BRIDGE OF SIGHS
by whitecliff62
Before i forget, if you ever get the chance to visit this famous bridge in the off season, sometimes if you are very nice and they are in a good mood you may be able to actually walk across the bridge of sighs without a guide and explore the Doge's palace at your own pace. Ask at the palace ticket office, you never know, it might be your lucky day. (Please go to must see activaties) for photos of the bridge.
Internet near the Train Station
by sue_stone
If you are staying near the train station or have some time to kill before catching your train, there is a conveniently located Internet point only a minute or 2 away.
VeNice Internet point is located on just down from the station on Rio Terra Lista di Spagna. There are plenty of high speed computers and while not the cheapest internet place in Italy, it is clean and convenient. Oh, and there is a fabulous pasticceria next door! www.ve-nice.com
info@ve-nice.com
ph. 041 275 8217
This and that - banks, money, etc
by Trekki
Haha, if I don’t start to make this all a bit shorter, I will write about Venezia still in 10 years… So let me at least tell you some of these bits and things you might want to know in one single tip.
Remember that as in all Mediterranean countries, shops, banks etc close for lunch time – usually from 12:30/13:00 to 15.00/15:30.
Banks, money and credit cards: banks are spread all over the town, and ATM machines (called Bancomat) as well. Banks are open in the mornings and afternoons; no fixed opening hours, but latest until around 16:30. Bancomats accept all major credit cards and European bank cards (such as Maestro/Cirrus) and allow withdrawal of 250 Euro per day. They don’t accept non-Italian cards, like Carte Bleu. Take in account that with all us masses invading the city for weekends, these Bancomats can run quickly out of cash – so draw early. Most shops accept credit cards. However, discounts are often only possible when paid in cash.
Currency is Euro = €. We call this Euro, by the way, not Euro Dollar.
If you buy anything or eat or drink in restaurants or bars, remember to keep the bill (scontrino fiscale in Italian) in case you will be checked by the financial police. This is the law in Italy, and foreigners are supposed to learn the customs of the country they visit, so no one can pretend not to have known it. A customer must always ask for the bill.
Sales, rebates and promotions: are called vendita, promozionale, saldi, sconta. You can find signs like these often in shops or on specific articles. When making phone calls to any Italian place, remember to dial the city’s 0 ! This is different from any other country (at least I don’t remember any other country where I had to dial this 0). Also, if you make phone calls within Venezia, you need to dial the city’s 041 code, followed by the numer.
Smoking is no longer permitted inside buildings. This includes restaurants and bars etc.
Dogs must be kept at leash all the time. If you take your dogs on board a vaporetto, they have to wear muzzles. It is out of any discussion that dog owners must take care to remove their dog’s poo from the street. This is heavily fined when you are caught to leave it behind.
Even if it looks difficult, Venezia’s officials try to make the city accessible for handicapped as much as it is possible. Several bridges do have devices to transport wheelchairs over them (photo, from one on Burano). There is a key available to operate these devices, available at the tourist informations. They also have a map with marked tours, which are suitable for wheelchair travellers, as well as a lits of hotels, restaurants, bars and shops accessible for wheelchairs. Vaporettos are wheelchair friendly; there is a place just behind the captain’s cabin for wheelchairs. The vaporetto staff makes sure that this is always kept free, and chases people away who stand there.
On Piazza San Marco is a badge with information and a map for the blind.
The Venice Carnival
by shiran_d
Use of masks in Venice dates back to 2nd May 1268.
This restrictive carnival legislation started with a decree on 22nd February 1339 prohibiting masqueraders from going around the city at night.
Bring a CAMERA!
by Chrissey
What ever you do you should bring a camera. Bring/Buy/Beg/Borrow/Steal one, just have it and take pictures liberally.
It doen't matter if you are using disposable and are the worst at taking pictures, every corner, every inch of the city is photogenic. As for the pictures, they have a way of turning out beautifully no matter what.