“What a profound emotion to remember yesterday / When everything in Venice spoke to me of love”, sang the great Charles Aznavour, turning the tune, in addition to being one of the most famous romantic songs of all time, into the popular anthem of a city that always, always, seems to be there. How many pages, songs, pictorial works or films have the capital of Veneto as their reason for being? Well, infinite, as infinite is the number of people who, for centuries, when the Most Serene Republic of Venice was one of the great world powers, have fallen under the spell of its beauty, its monumentality, its canals…
“In the 10 years that I have lived in Venice, 8 of them working as a tourist guide, there is not a single day that I do not know something new about this magical and beautiful city, which conquered me from the beginning”, Inma López Sastre tells us. , local guide of Civitatis and the perfect guide to advise us to visit a wonderful city that, fortunately, leaves behind the harsh summers of 2020 and 2021 to resume its position as one of the preferred destinations for travelers from all over the world.
Where does your relationship with Venice come from?
He had studied Tourism and lived in Padua. Venice was very close to it, so I decided to start learning more about this city until I fell in love with it.
You have mentioned Padua, an incredibly beautiful city, full of monuments and history. But what is special and different about Venice compared to other popular destinations?
Venice is unique in the world. It is a city built on a lagoon, held in large part with wooden stakes, and is completely adapted to the aquatic environment; it is five kilometers from the mainland and only two kilometers from the Adriatic Sea; No vehicle with wheels circulates through it, it treasures more than 1,600 years of history and, in addition, it is a World Heritage Site.
San Marco square in Venice without tourists.
Tourism is one of the most important productive sectors in Italy and the engine of the city. How has the pandemic affected you?
Indeed, Venice is a city focused on tourism and the pandemic had a strong impact, for example, on guides, hotels, restaurants or souvenir businesses. Many had to close due to the pandemic and also due to the extraordinary acqua alta -the periodic floods caused by the rise in the level of the Adriatic- that was suffered in this period. At 180 centimeters, she was the second tallest in history.
How is the city recovering from the pandemic?
He’s recovering pretty well. This summer, the number of visitors is 60% compared to pre-pandemic summers, although protection and security measures will be taken from 2023 to reduce the number of visitors.
We should visit the palaces of the Grand Canal, Varisco street, the Jewish ghetto or the islands of Burano and San Giorgio Maggiore
Grand Canal Venice.
When thinking of Venice, corners like Saint Mark’s Square, the Grand Canal, the Rialto usually come to mind… What other great places should we visit?
There are many! For example, the palaces of the Grand Canal, the Acqua Alta bookstore, Varisco street -the narrowest in the city, only 53 centimeters wide-, the island of Burano, the island of San Giorgio Maggiore, the Jewish ghetto, the Basilica of Santa Maria della Salute, Punta della Dogana, the Accademia bridge, the Escuela Grande di San Rocco, the terrace of the Fondaco dei Tedeschi or the Mocenigo palace… There are so many!
What advice would you give to someone traveling to Venice for the first time?
Without a doubt, try a spritz, the typical drink of the city, of Venetian origin, and taste the cichetti, the typical Venetian tapas. Also, visit the terrace of the Fondaco dei Tedeschi, take a tour of the Grand Canal and visit a mask workshop, and a demonstration of how Murano glass is made.
Interior of the Acqua Alta bookstore in Venice.
There is never an end to things to do in Venice, but surely many of them are little known…
Yes, in Venice there are always interesting activities. Visitors can do anything from a yoga course to kayaking; enjoy a guided tour; climb the Campanile de San Marcos -it has a height of 98.6 meters-; go to a classical music concert or an opera performance; learn to handle the boats like a gondolier, or, in carnival, dress up and make your own masks.
Should we take any special precautions if we travel to the city?
Wheels are prohibited, so you must not ride a bicycle, and you cannot swim in the canals or eat in the wells and churches. It is a town to be discovered on foot, so you have to wear comfortable shoes. And it must be taken into account that it is very inaccessible for travelers with disabilities: we have 423 bridges and most of them are not adapted.
The best areas to eat are Campo Santa Margarita and Fondamenta de la Misericordia
Fondamenta de la Misericordia.
If we travel on our own, what should we take into consideration when looking for accommodation?
Practically everywhere in Venice there are very good accommodations, from rental apartments to hotel rooms in beautiful palaces. Everything will depend on the available budget but, in general, they are all usually in beautiful historical buildings. One of the most famous is the Hotel Danieli, with its buildings connected to each other by covered bridges.
And, at lunchtime, what are the most recommended areas and what should we order?
The best areas to eat are Campo Santa Margarita (university area), where we can eat at a reasonable price, and Fondamenta de la Misericordia, known as the tapas route. You must not miss a spritz, a prosecco, a pizza al volo, spaghetti ai frutti di mare, and baccala mantecato.
Campo Santa Margarita.
What last advice do you give us to visit Venice?
Venice is a city with magic, which captivates you from the first minute, and to which many people visit more than once. My recommendation is to let yourself go through its streets, succumbing to the magic and mysteries of its labyrinths, which, without a doubt, is the best way to discover some of the best hidden beauties.
