What is interesting in Lido Venice. Lido Island - an ancient outpost of Venice
The Lido is one of the 117 islands that surround Venice and is 17 km away. It is, in fact, the beach area of the city. And in translation from Italian, the name of the island means "beach". Therefore, the island is correctly called Lido di Venezia - that is, the beach of Venice. It is here that you should come to relax from the eternally noisy and crowded Venice. You can also admire it from the island itself, sitting in beautiful cafes overlooking the Venetian lagoon and Venice itself. The Lido Island serves as the protection of Venice from the waters of the Adriatic Sea.
The Lido is divided into three regions: Lido, Malamocco and Alberoni. The central street, or promenade of Grand Viale Santa Maria, Santa Maria Elisabeth connects the boat station with the municipal (free) beach.
The northern part of the Lido hosts the International Venice Film Festival every August. The stretch of land between the Des Bains and Excelsior hotels during the festival becomes a place of hunting and battle for world-famous movie stars. In the first, Des Bains, rooms for celebrities are reserved, in the second, there is a film screening. The Excelsior Hotel was built in a modern Moorish style specifically for the rest of the sheikhs, so it even has its own minaret. The mansions and ancient villas of the beginning are located in the alleys off the Gran Viale. Like Venice, the Lido is traversed by many canals.
The most historical sights are in the north-eastern part of the Lido island - Alberoni. Here are the church and the fortress of St. Nicholas, San Nicolo - the patron saint of sailors. The fortress served as an outpost of the island at the entrance to the Adriatic Sea, the Strait of San Nicolò. The church once belonged to a Benedictine monastery; according to legend, there are the remains of Nicholas the Wonderworker himself, allegedly taken from the city of Mir in Lycia. True, the inhabitants of Bari believe that the remains are with them. According to the latest data, the relics of St. Nicholas are both on Bari and on the Lido.
The island of Lido is also associated with the ceremony of the betrothal of Venice to the sea, a costumed ritual on the occasion of the feast of the reconciliation of the papacy with the emperor. Reconciliation took place in 1177 with the signing of a peace treaty between Pope Alexander III, the Doge of Venice, Sebastian Dziani, and Emperor Frederick Barbarossa. The peace treaty put an end to a century-long feud. Then the Pope suggested quitting Golden ring doge at sea, which he did. Then this ritual began to be repeated every year - a consecrated ring was thrown into the sea with the words: "We marry you, sea." The ritual began in Venice, on St. Mark's Square, then the doge with his retinue on a golden boat, the buchintoro sailed to the Lido island, where the ring was thrown into the water. After the ring was thrown into the sea, the doges went to the church of San Nicolò for a festive mass.
Now the role of the doge is played by the mayor of the city of Venice, he does not throw the ring into the sea, but he holds a holiday on the pier near the church every year in the month of May.
If you walk along Via Cipro towards the center of Lido, you will come to the Jewish cemetery, founded in the 14th century. The cemetery is surrounded by cypress trees and is open to the public.
Malamocco is the central and most deserted part of the Lido island with a dark history. The square and a few quiet streets - that's the whole Malamocco area. Long ago, in 810, Pepin's army was defeated here, the dead soldiers of which were buried quicksand this part of the island. And a narrow piece of the lagoon nearby is nothing but Canal Orfano, where the prisoners sentenced to death of the Doge's Palace were thrown.
But the dark times have passed, the once formidable fortifications of the island were destroyed, and Lido became a place of refuge for poets and writers. Romantic solitude was sought here by Byron, Musset, Gauthier, Thomas Mann. Our Sergey Yesenin was here too. Over the past decades, the Lido has become resort town Italy, where there are many hotels, villas, shops, green parks, beautiful beaches.
The beaches belonging to hotels are especially good, the only negative is that they are paid. There are also 2 free beaches - San Nicolò and Alberoni, but they are not very clean. All beaches are sandy, with a gentle entry into the water. The Adriatic Sea is almost always warm here. Some streets on the Lido, just like in Venice, are crossed by canals, which makes the Lido a little like it. There is a big difference from Venice - there is ground transport: cars and bicycles.
As in any resort place, Lido has all the conditions for a night out: bars and discos, gambling clubs and cinemas. Local restaurants will offer you a Mediterranean menu, since the sea is right there. And this means that there simply cannot be stale fish and seafood here.
The most interesting and entertaining is in Alberoni. There are discos, a golf club, restaurants, and the beaches here are the cleanest of the entire Lido island. The 18-hole golf course here is considered the best in Europe. In this area, the actual territory of the island ends.
To get to, or rather, to swim to the Lido, it is best to take a vaporetto, such a large pleasure boat. Travel time is only 12-15 minutes, a boat departs from San Marco Square in Venice, as well as from railway station and boat stations of the Grand Canal. Arrives at the pier of Lido Island. From the pier, after knowing the schedule, you can go to neighboring islands Burano, Murano and Marco Polo Airport.
Lido di Jesolo is not the most fashionable resort in Italy, but next to it are two of the most romantic cities in the world - Venice and Verona. It is for them that it is worth visiting these parts at least once.
Lido di Jesolo - resort coast on the Adriatic Sea near Venice. It is located in the very north of Italy. Lido di Jesolo is a continuous strip of wide sandy beaches with a smooth, gently sloping coast and small towns along the coast. The resort became popular among tourists quite recently - in the 60s of the last century.
