Italy by Rail - North to South (Part 2): Venice, the Floating City and Rail-Travel Tips in Italy!!

- Dec. 21, 2017, Thursday. 

- Just after a day in Italy (click for Italy Part 1 here,) we found ourselves on board a long-distance high-speed train in the early morning of our second day. Still shrugging off the trauma of my almost-got-pickpocketed situation in Milan, I felt that going to another part of Italy, at least for a day trip, would give me some new air.

- Before I go to showing the grandeur of Venice, here are a few things on how to travel in Italy (long distance) via railway:

1. It is always best to reserve everything online beforehand!! Go to http://www.trenitalia.com/ (main website) or https://www.italiarail.com/ (an online agency) to reserve your tickets. I used trenitalia since it is the main website. Normally book with the main website of anything (planes, trains, museums, etc.) because in case something happens, only two parties are involved: me and the thing I want to reserve. If a third-party agency is involved, this third-party agency can be the scapegoat in case there are some difficulties or errors. Regional trains, those that go out of the city but with a shorter route, do not need any ticket or seat reservation. In case the train is full, you can just stand since the travel time won't be that long anyway (don't worry, most of the time, there will be available seats.)

2. There are many kinds of long-distance trains in Italy. I mentioned the regional trains above. However, those that go farther, or have more extensive routes have the regular-speed trains and high-speed (like the Frecciarossa and Frecciargento trains.) The high-speed trains will definitely cost a bit more, but I highly suggest getting the high-speed trains, you can maximize your day with your shorter travel time. Speaking of which, I usually prefer booking the early morning trains, like trains that depart around 6:30 to 7:00am.

3. I know this is common sense but do have a credit card so you can but your tickets.

4. Long-distance train tickets can also be bought in ticket machines or  kiosks in train stations, unless you go to the train station way in advance. Seats are usually reserved, so again, tip #1, RESERVE EVERYTHING AS EARLY AS YOU CAN. They usually sell tickets as early as 1 or 2 months prior to your desired date of travel.

5. You can arrive at the station at least 10-15 minutes before your departure, but of course I wouldn't suggest that. It is still better to go there early. The station will have digital sign boards that will tell you which platform you should go to.

6. If you have some luggage to bring in the case of one-way travels, you may bring them on board, either placing them in the baggage space above you, or in the baggage area (available in some trains,) or between seats (depending also on the model of the train.)

7. If you bought your train ticket online, have a copy in your e-mail or phone, or just to be safe, an actual printout, because there will be a digital code that train personnel will scan INSIDE THE TRAIN. (So don't lose your ticket!!) HOWEVER, if you bought your ticket with the machines or kiosks in the train station, please do not forget to VALIDATE your ticket. There are little yellow or green machines near the platforms where you have to insert your ticket and validate. The train personnel will check this. If you forget to validate your ticket, you will be asked to pay a hefty fine!! However, if you bought your ticket online, (in which case you will have either the printout or the electronic copy,) you do not have to validate since the code on the ticket serves as the validation. (Also, since the printout will definitely not fit in the validating machine, more so if your ticket is in your phone or e-mail.)  

- Now that you have a basic understanding of how to travel by train in Italy, let's hop on back to my adventures in Venice!! My family and I left Milano Centrale train station around 7-ish in the morning, traveled eastward, and arrived at Venice Santa Lucia train station around 10am. Take note that there are two stations with the word "Venice." One is in the mainland (i.e. connected to the rest of Italy,) while what most tourists go to is Venice SANTA LUCIA station, which goes to the islands of Venice. Venice, a northeastern city and the capital of the Veneto region, is a floating city because it is surrounded by the water (and therefore even colder temperatures!!) and going from one place to another requires people to ride water-based public transportation. From the train station, one would need to ride a vaporetto, or a water bus. Do check the routes on the map in the vaporetto docks to know which one you must ride you want, or to which direction the boat is headed. We bought a one-day unlimited pass, which can be maximized if you ride 3 or more rides on the vaporetto, since we knew that we'd take a few vaporetto trips throughout the day before going back to the train station.  Other modes of water transportation include the targhetto, which is the cheapest way to go around the canals, and of course, the gondola which is really just for tourists and is inheritance-worthy expensive to ride (around 70-80 euros for half an hour?!?!) Other than these, Venice does not have any land-based transportation. The islands are completely car-less and the only way to go around would be by foot (or by bike?) The streets.alleys are narrow so cars wouldn't fit anyway.  

You see that yellow-and-white boat? That's a vaporetto, and it's docked at one of the vaporetto stops. (I was on a vaporetto while I took this photo.)

Gondolas.

Police on water.

More gondolas. So you get the point. Traveling by water is the life here.

- Our first stop was Venice' focal point - the San Marco Church (Basilica di San Marco.) There are around three vaporetto lines that go to San Marco, so it is not difficult to reach from the train station. This colorful and golden church was made in the 11th century, and has plenty of Byzantine influences (plenty of geometric patterns, mosaics, domes, and other features) because of its connections with the Byzantine Empire, which at some time even ruled over Venice. The plaza in front of the church is also a spacious space to walk around, with plenty of souvenir shops, cafes, and restaurants adding life to this then-powerful city. I also decided to quickly put on my jester-inspired attire as Venice is famous for celebrating its masquerade-like carnival during Mardi Gras or "Fat Tuesday" which takes place some time February. I know I was a bit early for Mardi Gras when I was in Venice, but I wouldn't be in Venice during that time after all. Also, it'd be crowded like hell during Mardi Gras. 

