretchedly difficult to find your way somewhere that you particularly want to get to, especially when there there is a transport strike. We have just been to Venice and on Monday there was a dreaded sciopero and none of the traghetti (ferries) were operating. Apart from a gondola or private water taxi there was no way to get around Venice except to walk.
We got lost many times on our way to where we wanted to be. Just as well we were in no hurry.
The next day the traghetti were back on and we decided to go to the islands of Burano and Torcello. We bought our tickets from the biglietteria and asked the attendant where we should catch the ferry. I would like to point out here that we bought our tickets and asked for information at the ferry office, not the post office or the gelateria.
We were told to go to St Marks Zaccaria stop. We did, there are several, all going in different directions. Each one sent us on to the next one. One attendant told us to look for stop number 12.
We finally arrived at the last stop only to be told that the ferry leaves from Fondamente Nove, which is on the other side of the island.
We got lost several times getting to Fondamente Nove and when we got there we found stop number 12. That particular attendant had been correct, she just neglected to tell us where stop 12 was. Burano and Torcello were delightful and I will show you photos of those beautiful islands later.
Here are some things we came across whilst getting lost.
To get to Burano and the very lovely Torcello, take the number 12 at Fondamente Nove. Good luck!
