Become a Venice Expert. The list of blog posts will give quickly you a broad and comprehensive introduction to this historic city.
Research is essential for the most fruitful visit, particularly when time is constrained. The more informed you are about Venice prior to your trip, the more enriching your experience and the more productive your photography will also be.
Compile lists of sights you wish to see and the location and type of photographs, you would like to capture. Do look at the more image-based books on Venice and also check-out the postcard displays.
Utilize the available information while traveling or during downtime at your accommodation, particularly if your stay in the city is brief. My detailed and illustrated posts are designed to be comprehensive, providing all the necessary information and serving as an excellent foundation for further exploration and research
Introduction to Venice. This is a big post with the content headings listed below, to demonstrate its wide coverage of information, and designed to give you a broad and useful introduction to Venice. “All about the city”, rolled into one and a great place to start becoming a “Venice Expert”! The more you know, the more your enjoyable and fulfilling your visit will be – especially if your time in the city is limited.
Brief History – The Veneto (“Venezia Euganea”) – The Metropolitan City of Venice – The Historic Island City (“Centro Storico”)
Districts and Parishes – House numbering system – Origin of the Name – The Language of Venice
The Climate of Venice – Venetian Wells – The Source of Drinking Water – Traditional food and drink of Venice and the Veneto
Flooding and Subsidence, Pollution and Algal Growth – Acqua Alta and the MOSE Project – Architecture, Art and Music
Places named after Venice – World-wide Venetian style Campaniles
Links Section to all my 247 posts and for convenience, a selection of posts to get you started and on your way to be a Venice expert.
The Venetian Lagoon and its Ecosystem. The Venetian lagoon is the most important survivor of a system of estuarine lagoons, that in Roman times extended from Ravenna north to Trieste. During the 5th to 6th century, the lagoon gave security to people under Roman rule; fleeing Hun and Lombard invaders. One of my most viewed posts, it covers location, development, historical perspectives, the Metropolitan City of Venice, its islands and the lagoon ecosystem. One can only marvel and ask yourself “who would have imagined building one of the world’s greatest city, in the middle of a malaria infested swamp; on islands mostly less than one metre above sea-level?”
Venice – Calendar of Events 2025. With its plethora of festivals, exhibitions and public holidays, the historic city never ceases to amaze. This comprehensive guide has been further expanded to include contemporary annual initiatives, such as the Venice Design Week and the Venice Glass Week. Also included are several significant exhibitions, included as part of the 19th Architectural Biennale, The Cini Foundation and the Peggy Guggenheim collection (all with website links). For the upcoming year of 2025, this useful “early” post gathers together Venice’s main event dates for 2025 (as published, January 2025). The post will be updated, as a few provisional dates are confirmed and more event information becomes available.
St Mark’s Square Guide This unique all-in-one post, will give you everything you need to know about the most famous square in Venice. Included, are three recommended walks to explore; starting from St Mark’s Square. It will transform your appreciation and enjoyment of both the historic Piazza and the wider San Marco district; saving you valuable time; particularly if it your first visit and and your time (and budget) is limited. The districts of San Marco, together with the Dorsoduro nearby; contain a large proportion of the city’s main attractions, in the historic centre of Venice. I have also included price structures and links to my most relevant posts, which you can read for reference; whether researching for your trip, on the way there, or at quieter moments back in your accommodation.
San Marco – District and Main Attractions. Dorsoduro – District and Main Attractions. If it’s your first visit or on limited time, these two comprehensive posts will cover many of the main tourist attractions. The districts are close together and easily accessible on foot or by a short Vaporetto trip.
Venice Museum Guide – Introduction. This post features links to all my comprehensive posts, on my list of “Top 25 recommended Museums”. Each post contains: descriptive information, their official websites to get the latest information about visiting and any current health regulations required for entry; together with links to all the featured museums. Also included, are links to my own relevant published posts, including the main attractions in each of Venice’s six districts. All the background information necessary; to widen the experience and enjoyment of your visit. Possibly the most comprehensive set of museum guides available.
Getting Around – Basic Terminology. This post is about helping you arrive and get around Venice and about getting to grips with some basic architectural, trade and artistic terminology; to enrich your experience of this wonderful city.
Venice Vaporetto Guide. Everything you need to know in one big post, about the Vaporetto public transport system; together with all the options for buying tickets, including Venice tourist passes!
Santa Lucia Train Station. Everything you need to know about the history, development and use of this important terminal, in the historic centre of Venice; one of the city’s two railway stations. The other, “Venice Mestre”, is a mainline junction station in the Metropolitan City of Venice’s, mainland district of Mestre.
