I’m no authority in what places are the must-dos. But I can tell you which are the ones I went to. I’ll sprinkle in some basic information along the way and tell you about my experience. Your trip will be different than mine. But I thought I’d share what I saw.

The first city I visited in Italy was Venice. And I had no clue what to expect. Even when the rest of the world have expectations. I ended up in Venice by searching for the cheapest flight available from Amsterdam, fit for a weekend when I would be free and I didn’t have to take days off.

I come from the Philippines and there is a knockoff of Venice in Metro Manila. But by blissful ignorance, I couldn’t put the pieces together. So imagine my surprise walking in the middle of the night and just being blown away by how Venice looked like.

And besides sightseeing, I watched a live performance of classical music, ate seafood, and had a lot of spritz. If I spent a couple of days more, I would have been a completely different person.

Venice is a group of islands connected by bridges and canals. Exploration is best done (or can only be done) on foot or on a gondola. Most other modes of transportation don’t work. That adds to the charm. Did I say it’s also helpful to my step count which is my version of cardio?

Apparently, the town is sinking. So time is not on my side. And I’m glad to have paid the region a visit.

For places I visited in Rome, you can visit this link.

In the meantime, here are five places I visited in Venice:

The Rialto Bridge

Getting one’s self across the Grand Canal can be done in multiple ways. There’s a gondola / gondolini ride. There are multiple routes and bridges that will do the trick. And because I was feeling touristy, I also crossed via the Rialto Bridge.

The Rialto Bridge is a choice. Overcrowding is evident when I entered the city. But nowhere is that problem more prominent than in the Rialto Bridge.

But I can understand. The place is an efficient way to cross. There are numerous shops, restaurants and a market surrounding the bridge. And in my humble and unprofessional opinion, the best panoramic view of the Grand Canal is taken from here.

The Grand Canal

Venice is split in half by the Grand Canal. And there is no better way to see Venice than to take a ride along the waterway and see iconic landmarks like the Rialto Bridge, Ca’ d’Oro and Palazzo Grassi. The endless number of houses and churches are also on display.

What are the options? I chose the cheapest one. I took the vaporetto (water bus) which people commuting use. And I still felt like I had a complete experience. With a lot more people, taking a private taxi or a gondola might be equally worth it.

St. Mark’s Square / Piazza San Marco

Most squares in the world are the center of activity for their respective cities. But none are as decorated as St. Mark’s. After all, St. Mark’s Basilica, the Doge’s Palace, the Clock Tower, and the Campanile all surround it. And to top that off, restaurants, cafes and shops are everywhere.

Street performers and live music are abundant. When I was there, no event or carnival was held. But apparently, the place is known for hosting them.

If anyone needs a quick recommendation on where the most amount of visits and activities can be done in Venice, being in St. Mark’s Square is the most efficient. It helps get the most sights completed within a short period of time.

Murano

Am I the only one who hasn’t heard of Murano glass? I swear I’ve seen it. But I never thought it was anything special. Venetians, don’t kill me! For whatever it’s worth, I was speaking to a couple of Americans and they were going gaga over it.

Churches, canals, museums, galleries – they are just as picturesque in this island as they are on the main ones. But the glass making showcased throughout the town stands out. A visit to a factory will be greeted with a lot of merchants trying to sell products. But even without an intent to purchase, seeing the process of glass making, and the vast collection of items, are still worth the boat ride.

Burano

Much like Murano, a boat ride is needed to get to Burano. But whereas Murano is known for glass making, Burano is known for lace making. It’s another luxury I’ve never heard of nor am I getting onboard with soon. But finding shops to purchase products from, and/or learn about the tradition, is easy.

My favourite trait, and what also sets Burano apart from the other islands, is the vibrant and colourful houses lining up the streets. If my research is right, then locals are mandated to follow a colour scheme. And no matter which corner I turned at, the views were stunning and a pleasure to the senses.

All the photos were taken on December 2021.