Italy Tour – Mon 11th July 2016 – Sightseeing around Venice
Weather: 25⁰C min – 31⁰C max, hot and sunny
“Live every day as if it were your last because someday you’re going to be right” ~ Muhammad Ali
On my fourth and last day in Venice I created a 10 Km walking tour through the old off-beat areas of Cannaregio and Castello, which enabled me to explore the other side of Venice away from the more touristy parts. Cannaregio was once a ghetto but is now full of surprises and treasures. What fascinated me most about the laid-back Castello area were the washing lines unashamedly strewn above the alleys and laneways (almost an art form). It’s also home to the interesting Museo Storico Navale (Naval Historical Museum) where I spent some time.
Not far away I found the spectacular Basilica San Pietro di Castello. The present building dates from the 16th century, but a church has stood on the site since at least the 7th century.
My return to Santa Croce was via San Marco, known as the beating heart of Venice. The queue to get into Basilica di San Marco was about 200 m long and the sun was scorching, so I headed back to my B & B away from the tourist throngs and into the comfort of my air-conditioned room.
For the third night in a row I will eat at Trattoria Alle Lance in a laneway not far from the bridge Ponte Degli Scalzi spanning the Grand Canal. The service is good and it is one of the few eateries I have found in Venice where the food is reasonable and the prices are not exorbitant. When you are on a good thing stick to it!
I have enjoyed my four days in Venice, but I think I have seen everything it has to offer and am looking forward to returning to the real world of London and family tomorrow.