InterRail #5 Travel: Venice

Ah Venice… Last stop of our trip in Europe with InterRail, And surely one of the best parts of the trip. We took the night train from Vienna to get to Venice station in the heart of the city in the early morning. Capucine already knew the city and had already told me about it many times for its beauty, its architecture, its way of life, its islands like Murano and especially Burano… But despite all that, it hadn’t convinced me before. I was stuck with an image of Venice that was too touristy, the cliché of « City of lovers » I wasn’t too impressed, and the prices are exorbitant (boat, etc…)

Some prejudices are actually verified on the spot, but not only that! Venice is surprising… There are no two cities like this in the world. Unfortunately, timing being what it is, we only stayed there for a little over 24 hours… That’s far too short a time. to discover all the treasures that the city of the Doges has to offer…

Actually, it’s mostly its history, its ingenious design and its architecture that have fascinated me. Venice is rich in a exceptional heritage, It is almost 1500 years old! Walking through the many alleys and squares of the Serenissima, one cannot help but be speechless at the beauty of the palaces and buildings that have a unique architecture and style. The fruit of many Mediterranean architectural influences (Byzantine, etc.) Venice has survived the centuries by fighting to maintain its independence until 1797, the year in which Napoleon Bonaparte annexed this Italian state, ending more than 800 years of independence.

Once a trading city located in a strategic position between the West and the East, Venice continued its expansion to become, around the 15th century, one of the main players in global trade with a colossal maritime empire. But the development of the Spanish and Portuguese power, turned towards the New World, heralded the decline of the powerful Venice… It was then that the Serenissima returned to the forefront of the scene with cultural and artistic expansion which fascinated all of Europe.

Today it is some Millions of tourists which swarm in the alleys of Venice to appreciate this magnificent architectural and cultural heritage, especially during its famous carnival whose fame is unrivaled! The city’s 100% emphasis on tourism is making this old city increasingly fragile… I was particularly Shocked to see giant ships entering the Giudecca Canal To meet the demand of their clientele, which also creates the anger of the residents who are trying so hard to fight against the tourism giants with petitions… The general rise in sea level can also have serious consequences for Venice, which risks soon finding itself under the water.

It is also interesting to look into The backstage of Venice And to understand how this atypical city works. Early in the morning, we witness the ballet of the numerous shuttle buses loaded with food and bottle packs, which leave to deliver the many hotels and restaurants across Venice. The Venetians who go to work take the vaporetto every day, and, I can understand, at times they must curse the groups of tourists who wander around with their audio guides, making it difficult for them to get through the streets of the city center!

As soon as we arrived at the train station in Venice, we went to our favorite youth hostel: Generator Hostel, from the same group as those in Copenhagen and Berlin. This beautiful establishment with its original and modern decor is located in Dorsoduro, on the banks of the Canal de Giudecca, on the other side of the Doge’s Palace. The location is ideal for visiting Venice easily and there is a vaporetto stop right in front of the hostel.

If you are traveling in a group, I recommend that you renting an apartment in Venice, It’s much more economical and you’ll be more free. By renting an apartment you can find nights for 30/40 euros per person, which is really not expensive for Venice! For us, we love going to the market // supermarket, it gives us the feeling that we’re not just tourists; we like going to the small cafes where the old people are and just observing, listening to everything.

Finally, to get around, we bought a 24-hour pass for 20€; you can find all the prices here. here, Attention, folks, the prices are a bit steep!

Here is our top 10 of must-see places in Venice

• Saint Mark's Square

• The Palace of the Doges

• The Basilica of Saint Mark

• The Rialto Bridge and its markets

• The Bridge of Sighs

• The island of Burano

• Basilica of Santa Maria della Salute

• Getting lost in the romantic alleys of Venice and admiring the many canals

• Cocktail hour on the terrace of the Hilton with panoramic views of Venice