A strip of beaches on Lido di Jesolo, Italy
Mostly families with children and those who want to combine a beach holiday with a visit to Venice, Verona, and the famous mountain lakes of Italy - Como and Garda rest here. The resort has several good amusement parks, well-developed infrastructure and very affordable prices.
Aqualandia Park on Lido di Jesolo, Italy How to get to Venice and Lido di Jesolo?
Lido di Jesolo has a well-developed transport network, local buses run along the entire coast, connecting the resort with the cities of Padua, Milan, Venice and others. The easiest way to get to Lido di Jesolo is from Venice. If you do not plan to visit other regions of Italy, then you should buy a direct flight to Venice (Marco Polo Airport).
Venice from a bird's eye view. Italy There is a regular direct connection with Moscow, carriers Aeroflot and Alitalia. You can see the Aeroflot flight schedule. Venice is also connected by regular year-round flights to other European cities. It is possible to fly to Venice from Rome and Naples, but such a flight will most likely cost you more than a direct one. Full list airlines and routes to Venice can be viewed.
Marco Polo Airport in Venice, Italy From Marco Polo airport to Venice or nearby areas (including the Lido di Jesolo coast) can be reached in several ways. The easiest and most expensive is a taxi. You can place an order directly at the airport at special desks or call the number indicated, however, in this case you must be fluent in English.
The waiting room at Marco Polo Airport, Venice. Italy Eat bus service. You can get to Venice itself, to Lido di Jesolo, Lignano, Bibione and the Dolomites. Find a detailed schedule. Tickets can be bought at special kiosks and offices directly at the airport building, or from the bus driver (not for all routes).
Location map of kiosks and ticket machines at Venice Marco Polo Airport Another mode of transport is the water bus. On it you will reach Venice or its islands Murano, Burano and Lido. The ticket can be bought at the boat station or directly on board the water bus.
To find the station, you need to exit the arrivals hall through the central door, on the left you will see a long covered passage that will take you straight to the pier. There you will also find many small private water taxi companies.
Water bus from Venice, Italy If you wish, you can rent a car right at the airport. If you plan to rest directly in Venice or on its islands, then there is no need for a car, since Venice is walking city, and the car will be of little use to you.
If you are going to the coast of Lido di Jesolo and are planning not only a beach, but also an active sightseeing vacation then it makes sense to think about renting a car.
Bus at Venice Marco Polo Airport, Italy Pros and cons of staying on Lido di Jesolo
Lido di Jesolo - typical beach resort. This is a continuous strip of hotels, beaches and all kinds of entertainment for tourists. Here you will not find historical quarters and quiet romantic places.
Rest here is more like the Black Sea coast at the height of summer: the carcasses of vacationers on the beach, sleepy tourists, children's squealing and other joyful vacation fuss.
Beach at Lido di Jesolo, Italy But from Lido di Jesolo very close to Venice, Verona, Dolomites and Lake Garda. If you wish, you can relatively quickly get to Padua, Florence and Milan, swim to Croatia or San Marino (only 150-170 km by ferry).
Embankment in Lido di Jesolo, Italy Prices for Lido di Jesolo do not bite. Rest here can be called economical in comparison with other regions of Italy. If you are used to luxury holidays, then Lido di Jesolo is not your option, Venice itself or the Lido Island (see below) are more suitable for you. But for those who are ready for a moderate level of service for reasonable money, Lido di Jesolo is ideal.
Street in Lido di Jesolo, Italy An important feature of Lido di Jesolo is the very short summer season. Unlike other beach areas in Italy, Lido di Jesolo can be quite cool in May and September, with frequent rains and strong winds.
In June, there are more sunny days, but sometimes there are cold snaps, especially at the beginning. The most suitable months for a summer beach holiday are July and September. It was at this time that Lido di Jesolo has the most comfortable water and air temperature, but the peak of the influx of tourists falls on these same months.
Lido di Jesolo at night, Italy Pros and cons of staying in Venice. Where to stay in Venice - center or surroundings?
You can stop directly in Venice if you are planning only a sightseeing holiday, or combine your trip so that you spend a few days in Venice and then go to the coast.
Two or three nights spent directly in Venice will allow you to see what you will never see during a formal sightseeing tour.
Venice, Italy By the number of architectural masterpieces, Venice occupies one of the first places in the world. Historical buildings and quarters are in excellent condition here, so you will see Venice exactly as Petrarch and Goethe, Casanova and Princess Tarakanova, Gumilyov, Bunin, and many others saw it.
Moreover, Venice during the day and Venice at night looks like two completely different cities. During the day it is a bright and dynamic city, filled with the sounds of street trading, the splash of gondoliers' oars, and the noise of the crowd. It seems that this is not a city, but an anthill, in which movement does not stop for a minute.
Street Venice Italy At night, Venice seems mysterious and mystical. Street lighting, the reflection of numerous lights in the canals, the blurry boundaries of the embankments create a feeling of loss in space, everything becomes unsteady and floating. The atmosphere of daily bustle in numerous cafes and on the embankments changes to romance and lazy fatigue.
Venice at night, Italy It should be noted that Venice is one of the most expensive places for relax. The cost of living, dinner in a restaurant or travel through the center by transport here will be several times more expensive than in neighboring cities.
