Wet in Venice

I'm not here for the weather, that's for sure! This is the view from the window of my hotel room, which I've chosen not for its historical location but guaranteed comfort and easy access from the airport. But I soon get to know the excellent vaporetto (water bus) service, which glides around the waterways at 65 euros (about £60) for a seven-day pass. It's fascinating to see that commercial business from on-line deliveries to rubbish collection, can't be conducted by lorry or van, but by boat. The city still suffers from floods but less so since the large barrier was completed a few years ago and to help with maintenance costs, there's a daily tourist tax.

The first couple of days are spent ignoring the hotspots but exploring the quiet backwaters. Venice is divided into "sestiere" (comparable to boroughs), the nearest of which is Dorsoduro. One of its churches, San Nicolo, featured in the 1973 film "Don't Look Now" in which the Donald Sutherland character, an artwork restorer, has an accident and nearly falls off the scaffolding. These days it's more peaceful, although photography of the beautiful paintings inside is not allowed. Another impressive district is Cannaregio, site of the former ghetto (which gave its name to similar places around the world) with metal plaques commemorating those who were transported to the death camps in the 1940s.

Although the Rialto itself is beloved of selfie-takers, even within a few streets of it, quiet corners abound. Not all the residents are pleased, however.... Czytaj więcej