Venice Things To Do

The concept of a “White Night” has been steadly growing in popularity throughout Europe. It’s the one night a year when museums, galleries, and other major attractions stay open almost all night long and offer free admission to visitors. Venice finally joined the movement with their own Art Night Venezia, and it’s now an annual event.

We often think of the Italian art scene as one that’s relegated to history. All that stuff in museums is hundreds of years old – if not older – and that’s the Italian art we hear about most. Venice, however, has been critical to the world’s contemporary art scene since 1895, the first year the Venice Biennale was held.

Around every corner in Venice you’ll find another wonderful church. They’ve managed to build some pretty huge and magnificent edifices given the small amount of land their city is perched on.

Venice is practically a year-round tourist destination – even in the cold and damp winter the city can seem overrun with day trippers. But at no time does Venice seem more lively than when the city is in the midst of celebrating something. There are holidays and festivals throughout the year, some of which can dramatically impact your ability to get a hotel room at a decent price, so be sure to consult a calendar of Venice events during your trip planning process. On the other hand, each of these festivals is the kind of spectacle you’ll never forget.

Most of us are familiar with Venice’s Carnival – the elaborate costumes, the decorated masks, and the extravagant parties – but did you know there’s a carnival in nearby Verona every year, too? Verona’s Carnival, called the “Bacanal del Gnoco,” includes some familiar elements you would see in Venice, but there are some things that make it quite unique, indeed.

In stark contrast to Carnival festivities in Rio, New Orleans and elsewhere, the Carnival of Venice, like the city that hosts it, is straight out of a historical drama. Resurrected by the Italian government in the 1970s as part of their attempt to promote Venetian culture, Carnival centers on the profusion of elaborate masquerade masks worn by the city’s residents and the more than 30,000 annual visitors who attend the two week-long festival.

Venice‘s car-less existence and dark waterways already give it a mysterious quality – but throw in a fleet of boats rowed by witches and you’ve got the makings of something bizarre and memorable.

Spending New Year’s Eve in Venice involves a mix of traditions you’ll find throughout most of Italy as well as some special Venetian touches. After all, this unique city can’t just celebrate like everyone else, now, can it?

Venice can be quite cold and damp in the winter, which is what leads people to make summer vacation plans and to avoid it otherwise. What they’re missing, however, is the magic of Venice at Christmas. Yes, it’s still cold and damp – but provided you’ve got the right clothing and footwear, that shouldn’t matter in the least. Your reward is a quiet city without the throngs of summer tourists.

There are several boat races in the Venetian lagoon from May-September, and the last one of the season is the Burano Regatta – the Regata di Burano in Italian. Should you find yourself in Venice at the end of September, make a point to check out this historic race.