Piazzale Roma Bus Terminal. There’s much more to the historic city’s bus terminal, linked to the mainland by the Ponte della Liberta; than you might first imagine. Within the square is the “Venice People Mover”: an overhead rail public transit system, operating since 2010 and connecting Piazzale Roma to the Marittima cruise ship port and Tronchetto island. The latter allows more extensive car parking facilities.
Public Gardens and Green Spaces of Venice. Escape the crowds, surround yourself with greenery and experience the city from a new perspective. While in Venice, take the time to discover these verdant havens, many of which to many tourists; remain hidden gems.
The Grand Canal of Venice. Bridges of the Grand Canal. Venetian Palace Architectural Styles: Byzantine – Venetian Gothic – Renaissance – Baroque – Neoclassical. A boat trip along the Grand Canal, is one of the world’s greatest pleasures. These three posts, tell you “all you need to know” about this famous canal, its four bridges and historic palaces. The latter post shows you how to recognise and differentiate between the various period styles.
Best High Views in Venice. This post will take you on a journey through the best high viewpoints, in the historic centre of Venice – campaniles, roof-top bar/restaurants, a famous basilica and even the terrace of Venice’s latest luxury goods store! Each offers a unique perspective of the city. All the information and links that you need, to enhance your experience of this magical city.
Useful Apps for Venice. For the technically minded, this post gives an overview of the most useful free apps, for your trip to Venice. They will help you get around and make the most of your stay: vaporetto routes and time-tables; museum, exhibition, gallery and church opening times and entrance fees. Useful discounts and which streets are flooded by the “acqua alta” and much more! Download and install the apps, before you set off to Venice and if possible, create a separate window on the phone; with your new collection of Venice related apps.
Cuisine of the Veneto. This post covers the traditional cuisine and drinks of the Veneto and its seven regions. In general, traditional Venetian food can be characterised by its authenticity and the use of the finest (yet sometimes humble) main ingredients; combined in simple recipes and without being strongly flavoured or hot. Specialities often reflect the Venetian Republic’s success, in the development of its mercantile and overland trade; into the Eastern Mediterranean, the Middle East and the Silk Route into Asia and the Orient. Non-native spices and herbs, were used for flavouring food and as ingredients in medicinal and cosmetic preparations; that also became a significant part of its trade revenue. Finally, from the end of the 18th century, some new specialities were introduced, following the French and Austrian occupation.
The Language of Venice. The language is unique, despite modern worldwide cultural influences; as it remains original and is used by all classes of society. It should not be considered a mere local dialect, since during the Republican era, it was used in official documents and in a considerable body of literature. Many directions signs in the historic centre, are shown in both Italian and Venetian.
EnjoyRespectVenezia This is the City of Venice’s awareness campaign, with the aim of creating a sustainable coexistence between tourists and residents. Be aware of significant penalties for prohibited behaviour.
Venice Visitor Taxes This post describes both current and proposed taxes on both overnight and day-trip visitors to Venice. Be aware of new charges for day-trippers in 2025.
Acqua Alta and the Mose Project. The Great Venetian Flood of 1966. Two of my most popular posts, giving everything you need to know about high flood tides and their control; together with the story of Venice’s worst flood in recent times.
Political Empire through Trade. Venice played a major role in reopening the Mediterranean economy to West European commerce and to the development of links with Northern Europe. It created institutions that formed the basis for commercial capitalism and made major progress in shipping technology. Also, it helped transfer Asian and Egyptian technology to the West, in the area of cane sugar production and processing, silk textiles, glassblowing, jewellery and pharmaceuticals.
The Venice Carnival. History of Venetian Masks. Venice Carnival – Events. These updated posts will give you a great idea of how the Carnival is structured and what to expect in 2025 and beyond. External links are provided to find the official website and other main tourist sites; to see all the latest information on dates and events.
History of Venetian Glass “Vetro Veneziano”, has been made for over 1,500 years and since the 13th century, production has been concentrated on the island of Murano. It has a long history of innovations in glass making, being Europe’s first major glass making centre; but is today renowned for its artistic creations.
Venetian Wells – Drinking Water. As the population of Venetians in the Rialto area developed, there was one item lacking to ensure survival; a plentiful supply of fresh drinkable water. The lack of fresh water could normally be solved through the construction of typical draw-wells to access underground water sources. Venice, however, was built on islands of low-level marshland in a salt water lagoon; the normal way of obtaining fresh water was impossible.
History of Travel Posters. This post provides a brief history of Travel Posters and includes a representative selection of the best Venetian examples. Fun to look at and great to decorate your walls; at an economical price!
Photographing Venice – Developing a more personal vision. Venice is probably the world’s most photographed city – so how do you say something different about the place or start to develop any sense of individuality and a more personal vision? This post will help you become more perceptive, open to different ideas and achieve greater photographic success.
Become a Venice Expert. Become a Venice Expert. Become a Venice Expert. Become a Venice Expert. Become a Venice Expert.