Italy Family Travel Guide Part 2 – Venice

The salty sea air saturated our senses as we stepped out of the airport, a stark contrast to the stale air circulating throughout the plane from which we’d just disembarked. It was late in the evening, and darkness had descended as we stepped aboard our water taxi and sped across the Laguna Veneta. 

As I mentioned in part 1, this trip had been a long time coming, and there were moments I wondered if we’d ever make it. But here we were in Venice … two families, eight kids, ready to embark on the first leg of our four-city family tour of Italy.

The view from Rialto Bridge.

We arrived on land and hauled our luggage to Hotel Bisanzio then headed out for dinner. We landed at Rossopomodoro, and the children ordered a limonata, which became their drink of choice throughout the trip. We’ve tried finding it stateside, but it’s priced high, so we’re making our own. Scroll to the bottom for the recipe.

We then headed to Piazza San Marco, Venice’s famed public square that houses St Mark’s Basilica, Doge’s Palace, the Museo Correr, the Campanile and the Torre dell’ Orologio. Established in the 9th century, the square is sheer magic, especially in the late evening when the crowds thin and the sounds of cafe musicians waft through the air.

Exploring the City of Canals

Throughout the next day and a half, we wandered the famed Venetian canals, consumed cappuccino and chocolate croissants at Majer, glimpsed the Bridge of Sighs, walked across Rialto Bridge, devoured pizza and focaccia at Farini, chased pigeons in a neighborhood park, browsed Libreria Acqua Alta, enjoyed too much gelato, spotted the sign of Constantine, toured Doge’s palace, and wondered at the marvel of St. Mark’s Basilica. 

Exterior facade of St. Mark’s Basilica.

Originally constructed in the 9th century, St. Mark’s was built to house the body of the disciple Mark, which was smuggled out of Alexandria by Venetian merchants in 828. Construction on the current basilica began in 1063. It is truly a marvel, and it is an incredibly moving experience to know you walk near the final resting place of Mark. If you can make time to tour both Doge’s Palace and St. Mark’s, I highly recommend it. For recommended tour options, see resources at the bottom of this post.


As our time in Venice drew to a close, we once again wound our way through the Venetian Vias. We took a water taxi to the Santa Lucia Train Station and boarded our train for Rome. The Colosseum, the Pantheon, Palatine Hill and the wonders of Rome awaited. Stay tuned for the Italy Family Travel Guide Part 3 – Rome.

VENICE TRAVEL RESOURCES

TRANSPORT:
Private Water Taxi Transport from Marco Polo Airport to Venice
STAY:
Hotel Bisanzio
SEE:
St. Mark’s Basilica Skip-the-Line Tour
Doge’s Palace and Prison Tour
Combined St. Mark’s and Doge’s Palace Tour
EAT:
Rossopomodoro
Farini
Majer

Authentic Italian Lemon Soda (Limonata)

  • 4 lemons
  • 8 tbsp sugar
  • Handful fresh mint leaven or basil leaves (optional)  

Zest lemon skin. Avoid using the white pith. Add granulated sugar and torn mint leaves. Macerate to blend flavors. Let the mixture sit for 30 minutes or more. Squeeze lemon juice from the zested lemons and add to the sugar mixture. Strain. To make the lemon soda, fill half a glass with ice, add ⅓ of a glass lemonade mix and top with soda water. 

“There is something so different in Venice from any other place in the world, that you leave at once all accustomed habits and everyday sights to enter an enchanted garden.” – Mary Shelley


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