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Hotel Class: 
3 Stars - 23 Opinions
Via Malamocco 83, Venice, 30126, Italy
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of people enjoy staying here
23 Opinions
Momentay Disorentation
View of the lagoon and San Giorgio Maggiore
Courtyard of the Doge's Palace
San Martino and its bell tower
Our group of seven, including 4 teens, will be in Venice the middle of June, during portions of La Biennale. I've been on the Biennale website and am also signed up to get their monthly newsletter, but I'm wondering if anyone has particular tips, advice, or suggestions regarding what to see, what to miss, if crowds will be terrible (we'll just get in the mix!), etc. Thanks so much! Erin
avoid any rush hours (openings, closings, special visits and similar occasions) and you'll be fine regarding crowds
what to see and what to miss is really a matter of taste; it's contemporary art that provokes strong like/dislike feelings
my usual strategy about seeing the biennale is to simply wander around. and to not forget the rest of the city; plenty to enjoy there
the main is to get all your hotel bookings set in stone, as every room is usually booked well in advance.
Yep that many! Make sure you take a Gondola tour (little pricey but worth it!, make sure also you talk the price down, they do it!!, pretend you are living if they don't, they will call you back), because it's pretty amazing watching the "Gondolieri" bend down under each one of them...that's gotta take lots of practice :-)
Dance on the Piazza San Marco. In the evening, you have two or three cafes on the square and they are competing against each other. The square is virtually empty as everybody is listening to them. This makes it the perfect dance floor. It was wonderful. Dancing with my love on the piazza San Marco, with a rose in her hand, we just danced, not knowing they were people watching us. We were in heaven.
Venice is a unique city , vibrant with art , culture and history . It's beautiful buildings in the Gothic-Renaissance style , which rise from a multitude of tiny islands , canals and bridges , are full of evanescent , mysterious charm .
This was one of the few crowded places we came across in Venice. I guess we were lucky as we had always been told that the "press" of people was so bad that if you died you would not be able to fall over. As you can see even here it is not too bad. Many of the stalls and shops were selling the typical masks used in the Carnival.
The Gondola is adorned with traditional ornaments, some purely decorative, some serving a useful purpose.
On the prow of the gondola is a metal FERRO - Weighing 45 pounds it acts as a counterbalance to the gondolier, and protects the prow.
Its double curve symbolises Giudecca, and its blade represents both the Rialto Bridge and a Doges cap.
The 6 teeth represent the 6 sestieri (divisions) of Venice.
LAMA da POPPA is the stern deck, and PAIOLI are the floor boards
The FORCOLA - the rowlock, which can hold the oar in different positions for steering. (slow forward, powerful forward, turning, slowing down and backwards) It is made of walnut
2 brass seahorses (HIPPOCAMPUS) provide ornamentation.
Passengers sit on upholstered chairs or cushions, which may be arranged to counterbalance the gondolier.
The main seat (sental) side chairs (panchetti and careghin) armrests (puggioli)
For weddings (probably the only time a Venetian would travel in a Gondola) a traditional black canopy (FELZE) and flower garlands are added.
Felzes traditionally provided privacy for meetings and illicit activities, but were discarded when tourism took off as they obscured the views.
Gilded Angels adorn Funeral Gondolas - these are very rarely seen. You might see one moored, or travelling to San Michele - the cemetery island.
A brass plate is inscribed with the licence number.
Brass strips (NASTRI) are often inscribed with the gondoliers wife or loved ones names, or with proverbs and sayings.
Please see my other photos and Previous tips for more information on Gondolas
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Address: Via Malamocco 83, Venice, 30126, Italy
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