Many people try to see Venice in a day.  Time and money are often short when you’re traveling, so you want to get to as many places as you can.  You really shouldn’t see Venice just in daylight…. a day and a night maybe.  Or two nights and a day.

Venice really is a small town.  You can walk right across it from the train depot to St. Mark’s Square in less than an hour… but that would be if you were just walking and not looking, and what you really want to do is stroll and SEE Venice…. La Serenissima herself is the main attraction.

The first time we went to Venice, we arrived by train at night and stayed near the train station.  As soon as we settled in, we hit the street and started walking.  To see Venice by street light is magical.  Narrow winding streets….  Blue and red stripped "barber poles" holding boats and gondolas on the canals….  Little arching bridges to cross…. 

Don’t worry too much about your direction or getting lost…. Follow those signs that say "Per Rialto"  or "Per St. Mark’s"… (Per Rialto means the direction for Rialto Bridge; Per St. Mark’s means… well, you get it…).  Sometimes the signs "Per St. Mark’s" point in BOTH directions…. isn’t that wonderful!  Wander where you want!  All of the day trippers have gone home in the evening, and the narrow streets are all yours and so romantic!

Do what we did and wander all the way to St. Mark’s Square.  If you don’t want to spring for an expensive drink at one of the cafes on the square, buy a gelato on a side street, then stand in the square and enjoy the dueling orchestras playing sentimental old favorites.

In the morning, try to see St. Mark’s Basilica and the Doge’s Palace.  You probably won’t have time to go up the Campanile for the view with only a day, but it’s your choice…. if you only have a day, you’ll be back.

Stroll the streets, shopping along the way.  There are lots of wonderful expensive things to buy in Venice, but there are some affordable Italian fashions too…  and what better, easily packable souvenir could you ask for than some flamboyant Italian creation?

Find a table at one of the restaurants along the Grand Canal with a view of the Rialto Bridge for lunch.  Yes, it’s touristy… it has been touristy for centuries, so you are in good company.

In the afternoon try to sample some of the art… at the Church of the Frari or the Scuola Grande di San Rocco.  Or if you’re interested in the history of Venice, you could venture into the Museo Correr.  If you want to see one of the grand palazzi that line the Grand Canal, see the Ca’ Rezzonico, the museum of 19th century Venice.

When you get all the way to one end of Venice, take a vaporetto to the other end… you’ll never tire of seeing Venice from the water, watching all those palazzi glide by.  It takes on a different look in the morning, in the afternoon, at night.

Choose a romantic canal-side restaurant for dinner… or a wonderful little trattoria down an alley.  Take a gondola ride before or after dinner.  Who cares if it’s touristy?  Your gondolier will sing for you, tell you where Marco Polo lived… and you’ll love it. 

Go to a concert in the evening… there are chamber orchestras all over vying for your money.  Or just go back to St. Mark’s square and listen to those dueling orchestras again. 

Two nights and a day will let you see Venice in the short time you have… and by having one or two nights there, you’ll be able to savor it with fewer crowds….. how romantic!

You must experience Venice.  Don’t listen to anyone who tells you it isn’t worth visiting, that it’s a tourist trap, that it smells. 

Venice is romantic whether you go with a lover or a friend.  It’s one of those cities that is charming and small and begs to be explored.  There are no streets, at least for cars.  The only way to get around Venice is by foot or a boat of some sort.  Doesn’t that take you back in time and bring out the romantic in you?  Don’t settle for stories from your travel friends or pictures in a book, go and experience Venice for yourself.

But isn’t it crowded? 

Yes, Venice seems crowded… How could it not be?  It’s one of the most popular destinations in Europe (with good reason we think).  The crowds are compressed into the narrow streets, and there will be many more tourists during the day and the summer.  Try to visit Venice in the spring or fall… or even winter, and you’ll find fewer crowds.  The number of tourists may be smaller than for London or Paris, but those visitors are sharing what is really a small town.

Don’t the canals stink?

I can’t speak for the height of summer, but in the shoulder seasons, we’ve never found that the canals stink.  We love strolling along them, taking the vaportti (the boats that serve as buses in Venice) or having a glass of wine at a canal side restaurant.

