Page 284 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Venice & The Veneto

282  SUR VIV AL GUIDE
GETTING AROUND VENICE

AND THE VENETO

Venice is a small city, and most of the main vaporetti is more affordable. The boats also
sights can be covered comfortably on foot. travel across the lagoon to the outlying
Cars are not allowed; instead pedestrians islands. For those in a hurry, a water taxi is
stroll the avenues and narrow passageways. the fastest means of travelling across Venice.
To avoid getting lost in the maze of alleys and Day trips to the Veneto can be made by train
squares, use the Street Finder (see pp288– or bus, and most of the cities can easily be
301). The iconic gondola is the most romantic explored on foot. For longer stays, a car
way to see the city from the canals and the is more practical, as it offers complete
lagoon. However, the excellent network of independence to enjoy the countryside.

Green Travel (administrative district) in which congested. An unwritten
Most Venetian motorboats and they fall rather than the street. Venetian rule is to keep to the
ferries run on diesel; however, A typical address might read, for right and avoid stopping on
efforts are under way to switch example, “San Marco 2517” or bridges and in narrow streets.
to a less polluting fuel. At least “Cannaregio 3499”. In order to However, most tourists never
one battery-operated vaporetto locate an address, therefore, it is venture beyond San Marco, so
is in service, and an eco-friendly essential to establish the name it may be little more than a
Alilaguna vaporetto offers trips of the actual street or square or, matter of minutes before you
to and from the airport (see fail ing that, the nearest landmark. find your self with only a few
p279). This boat was designed Do not hesitate to ask for locals for company.
to minimize wave damage assistance, as Venetians are You need to allow just
in the canals. very helpful. Translations 45 minutes to cross
Other cities in the Veneto are of Venetian words the city from north
served by large fleets of buses commonly used to south on foot –
powered by clean methane gas. in place names can provided you do
Car-hire companies Hertz and be found on p288. not lose your way,
Europcar (see p281) offer some though that is half
“ecological” vehicles with the fun. The Street
reduced CO2 emissions. Walking Finder and City maps
There are also a number of The absence of traffic in this guide will help you
bicycle tours that operate in the makes exploring An ornate Venetian find your way around.
Veneto. See local tourist offices Venice on foot a door knocker As the city is so
for details. great pleasure. Wear compact, you are
comfortable footwear as a day’s never far from the yellow signs
sightseeing can be tiring. You that give directions to the main
Finding Your Way will have to contend with the sights. Venice has countless
around Venice
constant flow of other tourists, campi (squares) that open out
Venice’s system of addresses can especially around San Marco from narrow alleys. Many of
be very confusing. All buildings and Rialto, where the narrow these are equipped with public
are numbered by the sestiere alleys become extremely benches, and weary tourists can
enjoy a drink in an open-air café.
In July and August, when
temperatures are at their
highest, avoid walking in the
middle of the day, unless you
have a broad-rimmed sunhat.
From October there is a risk of
high tides (acqua alta), which
cause flooding across the city,
starting with Piazza San Marco.
Duckboards are laid out in the
square, however, and along
main thoroughfares. If you are
not equipped with Wellington
boots, you can buy cheap
knee-high plastic shoe
A plethora of confusing signs in Cannaregio covers from local shops.

282-283_EW_Venice.indd 282 8/18/17 11:16 AM
Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Practical template “UK” LAYER
(Source v1.6)
Date 7th January 2013
Size 125mm x 217mm