If you wish, you can find places to eat and travel options at a relatively inexpensive price, but there you will find indispensable queues and not very comfortable conditions, so in terms of price-quality ratio, you still have the feeling that you overpaid for the service a little.
Pier in Venice, Italy The second feature of Venice is water. Of course, Venice is famous for being the only city on the water. The romance of gondoliers, the beauty of local canals, charming old houses and beautiful medieval palazzios - all this is sung in literature and advertising booklets more than once, and this is what attracts us so much in Venice.
Entrance to Danieli Hotel, Venice, Italy But you will have to put up with the smell of dampness in the rooms, the smell of blooming water in the canals (this phenomenon occurs periodically, especially in spring and early summer), and the cramped pedestrian sidewalks.
On a hot night, you are unlikely to open the window in your hotel room. In addition, sometimes houses are so close to each other that leaving windows open is simply not comfortable.
Street restaurant in Venice Italy In the midst tourist season Venice can look pretty dirty. Due to the influx of tourists, city services simply do not have time to put things in order (however, this remark is typical for all cities in Italy, so garbage can be considered a local feature and not bother with this issue.)
Canal in Venice, Italy Despite all of the above, Venice is definitely worth seeing at least once in a lifetime. No trifles and everyday inconveniences can spoil her charm and beauty.
If you want to combine a beach holiday with frequent sightseeing, you can stay on the Lido Island - here you will find beautiful sandy beaches, an excellent guesthouse, and the center of Venice at any time can be reached in just 20 minutes by speedboat.
Lido di Venezia Italy Celebrities and local wealthy citizens love to relax on the Lido. During the period of the Venice Film Festival (in September), the bulk of the guests and stars of the festival live here, so it’s simply unrealistic to book anything to stay at the Lido in early autumn - all local hotels traditionally leave places for visiting celebrities.
And rest during the festival cannot be called comfortable - prices here skyrocket, many cafes and restaurants are closed for individual service.
Hotel Excelsior, Lido Island, Venice, Italy The main attractions of Venice
Piazza San Marco
San Marco - central square cities. The remaining squares of Venice are called campo and campiello (glades and platforms). San Marco can be called calling card Venice. The square acquired its modern look in the 17th century, but some buildings here are much older.
For example, the pavement was laid out in the 13th century, and the clock tower was built at the end of the 15th century.
Napoleon called Piazza San Marco "the living room of all Europe." According to the number of attractions Piazza San Marco is the main place in the city.
Piazza San Marco, Venice, Italy St. Mark's Cathedral
Basilica di San Marco is the main cathedral of Venice. It was founded back in the 10th century, when the Venetians literally stole the relics of St. Mark from Egypt and decided to build a separate temple to store them.
The act, of course, is unseemly, but the goal was noble - to save the sacred Christian relics from the hands of the Gentiles, the Muslim Saracens, who at that time owned Alexandria.
In general, it must be said that in the Middle Ages, European city-states quite actively practiced stealing the relics of various saints in order to save them from destruction, and at the same time raise the status of their city in the eyes of other Christians and the Roman Church.
Cathedral of Saint Mark in Venice, Italy St. Mark's Cathedral served as a starting point for the Crusades for many centuries. Venetian doges were crowned in it and historical (by the standards of Venice) masses were held in it.
The main celebrations and festivities of the Venetian Republic, including the famous Venetian carnival, took place on the square in front of the Cathedral. The beauty and richness of the interiors of the cathedral fully justifies its status.
Interior of Basilica San Marco in Venice Italy The Cathedral of San Marco was originally built as the main church of the city, so the best architects of that time were involved in the construction, including Byzantine architects, who had no equal in skill in the early Middle Ages.
San Marco was built in the image and likeness of the Hagia Sophia in Constantinople. True, in subsequent centuries it was expanded and completed several times, but the main elements of the Byzantine style are clearly visible even now.
Domes of St. Mark's Basilica, Venice, Italy The main altar of the Cathedral of San Marco, which houses the relics of St. Mark, is covered with gilding and precious stones, and its frame is made of silver, decorated with enamel and inlays.
There is so much marble, gilding, precious and semi-precious stones in the decoration of the interior of the temple that the Cathedral of San Marco used to be called “golden”, and in terms of richness of decoration it had no equal in Europe.
Main altar of Saint Mark's Basilica, Venice, Italy Doge's Palace
The Doge's Palace is the residence of the Venetian rulers and one of the most recognizable buildings in Venice. Gothic and Moorish style are so skillfully intertwined in its architecture that the building, despite its strict geometric contours and rather impressive dimensions, seems to soar above the embankment.
Like St. Mark's Cathedral, the Doge's Palace was built in such a way that the power and might of the Venetian Republic could be seen in everything. There is also a lot of gilding and marble, everywhere you can see the figures of a winged lion - the symbol of St. Mark, the patron saint of Venice.
The walls are decorated with frescoes by Titian, Veronese and Tintoretto, as well as paintings by Hieronymus Bosch. Stored here unique map the world of the famous Venetian Marco Polo, on which the territory modern Russia designated as Great Tartaria, stretching from Pacific Ocean to the Caspian Sea.