Isn’t it a city full of just tourists?

Yes, it is… but look at it this way… it’s been a city for and full of tourists for centuries!  A century or two ago, a young gentleman’s "Grand Tour" wasn’t complete without time spent in Venice.

Isn’t Venice sinking?

Yes again.  St. Mark’s Basilica is only two feet above sea level.  That’s the lowest part of town.  It’s the first to flood, and if you go in the winter, you might just see where they put boardwalks down for locals and tourists to get around.  Even during the dry seasons, you will see the lagoon lapping up over the steps on the docks at St. Mark’s at high tide.  There are major efforts by Italy and the world to save Venice because it is such a special place for all of us.

So do we have you convinced that you should ignore all those nay sayers?  That you’ll fall in love with the city if you go and experience Venice?  Think of the iconic things there are to see and do in Venice…. You really need to add them to your travel experiences.

Take a vaporetto on the Grand Canal.  There is nothing like a journey down that frenetic "S" shaped waterway to make you know that you’re traveling… and traveling someplace special.

Get off the vaporetto at St. Mark’s Square and just absorb the sight of St. Mark’s Basilica and the Doge’s Palace.  Feel the grandeur of St. Mark’s Square… and of course dodge the pigeons!

Walk the narrow streets to the Rialto Bridge.  Yes, you might get lost… at least a little, but all streets really do lead to Rialto or St. Mark’s, so getting lost is part of the fun.

Venice is the sort of city that should be savored.  There are so many things to see and do, but you can also fall in love with Venice without touring madly.  Just stroll around, sit and observe, enjoy La Serenissima for what she is… a grand small city that shouldn’t be missed.  Oh yes, you must experience Venice….. really. 

See Rome In A Day?  It’s called the Eternal City.  Eternal means "lasting or existing forever".

While Rome hasn’t necessarily existed forever, it has been around for a very, very long time.  There are layers and layers to see.  Do you want to see ancient sights, religious centers, or medieval and modern Rome?  

When you’re contemplating a visit… your first visit… all you can hope to do is see the highlights… SOME of the highlights.  You’re going to have to limit yourself if all you have is a day or even two.  You can get a good overview of all the layers of the city if you plan it right. 

Good guidebooks will give you specific information about what buses and subway lines to catch… and you’ll need to have this planned out in advance to make any plan to see Rome in a day work.

To get a feel for the Imperial City, start at the Piazza del Campidoglio on the summit of Capitoline Hill.  Around this ancient sacred site are a couple of museums that you should see… someday, but not on this trip.  Walk around the corner of the Town Council (the Senatorium) for a panoramic view of the Forum.  Dying to go in, aren’t you?  Check out the statues in the piazza and make due with the panoramic view if all you have is a day!

Leaving Capitoline Hill, walk east along the Via dei Fori Imperiali.  Here you can get a little closer look at the Forum.  It’s a good vantage point to get some photos and at least get a feel for the size of what has been uncovered.

At the end of this walk, you’ll arrive at the Colosseum, and you can see the Arch of Constantine.  Don’t linger though, there are more modern layers of Rome to sample. Take a cab, bus or subway to Vatican City.  Squeeze in a lunch on the run or at a little cafe somewhere in between.

You can check the lines for the Vatican Museum.  If you’re REALLY lucky, the line won’t be too long, and you can try to make a quick visit.  You’ll have to dash through… glance at most of the master’s paintings, and make your way to the Sistine Chapel. 

Even that will take you a couple of hours.  You might be able to sidestep the lines by paying for a guided tour right there in front of St Peter’s.  If the lines are too long, and you can’t find a tour, settle for seeing St. Peter’s Basilica.  Climb the dome to get a great view of the Piazza.  (If you DO get into the museum, you can see St. Peter’s, but you won’t have time to climb the dome.)

No time to stop… you’re seeing Rome in a day, right?  Now head for the Pantheon.  It stays open until 7:30 Monday-Saturday.  After a quick visit to this ancient monument, wander around the corner to the Piazza Navona for a romantic place to have dinner. 

