Posts by author Monica Cesarato
Venice at sunset. Photo: Photo by @canmandawe on Unsplash
When people think of Venice, the first three things that usually come to mind are water, gondolas, and crowds! Venice is a year-round city, with tourists filling the streets 365 days a year (and particularly during the summer). An obvious way to skip the crowds is to visit Venice during the winter when rain and » Read more
Visit the Accademia for incredible art. Photo: Tom Meyers
Venice, as everybody well knows, is one of the most expensive cities to visit in Europe. Hotels, restaurants and gondola rides can quickly and adversely affect your budget. So we decided to list 10 favorite activities that Venice offers for under €15. Who says Venice has to be expensive? Venice travel tips • The Best » Read more
A Vaporetto pulling into station. Photo: Tom Meyers
Transportation around Venice can be very expensive — and I’m not even talking about using water taxis, which have a pricing system (yikes!) of their own. I am talking about “public transportation,” which in Venice mostly means taking the vaporetti (water buses) up and down the Grand Canal. A single trip on a vaporetto costs €7.50 (valid for » Read more
Don't worry, you won't have to lug your luggage in Venice. Photo: Emiliano
You may have heard the recent head-scratching news that rocked Venice’s tourism scene last week. According to reports that shot around the Web on Friday, the city was (allegedly) set to impose fines on tourist who dared to roll through the streets with suitcases that feature hard plastic wheels. According to news reports, this new » Read more
Breakfast at Caffe Florian. Photo: Tracy Elaine
When I was asked about where to have a nice typical breakfast in Venice, I was a bit confused. Why? Well, in Italy we do not have breakfast, or at least we do not have breakfast the way other people usually have it. For a Venetian, morning calories are usually consumed in the form of » Read more
Taking in the Carnival for free in San Marco. Photo: Kevin H
By Monica Cesarato in Venice— Ah, the “Carnivale di Venezia,” an experience that should be had by every traveler at least once. Extravagant costumes, colorful masks, crowds dancing in Piazza San Marco, and special Carnival desserts that bars and cafés display proudly all make it unforgettable, and unique to Venice. What’s better is that many events » Read more
Christmas in Venice. Photo: Mdesisto
Christmas in the lagoon is, in my opinion, a privilege. During the holiday season, Venice is an enchanted and old-fashioned sight, minus the traffic jams and queues at shopping centers that plague most cities at this time of year. With so few tourists walking down the city’s quiet calli (small streets), this is the quietest » Read more
A Billa supermarket in Venice's Cannaregio neighborhood. Photo: Tom Meyers
Have you ever wandered around Venice after realizing that, say, you’ve run out of toothpaste, shampoo or body lotion? It can actually be a bit tricky to locate a supermarket amidst the winding alleys of the old city. Well, even if you haven’t run out of toothpaste, I’m pretty sure that it’s helpful to make » Read more
A ship model in the Naval History Museum. Photo by Kevin H.
By Monica Cesarato in Venice— Whenever people visit Venice, they often visit the city’s best known museums, including the Doge’s Palace, the Galleria dell’Accademia, the Peggy Guggenheim Collection and the Palazzo Grassi. However, because of their popularity, these museums are often very crowded and have long lines that can fatigue even the most tireless Cheapo. » Read more
A picturesque traghetto ride. Photos by Monica Cesarato.
Venice is sometimes called “the living museum” and even though I do not agree with the statement, I do realize that it can be a bit, well, “boring” for children. All those old buildings, monuments and crowds of tourists can be a bit daunting for younger visitors. Still, there are many things to do with » Read more
The flavors at Gelateria Quanto Basta. Photos by Monica Cesarato.
Finding the best gelaterias in Venice was undoubtedly some of the best research I’ve done for a blog post! It was hard work, but someone had to do it. Armed with determination (and a few companions), I started my search for good ice cream shops in Venice. When I mean good, I mean places that use real » Read more
Padova's Basilica del Santo. Photos by Monica Cesarato
If you are visiting Venice and you have a day to spare, you should add to your travel itinerary the beautiful city of Padova (Padua). Padova is closer to Venice than many think—only about a half-hour by train or an hour by bus. Padova is famous for having been home to Saint Anthony, a Franciscan » Read more
Photo: Dimitris Kamaras
Whenever I am in Venice, I always try to take a walk through the Jewish Ghetto. I’ve always found this area quite fascinating. It may be its history, it may be that it is always fairly free of tourists, or it may be some other reason. In any case, whenever I am there it just feels right. » Read more
The Strada Nuova in Venice. Photos by Monica Cesarato.
While there are plenty of cities in Europe with many free museums and attractions to visit, Venice is sadly not one of them. The city’s economy is based on tourism, hence you’ll find that almost everything comes with a price tag attached. Though Venice may seem to be a less than ideal location for the » Read more
Cicheti at a restaurant in Venice. Photos by Monica Cesarato.
Visitors to Venice will likely see their fair share of “cicheti” (a Venetian version of tapas) and “spritz” (the city’s typical aperitif drink). For those who’ve never heard of them, here’s a little guide to trying cicheti and spritz in Venice. (Note: Although spelled “cicchetti” in Italian, the word in the Venetian dialect is spelled » Read more
Dinner at Trattoria Pizzeria La Rosa dei Venti. Photos by Monica Cesarato
It is true that the average meal in Venice is much more expensive than in the rest of Italy. There is a simple reason for this: All the restaurant supplies have to be carried by hand to each restaurant, therefore increasing the cost of ingredients and supplies by at least 1/3 of normal prices. But, » Read more