Doge's Palace, Venice, Italy In addition to the front rooms in the Doge's Palace, there are secret rooms - rooms for torture and detention of state criminals, who in the Middle Ages were judged and interrogated by the "Council of Ten" - the Venetian analogue of the court of the Holy Inquisition.
Among others, among the prisoners of the secret rooms are Giordano Bruno, who was burned at the stake by the Inquisition, and the famous Casanova - by the way, the only prisoner who managed to escape from prison; before him, escape from the prisons of the Doge's Palace was considered impossible.
Prison in the Doge's Palace, Venice, Italy Excursions to the Doge's Palace can be booked. The Doge's Palace is open for visits all year round from 8:30 to 19:00 (from November to the end of March, the opening time is reduced to 17:30), ticket offices close an hour earlier. on Catholic Christmas and New Year(December 25 and January 1) The palace is closed to visitors.
Interior rooms of the Doge's Palace, Venice, Italy Bridge of Sighs
Despite beautiful name The Bridge of Sighs has a rather sad history. The bridge connects the Doge's Palace with the premises of the former casemate. After the trial, those sentenced to imprisonment were taken to the cells along this bridge.
Here, the prisoners could look out the window at the sunlight for the last time, since the conditions in the local prison were so harsh that almost none of the prisoners lived to the end of their term.
Therefore, at a farewell glance at Venice, the unfortunate people let out a deep sad sigh. They say that here you can still hear the sighs of the unfortunate, who said goodbye to life many centuries ago.
Bridge of Sighs, Venice, Italy At present, the sad story of the bridge is somewhat brightened up by a new, more romantic legend. It is believed that the kiss of lovers on the bridge at midnight will make their love able to overcome any obstacles.
And if you merge in a kiss, swimming under the bridge, then the lovers will certainly get married and live a long happy life in marriage. In the evenings, on the canal leading to the Bridge of Sighs, a huge queue of gondolas lined up in which lovers sit.
Wedding photo session near the Bridge of Sighs, Venice, Italy Church of Santa Maria della Salute
Santa Maria della Salute is located opposite the Doge's Palace. People call it the "plague" because it was built in honor of the deliverance of the city from the plague, which claimed a third of the population of Venice in the 17th century. The name of the church is translated as Holy Mary Healing.
Church of Santa Maria della Salute, Venice, Italy The church was erected for more than half a century - the building was designed so grandiose that the builders could not strengthen the foundation sufficient to withstand the massive structure of the church.
As a result, over a hundred thousand beams of valuable tree species were used to build the foundation. Given the luxurious interior decoration, the construction of the temple, the construction of the temple cost the city a very round sum.
Interior of the Church of Santa Maria della Salute, Venice, Italy Every year on November 21 on the Catholic day Holy Mother of God a kind of floating bridge is being built from gondolas tightly fitted to each other, along which locals arrange a religious procession from Piazza San Marco to the church in honor of the miraculous deliverance from the epidemic.
Celebration of the Day of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Santa Maria della Salute, Venice, Italy Correr Museum
The Correr Museum is the private art collection of the Venetian Teodoro Correro, which he bequeathed to his city in 1830 after his death. The collection is the richest treasury of works of art, antiquities and artistic canvases.
Together in the collection Correr bequeathed and ancient palace San Zan Degola. Subsequently, the exposition was expanded by donations of valuable items from other townspeople and monasteries.
Carrer Museum, Venice, Italy In the 19th century, a separate building was built under the Correr Museum on Piazza San Marco. Today the exposition of the museum is one of the most impressive in the world.
The museum has many themed rooms, including an exposition of Venetian costumes, an art gallery with works by Titian, Durer, Bellini and others, the history of the Venetian Republic, a collection of weapons and armor, and much more.
Entrance to Correr Museum, Venice, Italy The museum is open from 10:00 to 19:00 (on winter time until 18:00), ticket offices close an hour early. Price entrance ticket for adults - 16 euros. Discounts are provided for pensioners, schoolchildren and students. You can buy tickets, as well as learn more about the museum's exposition.
Work by Francesco Guardi at the Carrera Museum, Venice, Italy Grand Canal (Grand Canal)
The Grand Canal is, one might say, the "main street" of Venice. A walk along the Grand Canal is included in the mandatory excursion list when visiting the city. The buildings built along the banks of the canal date back to the period of the 12th-17th centuries.
For the most part, these are the houses of the most famous and wealthy citizens, so it is on the banks of the Grand Canal that the largest number of palaces is concentrated.
Grand Canal, Venice, Italy To see the Grand Canal in all its splendor, it is worth taking a gondola. The pleasure is not cheap, but to visit Venice and not ride on a gondola is unforgivable. Keep in mind that many gondoliers are not just carriers.
Among them there are real "showmen" who, during the voyage, will guide you small excursion, will tell Interesting Facts about history, sing a couple of songs and will certainly tell at least one of local legends. So when choosing a gondola, choose a driver who is more active - you will not regret it.
Gondoliers on the Grand Canal, Venice, Italy Murano Island
Murano is one of the island districts of Venice, on which the museum of the famous Murano glass is located. Since the 12th century, this particular island has been reserved for glassblowing workshops, since glass production was extremely flammable. To protect the city from accidental fires, all glassblowers had to practice their craft here.
