STREET DIRECTIONS
If you dare exploring the City by yourself, you might get the feeling that
you will soon get lost. Don’t worry too much! A detailed map is all you need
to orientate. Yellow placards will point you in the direction of the main
landmarks, such as S.MARCO (St. Mark’s Square), RIALTO (the Rialto Bridge),
ACCADEMIA (the Accademia Galleries), FERROVIA (the railway station),
P.LE ROMA (Piazzale Roma, the car terminal)
STREET NAMES
These white signs rimmed in black are commonly called "nizioletti"
(small sheets) are painted on the houses walls at the hight of the ground
floor ceiling, and give you the name of a street or of a square (campo).
Venetian dialect is applied to local names so you might encounter
some inconsistencies in spelling between street signs and guide books.
GONDOLAS
A regular gondola ride is charged around 80 euros for 45 minutes.
The price is the sameup to six persons, the maximum a gondola can carry .
If you take the gondola after 7.00 pm the price increases. Gondoliers don’t sing!
If you would like a serenade to be played for you, you have to consider
an extra charge and book it in advance.
Along the Grand Canal you can find several gondola-ferry station (traghetto):
there you can get a gondola to get across the Canal for 50 euro-cents.
It’s not as romantic, butit’s much cheaper and still an experience
VENICE CARD
Venice has an excellent public transportation system, but non-residents
fares are high: 3,50€ for an adult riding on most waterbuses or autobuses,
or 5,00€ to ride the vaporetto on the Grand Canal.
If you plan to use public transportation often, you might consider to get
the Venice Card, which comes in two colors, Blu and Orange, each available
for 1, 3, or 7 days.
Venice Card Blu
This card offers unlimited transportation on waterbuses
and autobuses. It also provides free use of public toilets; If you're
between the ages of 14 and 29, you'll also receive the discounts that
come with the Rolling Venice Card.
Venice Card Orange
The more expensive orange card includes all of the above plus admission
to the Doge's Palace and other City museums.
Prices
The cards are sold in two versions: Senior (for adults over 30) and Junior
(for visitors from 5 through 29). Prices in 2005 start at;9,00 &euro
for a one-day Junior Blu card and 14,00€ for a one-day Senior Blu card.
The Venice Card must be reserved at least 48 hours
before your arrival in Venice. The easiest and cheapest way buy the
Venice Card is to order it online. You then print out your receipt/voucher
and use it to claim your card when you arrive in Venice.
Senior card holders are allowed to enter freely
Venice Casinos in Venice and Mestre.
You can purchase the Venice Card on line at:
http://www.venicecard.com/
MUSEUM CARDS
The ‘City Museums of St Mark’s Square’
combined ticket (11 euros) covers the entrance to the Doge’s Palace,
the Correr Museum, the Archaeological Museum and the Sansoviniana Library.
If you visit Ca’ Rezzonico, the same ticket (8 euros) will allow
you to see Ca’ Mocenigo, the museum of Ancient Costume.
CHURCH DRESS CODE
If you are planning on visiting some of the treasuries contained in the
Churches of Venice, make sure you will dress appropriately. They are considered
placeS of worship, so beachwear, shorts and sleeveless clothes are not allowed.
You must wear bermudas or skirts to the knee and must cover your shoulders.
At the entrance of the Basilica of St. Mark’s you can buy a pareo with 1 euro
PICTURES AND VIDEOS
Generally pictures, with or without flash, and videos are not allowed inside
museums or Churches, as all works of art are copyrighted.
BACK PACKS
When visiting Museums and some of the Venetian Churches, including the Basilica
of St. Mark’s, for security reasons you will be required to leave backpacks and
large bags by their cloackroom (no charge).
ACQUA ALTA (HIGH WATER)
From mid September to mid April the City is subject to floodings.
You can’t say in advance how many time it’ll flood as every year is different.
We can have 5 as well as50 or more floods in a year.
The acqua alta has always been a natural feature in Venetian life.
We have records of disastrous floods as early as in 1240, like this one, reporting
that "Today the water was the height of a man above the streets". Yet, in the last
Century the problem has worsened and the phenomenum presents itself more and more often,
expecially now that the Global Warming of the Earth makes the level of the waters rising.
It is a combination of seasonal tides and particular weather conditions
that causes the Acqua Alta. The lagoon is connected with the Adriatic sea, and therefore
the lagoon basin experiences two high tides and two low tides every day.
During high tide the sea flows in through the three port-mouths that provide
access to the lagoon; then, during ebb tide it flows back out into the Adriatic, carring refuse with it.
It is a southern, warm wind (scirocco) which alters the natural flowing of water. First it forces
the water of the Adriatic sea through the three port-mouths and then its constant blowing prevents
the water from flowing back out again. As Venetians, we have grown used to acqua alta.
In our own way, we are organized. We have our rubber boots, an alarm which sets off and can be
heard in the whole lagoon. And then all the gang-planks where people can walk on.
If you happen to be in Venice with a flooding, don’t stop on the
gang-planks to take pictures:
they are the only way to get to work for many locals!
SHOPPING: OPENING HOURS
Usually from 9:00/9:30 am to 7:30/8:00 pm. Groceries close from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm
TAX FREE
Visitors from non-European countries can claim a tax refund on purchases
that exceed 150 euros from the one shop. Most shop keepers will have the
tax-refund forms. The form is to be stamped by the airport custom office and
mailed upon leaving Europe. You can also get a cash refund (euros or US dollars)
in Venice from the appropriate office, yet you will still have to stamp
and mail the form from the airport (credit card guarantee is required)
POST OFFICE AND STAMPS
The main Rialto Post Office is open Monday to Saturday from
8:10 am to 7:00 pm. Other Post Offices usually close at 1:30 pm.
Stamps are also sold at tobacconists displaying a black-and-white bi “T” sign.
ATMS DISPENSERS CASH
Cashpoints are plentiful all over Venice, usually outside bank premises,
and allow you to withdraw money 24 hrs.
CREDIT CARDS
All the mayor Credit Cards (Visa, MasterCard, American Express)
are widely accepted in shops, hotels, restaurants
