Pro
if you are famous you keep your grave!
Con
I dont think the Vaporettos to San Michele are very regularthere a
In a nutshell
A very interesting insight into Death in Venice!
As far as I know, there is no where to purchase food or drinks on the island - It was San Stefano - Dec 26th, and the churches were closed at my visit.
So, make sure You bring bottled water etc with You.
There are places to eat along Fondamente Nuova, near the Vaporetto Station, before your departure or on your return, or if heading onto Murano, Torcello and Burano after visiting San Michele.
My favourite places are Algiubagio -At the foot of the brick bridge - My favourite Restaurant in Venice!- but for a drink while waiting for the vaporetto, the outside terrace is a pleasant place, with views to San Michelle and over the lagoon.
Algiubagio also has a pizzeria and gelateria a few metres away - past the vaporetto station. Here I enjoyed a slice of the tastiest fresh pizza, followed by a very chocolaty ice cream Mmmmm! A few seats inside and out.
Tortuga Pub is just across the bridge on the first street- Salizzada di Specchieri - which takes you to the Gesuiti church. I enjoyed a tasty spaghetti carbonara (7 euros) while waiting for the waterbus to Marco Polo Airport.
I've not eaten on Murano, but there are plenty of places to eat in or take away.
Please see my Venice Restaurant tips for more info on the above restaurants.
Updated Mar 12, 2008
Address: Fondamente Nuova and surrounding streets
To reach San Michele, the quickest way from Venice is from the Fondamente Nuove in Cannaregio sestieri, by the circular 41 or 42 Vaporetto (water bus), or on the same service from Murano.
It is possible to get on the vaporetto in San Zaccaria, or many other places around Venice, but it can be a long trip, especially if You jump on the vaporetto and its going in the wrong direction. The No. 41 travels an anti clockwise route, while the No. 42 travels clockwise
The only vaporetto station on San Michele is Cimitero, which you can see in the photo.
Vaporettos run roughly every 20 minutes from Fondamente Nuova. There is a ticket office, to purchase tickets.
If you have just missed one, I'd recommend walking a few steps to enjoy a drink on the terrace of Algiubagio - the restaurant at the foot of the bridge (closed Tuesdays), or enjoy an ice cream or slice of fresh pizza, from the pizzeria/ gelateria further to the left, which is owned by the same people
Just off the Fondamente Nuova is the Gesuiti church, worth visiting for its theatrical architecture
Updated Mar 12, 2008
Anyone viewing my Torcello 'Off The Beaten Track' tip will have read about the toilets there. Strangely, my San Michele 'OTBT' tip is about the toilets too!
Well when You've got to go, You've got to go!
This was probably my spookiest experience on the cemetery island. No one else was in the toilets when I entered.
While I was in the cubicle, I felt something tap on my shoulder!!!!!
For a minute, my heart stopped, and the hairs on my head stood up. Then it happened again.
Luckily I realised what it was - before I ran out screaming !- Looking up, the toilet is open to the skies - and Trees above - what I'd felt was a twig and a leaf falling onto me - Pheeeew!!
The toilets are clean, apart from the leaves and twigs etc that fall through the open windows.
They are free to use too!!
Updated Nov 3, 2009
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