Murano glass making process, Venice, Italy The island has a museum of the history of Murano glass making. The museum is open every day except Wednesday. You can learn more about the schedule of work and the exposition of the museum. In the numerous craft shops on the island and in the store at the museum, you can find amazingly beautiful handmade Murano glass products.
Murano glass decoration, Venice, Italy Burano Island
Venice has become famous for its lace makers since the 16th century. It is believed that local fishermen mastered the art of weaving lace by weaving nets for their husbands. Venetian lace was so highly valued in Europe that they were ordered by the best royal houses to decorate the ceremonial clothes of monarchs.
Burano craftswomen at work, Venice, Italy Burano is definitely worth a trip for two reasons. Firstly, for the sake of buying unique handmade lace products (Burano lace is used not only for napkins and tablecloths. You will find exclusive wardrobe items, evening dresses, stoles, wall panels, curtains and much more. And believe me, any fashion houses will envy the jackets and dresses of local craftswomen, this is not “grandmother’s joys” for you.
Lace from the island of Burano, Venice, Italy Secondly, a walk through the narrow streets of Burano is a separate pleasure. All the houses here are painted in bright holiday colors. The tradition originated several centuries ago, when sailors at the entrance to the harbor were looking for a way to the house, focusing on its colors. Now there is no need for this, but the local residents jealously honor this rule.
Colorful houses on Burano island, Venice, Italy And the local municipality can even fine the owner of the house for inappropriately bright coloring. Another interesting point: you can paint the house not anyhow, but in strict accordance with the color palette approved by the municipality.
Burano Island, Venice, Italy Other attractions in Venice
Quarter Castello- the largest area of Venice, in which the tomb of the Doge is located, the exposition of the Biennale - a museum of modern art, the majestic church of San Zaccaria of the Renaissance, the Campo San Zaccaria square - a place that several centuries ago was a haven for the most notorious criminals (to this day there is a medieval ban on building new houses and settling new families, so as not to multiply crime).
Castello quarter in Venice, Italy Torcello Island- the oldest district of the city, from where Venice originates. Of the local attractions, we can mention the throne of Attila, an old bridge without railings (these were built in Venice in the early Middle Ages), ancient church Santa Fosca.
Torcello Island, Venice, Italy San Michele Island It's basically a cemetery. In the Russian way, the island and the churchyard of the same name bear the name of the Archangel Michael, there is also a chapel in his honor. In San Michele are the graves of many famous people, including Russians: Diaghilev, Brodsky, Stravinsky, as well as members of eminent noble families who left Russia after the 1917 revolution.
San Michele Island, Venice, Italy P. Guggenheim Museum- a small collection of art from the beginning of the 20th century, owned by Solomon Guggenheim's niece Peggy. The exhibition includes works by Dali, Modigliani, Picasso, Kandinsky and many others.
Peggy Guggenheim Museum, Venice, Italy Rialto Market- the food market of Venice, which has existed for more than 10 centuries. Even if you are not going to buy anything, it is worth a look here for the atmosphere, excursions among the many stalls and stalls with all kinds of fish reptiles and local delicacies. There are also several restaurants in the market, the oldest of which is Poste Vecie, which has been around since 1500.
Rialto Market, Venice, Italy The promenade of Riva degli Schiavoni- the main promenade in Venice, whose name translates as "the coast of slaves." Since the 9th century, there has been a huge slave market, where, among others, Slavs were traded. Nowadays, numerous cafes and souvenir shops are located on the embankment.
Riva degli Schiavoni, Venice, Italy Quarter Cannaregio- the place where the first in the world was founded Jewish ghetto. The old part of the quarter is medieval city with terribly narrow streets and tiny houses in which the Jews evicted from the main part of the city huddled. Also, poor townspeople and alien non-noble people were evicted here.
Cannaregio quarter, Venice, Italy San Giorgio and Giudecca Islands- another haven of exiles and wanderers. Michelangelo, expelled from Florence, lived on San Giorgio for a long time. These quarters are interesting for their authenticity. There are very few tourists here and the life of ordinary Venetians opens up as it is, without a tourist boom and unnecessary fuss.
San Giorgio Island, Venice, Italy Street La Mercerie is the main place for shopping. There are many boutiques, souvenir shops and craft shops where you can buy anything from branded clothing to unique handicrafts. If you are interested in outlets, then shopping is worth heading to the Mestre district, where several modern shopping complexes are located.
Market Street in Venice, Italy Padua
Padua is only 40 km from Venice. In Italian, the name of the city sounds like Padova (Padova). Padua is famous primarily for its ancient university, one of the first in Europe (founded in the 13th century). The University of Padua was perhaps the most progressive of its time. It taught astronomy and philosophy Galileo Galilei and Nikolai Kopenik, persecuted by the church for too non-standard views on the world order.
Padua, Italy The first anatomical theater in the world was founded at the University of Padua, and the local faculty of medicine was so advanced that pathoanatomical experiments were carried out here.
In those days, dissection was considered a heretical occupation and was cruelly suppressed by the church. In the 17th century, the first female student appeared among university students, while in the rest of Europe science remained a purely male privilege for a long time.
The classroom at the University of Padua, Italy Another attraction of Padua is the Scrovegni Chapel. The walls of the chapel are painted by the great Italian artist Giotto. The uniqueness of the painting lies in the fact that for the first time the images of saints are made as realistic as possible. In the 14th century, when the chapel was being built, biblical characters were depicted as textbook figures sitting in the same position on royal pedestals.
