Venice, Italy: a beautiful swamp land

Never thought of Venice as a swamp before, huh? One of the more interesting things we learned while traveling to this popular tourist destination was that this city was built on top of swamp land! Just like the Everglades of Florida, Venice hosts extreme heat, tropical thunderstorms, 100% humidity, 300+ days / year of flooding and mosquitoes like you wouldn't believe. What most people don't know about Venice is that it was built using tree trunks from what used to be a forest on the mainland. Those trunks have since petrified and are, in fact, sinking little by little each year into the mucky bottom. Ironically, what makes Venice so popular today is its swampy location, or what they prefer to call the "Venetian Lagoon."  

The canals of Venice have for a long time been known to romance the pants off everyone who is fortunate enough to gaze upon them. Contrary to the rumors, Venice does not have an odor of any kind. Their sewage is not seen nor sensed in any way throughout the city. Locals actually swim in the canals when the summer's heat bares down on them. The canals and the city are as amazing as the pictures that attempt to reflect it. What pictures can't show you is the feeling you get when you are there. Romance is certainly in the air, and not only the tourists can feel it. I believe this is why the people there are so nice. That and the fact that not just anyone can live there...

 
Most of the people who live there are Venetian. They are born there, grow up there and pass away there.  Less than 10% of its residents are not Italian, but have boo koo bucks, if you know what I mean. The history, architecture, and cafes are enough to make anyone think twice about where to live, but once you've been there for a few days, you realize there's no place like home. It does seem like a difficult place to live after a short stay. It's very compacted (so much so that no cars or bikes are allowed) and since everything (and I mean everything) has to come in via boat, you can imagine what shipping would be like!

Now it wouldn't be a trip to Venice without taking a ride on a gondola.  It's really the best way to see the city. Floating down the canals and through the 'alleys' helps you to see parts of Venice you never could otherwise. Gondoliers have a very coveted position in Venice. 

Did you know that in order to have this title you must be a Venetian born and raised on the Islands? Venice has kept this occupation so sacred, and for good reason. Gondoliers are put through an immense amount of training and schooling in order to obtain their license. Venetians also have their own language and need to understand one another when they yell at each other on the canals allowing the other gondoliers to know they are coming around a corner. It can get so cluttered in those tiny canals, that communication becomes key when navigating.

The masks of Venice are another known source of culture. They derive from a less fortunate time in the Venetians history. During the bubonic plague, the sick were forced to live on little islands in Venice, one being the lazaret. It was a quarantine island where the sick would eventually pass away and be buried far from the city's wealthy and healthy. National Geographic recently located mass plague graves on the island and have written about it.  You can read more about this here: National Geographic Article.

 

But I digress... The masks were worn by doctors to prevent getting sick when treating their doomed patients. They would stick herbs into the nose of their mask to help filter the air. And this wasn't the only reason to where masks in Venice. Masks were also used to hide one's social status. Wearing a mask allowed those of higher class to socialize with the public and act freely. Masks are not expensive in Venice. You should definitely purchase one from one of the hundreds of mask makers you will come across during your stay. It's a cultural icon to say the least.

Besides gondolas and masks, there is a list of things that one must see and do when visiting this fascinating swamp land -

1. Lido Island is the island where we stayed. It's absolutely gorgeous, big enough to have cars and reflects a side of Venice that you don't get on the main venetian island. All of the other islands of Venice have a lot less tourists, so it can be nicer to take a stroll. The taxi (I mean boat) service is not expensive and allows locals and tourists to move around the islands efficiently. Take a boat to this little island for a day and enjoy everything it has to offer.

2. The Grand Canal and Rialto Bridge are staples of the city. Unfortunately, the bridge can become so cluttered with tourists, you cant really get a great view or idea of the awesomeness of it unless you view it from the water on the grand canal. Take a gondola on a grand canal tour and not only view the Rialto, but also the beautiful, historical mansions that line its path.

3. St. Marks Square and Cathedral is the center of Venice. Here you will find the location of where St. Mark the apostle is buried. St. Mark is the Patron Saint of Venice and so his symbol (a lion with wings) can be seen throughout the city. Visit this historical cathedral and learn all about how his body ended up in this beautiful swamp land. 

4. Marco Polo lived in and loved Venice. After his travels to the orient, he returned to Venice to share his journey. He also brought back with him a lot of the seemingly foreign architectural styles that you can still see on many of the buildings and its windows. His home is located on the main island.

5. Royal Gardens. Gardens on the islands were very rare and hard to come by. Only the upper class could afford them being that land is so sparse to grow them. The Royal Gardens are the largest on the islands and  may seem small to someone with their own large yard, however, it is still something to see. You can see gardens also from the grand canal while looking upon the incredible mansions and their grounds.

6. Murano Island is THE island where the famed glass is made.  You can see this art all over Venice, however, on the island you can learn and see how they actually blow the glass. Don't forget to purchase some for yourself! It's cheap compared to what we have to pay in the states.

7. Get Lost in Venice! It's very easy to do, and the only way to get away from the touristy spots. Remember, every time you cross a bridge, you are on a different island!

Other stops you can make are to the Guggenheim museum, Burano Island, Doge's Palace and don't forget to try Italy's famed gelato! 

For more things to do in this beautiful swamp land, visit: Trip Advisor's Things to Do