Before you choose one of the open air restaurants, wander around the piazza.  Used for chariot races in ancient times, the piazza is now graced by Bernini’s Fountain of the Four Rivers and medieval churches.  With the modern restaurants, you’ll be dining with three layers of Rome around you.

After dinner, catch a cab to the Spanish Steps or the Trevi Fountain.  After you’ve seen one, you can walk though some of the oldest streets in Rome to the other.  Grab a gelato on the way. 

So have you seen Rome in a day?  No, but now you know you’ll be back.

About Florence

Florence is the capital city of Tuscany ; it is located in the north-central part of Italy, between Rome and Milan. Florence, for many reasons, is the ideal place to learn Italian or to improve your knowledge of the language.

Florence is famous for its wealth of fine art and architecture. Known worldwide as the cradle of renaissance, Florence takes pride in the history of its monuments, old world architecture, and pristine cathedrals and churches.

Known for the contribution of its citizens to the Arts and Sciences, Florence is a place that delights its visitors. Their legacy can be admired in its museums, Galleria degli Uffizi, one of the largest museums of the world, Galleria dell’Accademia, where the famous David by Michelangelo is located, churches and cathedrals, Orsanmichele, Duomo – Santa Maria del Fiore and Baptistery – two of the oldest monuments of Florence, and squares, Piazza della Signoria, one of the political hubs of Florence for centuries where many famous sculptures are located. The hotel Florence is tourists favorite beacuse it is close to all the important places

Tourist attractions in Florence, my favorites

• The Accademia Gallery

Michelangelo’s David stands self-assured above the crowds that flock to admire him. In the hallway leading up to the famous sculpture are further examples of Michelangelo’s genius in the figures of the four Prisoners.

• Ponte Vecchio

Best known of all Florence’s treasures, this glorious bridge was the only one of six spared by the retreating Germans on 4 August 1944. Over the centuries flooding unfortunately took its toll; few traces of the 10th-century bridge remain. Today’s bridge, built in 1345, was filled with butcher’s shops which would routinely discard the carcasses into the Arno causing quite a stench.

• Santa Maria del Carmine

Santa Maria del Carmine is a church of the Carmelite Order, in the Oltrarno district of Florence, in Tuscany, Italy. It is famous as the location of the Brancacci Chapel housing outstanding Renaissance frescoes by Masaccio and Masolino da Panicale, later finished by Filippino Lippi.

Hotels

You can find a good Florence hotel close to all the important places for € 60.

Safety

Florence is generally safe, but take precautions against the opportunistic thieves common to major tourist attractions – pickpockets and purse snatchers. If you have a pocketbook with a classy, noiseless zipper, it will be opened.

Italy is the home of La Dolce Vita – the life that celebrates happiness and beauty.

Situated in Mediterranean Europe, Italy is one of the most beautiful countries in the world. Practically every town in Italy has numerous churches, squares, museums and art galleries. Villages have their own charm, with characteristic streets, artisan’s workshops and family-run trattorie.

Italy attracts the travelers who wants endless cultural attractions. All main centers, most of the provincial cities and many quite small towns have museums. The ancient monuments and archeological sites are perfectly preserved.

What cities to visit in Italy

Rome

In Rome you well find one of the most famous places:Vatican, Pantheon, Piazza di Spagna, Colosseum, Forum, Capitol. Visiting Rome is a must.

Milan

Milan is famous for the cutting edge design and shopping tours.

Florence

Florence is a must for vintage lovers and stylists: clothes, a dance floor and a bar opened until late.

Attracted by the charming Italy atmosphere? Willing to escape in a place always blessed by the mild weather, sun and light? Interested in discovering the most famous and beautiful monuments of the world such as the Colosseum and the Trevi Fountain? Then you are ready to plan your trip to Rome, the most popular and beautiful historical city in the world!

And BeatRome.com is here to help you and assist you in finding the best accommodation for your stay, whether your are looking for a Rome apartment, a luxury hotel or a bed and breakfast in Rome.

With its ample and constantly updated list of the best apartments in Rome, hotels and bed and breakfasts and the easy to use maps of the city you’ll have no problems in finding the best accommodation for you – and you’ll even be also able to book your stay securely and quickly with PayPal.