Scrovegni Chapel in Padua, Italy Giotto depicted them as living people, whose faces express emotions, and the figures correspond as closely as possible to the proportions of the human body.
For that time, it was no doubt a bold act, the first step towards the Renaissance, which will come only 200 years after the death of Giotto. In addition, Giotto's painting creates an optical illusion, greatly enlarging a small room.
One of the frescoes by Giotto in the Scrovegni Chapel, Padua, Italy In general, Padua is very cozy and beautiful city. There is no such tourist hype as in Venice, but quite a lot interesting places, historic buildings and magnificent views.
Prices in Padua are sometimes several times lower than in Venice, there are many inexpensive and decent hotels of different star ratings in the very center of the city. Cafes and restaurants delight with the quality of service and price tag.
Night Padua, Italy Padua could be great option for accommodation if you do not want or cannot spend a significant amount on a hotel in Venice. At any time of the day in just 30 minutes you can drive from Padua to Venice.
Life here is much calmer and more comfortable, the atmosphere is completely different, and there are no less sights and beauties than in other Italian cities.
Padua, Italy Verona - the capital of all lovers
Verona is only 120 km from Venice highways. You can get there both by rented car and public transport– by train or intercity bus.
Verona, Italy Of course, the main reason for which tourists come to Verona is Juliet's house and Romeo's house. Shakespeare's touching story about two unfortunate lovers so excites our minds and hearts that it is difficult to resist the temptation to see the very balcony on which young Romeo climbed to his beloved.
Juliet's Balcony, Verona, Italy For the sake of justice, it is worth saying that in reality Romeo and Juliet never existed, Shakespeare invented them. But the prototypes of the Capuleti and Montecchi families really lived in Verona, were at enmity with each other, their houses are currently called the house of Romeo and the house of Juliet (in reality, the families bore the names of Del Capello and Monticoli).
"Romeo and Juliet", a frame from the film by F. Zeffirelli The Monticoli House remains a private property to this day, closed to tourists, it can only be viewed from the outside. But the Del Capello family gave their house to the municipality, and now there is a small museum dedicated to the heroes of Shakespeare. It recreates the interiors of the 16th-17th centuries, collects old costumes, as well as the scenery of several films that were filmed here.
Interior of Juliet's house. Verona, Italy Juletta's house is located at Via Cappello, 23, 37121 Verona, you can enter the patio for free at any time of the day, you can get inside the house from 8:30 to 19:30 for 6 euros (on Mondays, the museum opens at 13:30). For a fee, by pre-registration on Juliet's balcony, you can register a marriage or a wedding photo shoot.
Romeo's house, Verona, Italy Every year, thousands of lovers visit Juliet's house to touch the most romantic story of all time. Many people leave notes on the walls of the patio and on the hike to the house.
Periodically, the local municipality tries to deal with pasted messages, as they seriously damage appearance and walls historical building. But tourists with enviable stubbornness mold more and more new leaves.
Notes on the walls of the arch near Juliet's house. Verona, Italy Another object of worship that gives the municipality a lot of trouble is the statue of Juliet in the courtyard of the house. It is believed that if you rub Juliet's right breast with your palm, then all your heart's desires will come true, and your loved one will be with you forever. The right breast of the statue is so carefully polished by visitors that several times the sculpture had to be taken away for restoration.
Tourists near the statue of Juliet. Verona, Italy The Juliet Club has been created at the museum, in which volunteers write answers to messages left by tourists from all over the world. The team is international, so the answer comes in their native language. You can send a letter to Juliet from anywhere in the world to Club di Giulietta, Corso Santa Anastasia 29, 37121 Verona Italia, or electronically through a special form on the club's website.
Here, according to legend, Romeo and Juliet died. Monastery of the Capuchins, Verona. Italy Another place in Verona is associated with the name of Juliet - this is the Capuchin monastery, where, according to legend, young people got married, and in the basement of which the final tragedy of the play took place. You can find the monastery at Via del Pontiere, 35, 37121 Verona, the entrance costs 4.5 euros. Tourists constantly write notes near the tomb of Juliet, and if they have a return address, the Capuchin monks will certainly answer the message.
The Italian land is rich in historical places And tourist resorts. A rare traveler has not heard of ancient rome, the magical island of Capri, the noisy Rimini and, of course, the unique Venice of its kind. Often it is the latter that is the main and only point on the tourist map. But few people know that just 15 minutes from the city on the water is a chain of small islands that separate the pearl of Italy from the Adriatic Sea. The most notable of them is the island of Lido, which will become a real outlet for those who have had enough of the atmosphere of overly touristy Venice. Against the backdrop of the latter, Lido looks like a modern town that can offer tourists shops, restaurants, golden sand and comfortable hotels.
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Despite the ancient church with the relics of Nicholas the Wonderworker, Lido is not often mentioned in historical Venetian records. Geographically, it has always been considered the most important part of the defense against enemy forces. For a long time, its sandy beaches served as a place for mooring warships and quartering military units. In the Middle Ages, Lido was better known by the name of St. Nicholas, as he was considered the patron saint of sailors.
