Exploring Venice: a slow passeggiata a Venezia

These days have been very busy indeed! A lot of blog appointments and tasks, other than the usual writing and social managing work. First of all I had the chance of exploring Venice in a different way, when I was requested to test a smartphone app to get around Venice, called Ecco Venezia. You probably saw everything on Facebook and Instagram.

Then I attended a #wemeet, a precious occasion to meet other bloggers or pr specialists. I keep repeating that the best thing of blogging so far… are the people. You, who read the blog and follow the social accounts with interest, and some fellow bloggers, who truly are lovely. Sincere people, who share tips and techniques and help me out when I’m down. I feel so lucky for this.

Finally a press tour of Venice’s spirituality islands. I’ll explain everything about it soon in another post!

For now I just want to share some beautiful pics I had the chance to take while exploring Venice the other day, like a photo story of my passeggiata. I hope you’ll enjoy it.

Exploring Venice

It was the perfect spring day. Sunny, pleasantly warm, with a gentle refreshing breeze. One of the things I like the most when in Venice is to see happy couples hanging around. This couple was eating gelato next to the Guglie bridge.

Here and there, if you pay attention, you will always spot Veneto flags.

Eating al fresco

The weather is so pleasant that you can dine al fresco already, in a piazza, along a wide fondamenta or, as in the photo below, in a cute place like this.

San Marco

San Marco basilica was more beautiful than ever, finally free from scaffolding (OK, except for a tiny part on the right side), and therefore clean and bright against a deep blue sky.

Another couple was sitting across from it. How romantic!

Lively Venice

Strolling towards the Accademia I was impressed by the number of Venetians who actually “live” their piazze. The kids play outside with toys, balls, bikes and push scooters, while mothers and grandmothers carefully observe them sitting on a bench. Seniors male meet for an ombra, a little glass of wine, and discuss about politics or news. Students meet for an aperitivo. The atmosphere is very lively and cheerful.

Quaint and secret things

Never forget to look up from time to time and observe the beautiful Venetian windows, or take a peek into private gardens, which can often surprise you.

Another thing you have to see is close to campo San Barnaba, right next to the Ponte dei Pugni (where some scenes of Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade were shot) and it is the quaint boat greengrocer shop.

Quirk note. This is the first time I see it. Along a calle near campo San Barnaba I saw a box containing rolled sheets of paper. A sign notified: poem of the day, coins here.

Gondolieri in action

As you saw on Facebook, another funny thing I spotted was a gondoliere sitting right on a stone that displayed the writing: “NO STOPPING”.

Right next to him, two other gondolieri were passing by, transporting people. While the people were taking pictures and probably murmuring romantic phrases, the two gondolieri were chatting about their own business in Venetian dialect.

Rialto and its enchanted forest

After returning to the train station, a couple of photos to Rialto bridge, also free from scaffolding.

I particularly like the photo taken from a longer distance because, when I reached that point it, all those wooden poles seemed like a thick enchanted forest. It was so picturesque!