From the historical point of view, the most outstanding events that took place on the territory of the Lido include the following:
- In 1177 Emperor Frederick Barbarossa and Pope Alexander III signed the Treaty of Venice after Frederick's defeat at the Battle of Legnano.
- In 1202, several tens of thousands of crusaders were stationed on the island, who were locked up by the Venetian authorities due to the inability to pay for Italian sea vessels.
- In the first half of the twentieth century, Lido earned notoriety, thanks to the huge number of establishments providing services to women of easy virtue.
There were Protestant and Jewish cemeteries on the island. The latter is open to the public today. The Protestant cemetery was dismantled with the construction of a small airport in its place, some of the tombstones were transferred to the Jewish one. Once upon a time sandy beaches Byron and Shelley took the Lido on horseback, and after some ten years, they could not recognize the usual places. Fascination of the higher strata summer holidays on the sea, hotel developers were lured to the Lido, and behind them - wealthy vacationers.
Over time, the island has become a popular tourist place, as well as an area for building villas of the rich and residential buildings who offered Better conditions for life than the old buildings of Venice. In the 60s of the twentieth century, many Venetians moved to the Lido in search of a better life. Today, most of these private mansions are destroyed, along with many hotels. However, there are a couple of establishments on the island that have retained their former gloss and grandeur. Nowadays, Lido attracts guests primarily by holding large-scale cultural events including the famous Venice Film Festival.
Attractions
A tourist who has managed to walk along the streets of Venice divided by canals will be pleased to re-enter the solid land of the Lido, along which you can move in the usual way. You can not call the island a treasure trove cultural heritage, but it definitely deserves attention, thanks to developed infrastructure. In addition, the island will be especially appreciated by those travelers who want to stay away from Russian compatriots and the ubiquitous Chinese tourists. Peace and tranquility reign here.
Of the worthy places to visit on the island of Lido, the following can be distinguished:
- Central Street: a place of daytime and nighttime entertainment. Here real paradise for lovers of shopping, cozy cafes and clubs working "to the last client". Particularly pleased with the prices, which are two times lower than in neighboring Venice. Closer to the sea line, you can visit the cozy pizzeria "Fabio's", where, according to many travelers, one of the best pizzas in Italy is prepared. And nearby they sell delicious gelatto (Italian ice cream).
- Beaches. Perhaps the Lido has not gained fame in the modern world. popular resort, but this does not detract from the beauty of its golden beaches. Most of them belong to hotels or private owners, are equipped with sun loungers and umbrellas and are carefully cleaned. Of course, the entrance to them is paid (or included in the price of a hotel stay), but for those who want to save money, there is also a free beach called "spiaggia libera".
It is considered unique on the island nature reserve and the sand dunes of Alberoni, protected by the World Fund wildlife. This is more than a hundred hectares of golden sand framed by a beautiful pine forest.
- Architecture. Lido buildings are the brightest embodiment of the Italian Art Nouveau called "Liberty". The most impressive of them are the casino (now closed), the Excelsior Grand Hotel and the Grand Hotel des Bains.
- Every year Lido hosts the famous Venice Film Festival, which has been held since the thirties of the XX century. At this time, on the streets of the island you can meet many eminent actors and directors seeking recognition from the masters of cinema.
Relics of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker
One of the oldest and most important sights of Lido is the church of St. Nicholas, built at the beginning of the 11th century, where the relics of the Saint are kept. Their journey to Italy was not easy. It is no secret that the Venetians participated and sponsored the Crusades. During one of them, they broke into the Basilica of St. Nicholas, but did not find the relics, even dismantling the tomb into stones. Just before sailing, the Venetians found out that the service was sometimes conducted in one of the aisles, where they opened the floor at the altar. According to legend, the Italians felt a wonderful fragrance, and after a few moments, they discovered the remains of the Saint.
Initially, they wanted to name the famous Cathedral of San Marco on the square of the same name in Venice in honor of St. Nicholas, or, in extreme cases, designate the building as a double-altar one. However, the participants of the campaign, even before setting off on it, made a sacred vow that they would certainly bring the relics of the Saint to the Lido Church. Since the island is a natural barrier that protected Venice from sea invaders, they felt that it would be right to leave St. Nicholas to guard the island, and thus Venice. Since ancient times, Venetian ships, before sailing and upon arrival home, stopped at the Church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker to ask his blessing on a long journey and thank him for a happy return. Many travelers to this day follow this good tradition.
For one of largest islands We hit the Venetian lagoon at the very beginning of summer, in early June.
Lido is the only place in Venice where buses run and cars drive. You can get there by your own transport by ferry, which runs regularly along the Giudecca Canal from Tranchetto - last place in a city accessible by car.
Lido di Venezia is essentially an exclusive place that combines all the charms of a museum city and a beach holiday. Numerous hotels have magnificent beaches, which, according to the European classification, have the highest rating for service, cleanliness and safety. Alas, the city's free beach does not shine with service and cleanliness, but the sea is impeccably clean and transparent there. The Lido beaches are sandy, with a gently sloping sandy bottom. In my opinion, perfect place for family holidays.
The only downside to this place is the prices. Both hotels and meals in numerous restaurants and bars cannot be called cheap. We managed to eat modestly for 70 euros for a family of two adults and a seven-year-old child. And judging by the price lists posted right on the sidewalk, in those restaurants where there is a menu in Russian, the prices are even higher. Plus, the cost of service is added, indicated in the last line of the invoice and ranging from two to ten euros per person.
Later, we found the usual and familiar Billa supermarket on the Lido, and began to buy there both their amazing pastries and various prepared foods in the gastronomy department. By the way, there is no kefir in Italy, the Italians do not know it and do not drink it. But then he was found, although for this we had to properly ask the attendants, we ourselves could not find him. They call it latte di kefir.
Or another option for inexpensive, but very tasty food - takeaway pizza. In small pizzerias, any pizza is baked to your order, cut, packaged, and you can eat it anywhere. We saw a lot of Germans and Englishmen with pizzas on benches right on the main street of the island. For resort town this is the norm.
There are many old villas on the Lido. The families of the Venetian nobility, as well as the rulers of Venice, the Doges, had houses there.
Initially, the island was named after St. Nicholas. He was considered the patron saint of sailors in Venice, and is still very revered. Now on the island is the Church of St. Nicholas, this is a place of pilgrimage for Orthodox Christians from all over the world, and Russian tourists Same. A particle of the relics of the saint is kept in the temple, and festive Orthodox services are held on holidays. You can get to the church until five in the evening. There are no tours, it is active, you can not take pictures.
Lido di Venezia itself is literally all buried in greenery. In June, oleanders were in full bloom, white, pink, red. Their oleanders are huge bushes planted as fences. There are a lot of magnolias on the island, but those that are deciduous have already faded - their season is in April. And those magnolias that are evergreen with huge, twenty centimeters, cream flowers, begin to bloom later, in early July. Private courtyards are planted with palm trees, cypresses and roses. Locals say that there is no snow at all in winter, because roses bloom all year round. I'll have to come back in January to check it out.
In general, despite the fact that the weather was different, either rain or wind, our visit to Lido left wonderful impressions and many positive emotions. And a great desire to return there is still possible in early September or July. The sea there is simply amazing, warm, gentle. Due to the fact that it is shallow, the water warms up very quickly. Even the clouds in the sky do not overshadow the charms of this place.
If the sun is shining, you can relax on the beach. If the weather does not favor the beach, we took a vaporetto and traveled to the rest of the islands of the lagoon - Murano, Giudecca, Burano. The amazing and majestic Torcello, which until the 11th century was the largest settlement in Venice, struck with its grandeur and peace. Now almost no one lives there, and time seems to have stood still on it. It is a must to visit Torcello, and it is advisable to devote the whole day to this walk. There is a restaurant on the island (it is generally the only one there) with local cuisine where you can have a delicious meal. On weekends, locals dine there, tables are booked in advance, so it’s better to visit the island on a weekday, as we did.
We returned from Venice, or rather from Lido. Here I’ll only tell you about the beach, there will be a separate review about the hotel. The beach, alas! We lived across the road from the paid beach, but actually we were going to swim on it. On the first day upon arrival (on Friday) we went there. kah sun loungers, tables, etc. They must be rented somewhere in the office of the beach, cat. we never found it on the first day and went to the sea to lie on towels. On this day, the sea was good, clean enough, although unclear. the sand is extremely fine, just like dust. There were few people. everything is paid here. We said that we agree to pay, it would be to someone and where. But he was not authorized to take money and sent us to look for this mythical office. We found the office only the next day, 200 meters from our hotel, we were given only sun loungers and an umbrella 50 meters from the sea, there were no sunbeds, everything had long been booked along with the cabins, and the cabin costs 100 euros a day. As we later learned from our Italian guide, who herself lives on the Lido in the summer, they book these cabins at the beginning of the summer for the whole season and for three families, then it turns out to be acceptable. But we didn’t have to for the season and the family was alone. And you can’t lie on a sun lounger and you won’t sunbathe with your back. In addition, with such a grouping of people, the umbrellas were so tight that you still had to look for the sun for tanning, and it’s a little pleasure to walk 50 m to the sea on hot sand every time and this is for 30 euros a day for two. A public free beach was visible not far away - this black sea beach times of developed socialism, when there is nowhere for an apple to fall, when everyone is standing. As a result, the sea was so dirty - and suspended sand, and kski of algae with cigarette butts and pieces of plastic bags stuck to them - and most importantly - FOAM! Bro. I quite often saw this foam on Mediterranean beaches at moments of crowds, especially after lunch. But in such quantities as here! And with all that, our guide (who lives on the Lido) said that the Italians themselves consider the Lido the best resort on the Adriatic, on Lido di Jesolo and especially in Rimini, it is much worse. So the resorts of the Adriatic are not for me, and the warm and shallow sea is not a plus for me, but even a minus, because. when in the yard 36 gr. heat, and the shallow sea heats up to 30 - it doesn’t cool, but it’s like climbing into a warm, and even dirty bath. In search of a better life, we got on a bus and went to Alberoni beach (30 minutes by bus - very long) - and Oh!-horror - the same thing is there - the same foam, and the same warm and shallow bath. few people and there was always enough space for everyone, because the hotel is small, and the pool is decent, and after walking around the hot sweaty Venice, we came and jumped into this paradise and sat there until we cooled off.
Resume - if you are only for beach holiday or you DEFINITELY need the sea - you are NOT on the Adriatic.