Belltower of the church.

I like the colors and all the curves.

Benvenuto, and welcome!! :D:D:D:D (My DIY jester costume: the ruff on my neck is a baby's tutu, the writ ruffs are hair scrunchies. I bought the mask in Manila since it was way cheaper there. Everything else I am wearing, I just found lying around my closet.)

A fat bird suddenly landed on my arm. Can I be a Disney princess now??

Yes, my mom wanted to wear a mask. Luckily I was prepared. (I had 4 masks with me.)

- After my little photoshoot at the square, we went inside the church. There is no entrance fee for the church, but there is a small fee to enter the museum at the second floor. 

Oh wow.

Halls outside the entrance.

Gold, gold, and more gold in the church. Unsurprisingly, the church's nickname is "Chiesa d'Oro" or "Church of Gold."

Mosaic art at the museum.

Closer view of the second level.

What do these birds eat?? My goodness they all look obese!!

Overlooking the palace, the sea, and the library.

The Renaissance-era Biblioteca Nazionale Marciana (National Library of St. Mark.)

Another look of the church.

- We had lunch at a small cafe right near the church before proceeding to the Doge's Palace (Palazzo Ducale,) which is beside the church near the lagoon. This palace used to be the residence of the Doge of Venice, who was the leader of the then-independent state. The palace also has plenty of offices or meetings rooms for the various councils of Venice. Other than these, one particular feature of the palace that people wish to see is the "Bridge of Sighs" (Ponte dei Sospiri.) This view from the bridge would be the last view of new convicts before they were thrown in the palace dungeons. 

I gotchu fam.

Inside the palace.

Silhouette.

Everything is gold and colorful.

12 zodiac signs.

WEAPONSSS.

Council room.

Dungeon.

Inside the Bridge of Sighs. (It's not the bridge in the photo, but from where I took this photo.)

Courtyard.

Gondolas (which are freakin' expensive.)

Bridge of sighs from the outside world.

Stretch!! (He was really just pushing the boat away from the dock.)

- After leaving the Doge's Palace, we got on the vaporetto to San Toma station. From the stations, we followed the street arrows and had a short walk to Scuola Grande di San Rocco. This building, built in the late 1400s, is the headquarters of a confraternity. A confraternity is a kind of association created by lay people to organize and carry out religious charity works. This confraternity is named after San Rocco, or Saint Roch, and was built beside Chiesa di San Rocco (Church of Saint Roch.) Since the confraternity was established, its building has also been a treasure chest of prized paintings, mostly religious in nature (currently, as far as I know, all the paintings inside are the original ones.)

Back on the vaporetto.

Passed by this store. Do you have any idea how even just a mask would cost?? The simpler ones are around 3-5 euroes, while the bigger ones can be around 15-20 euros. The more elaborate ones will be more expensive.

Inside the salone maggiore (main room) of the Scuola Grande.)

Treasure room.

Something like an altar.

Scuola Grande di San Rocco from the outside.

Facade of the Church of Saint Roch.

Interior.

That is one well-decorated organ!!

- From Scuola Grande di San Rocco, we were supposed to walk to Rialto Bridge, but we chose to walk instead. From Scuola Grande to Rialto Bridge was just around a 10-minute walk. As Venice is connected by the Grand Canal, the only way to go from one side of the Canal to another on foot would be through bridges. However, bridges aren't always available - as there are only four along the Grand Canal - which is why water travel is still the most efficient way. Going back to the bridges, the Rialto Bridge is probably the most famous of all the bridges in Venice because it is the oldest, being built in the late 1500s. Today, the area around the Rialto Bridge has plenty of souvenir shops and cafes.  

Stopped for gelato along the way.

An old "sun clock."

Venice at almost-sunset.

- We did not stay long in the bridge as the sun way about to set and navigating would be quite difficult in the dark. We rode on a vaporetto for one last time, and sailed the canal until we reached Venezia Santa Lucia train station.

Rialto Bridge from the vaporetto.

It was hard to take a photo of this peculiar building. You know, with two giant hands and all.

Venice at sunset.

18th-century Chiesa di San Simeone Piccolo.

- Venice was a tremendous escape from the trauma of the previous day, and despite the colder temperatures because it was surrounded by water, all the art and color of this "aquatic city" made me want tos tay more - if only I could! We did not fully explore Venice, which by the way is a perfect city to get lost in because of all its narrow and winding alleys. There are even other islands like Murano, where visitors can witness how the prized rainbow-colored Italian glass is made. Even though our stay in Venice was short, fortunately, we did not experience what the Venetians call "acqua alta" or "high water." Venice is below sea-level and so when it rains, the city gets flooded in an instant. As this is a common occurrence during the rainy season and occasionally, the winter months when there is also some rain, the Venetians have platforms prepared across the bigger/wider areas like San Marco Square; they will just line up these platforms so visitors and locals can still walk around, somehow.

- Venice is one of the cities that I don't mind going back to, if I will have the chance return to Italy. Who knows, I might just be able to catch Venice during its carnival/Mardi Gras season, where I can dress up as fancily as I want to!! However, this time, we left Venice to go back to Milan to explore more of its treasures and legacy!

- Please don't forget to ready about my other Eurotrip adventures during the holidays here:

France: Part 1 here, Part 2 here, Part 3 here Part 4 here!!

Italy: Part 1 here, Part 3 here, Part 4 here, Part 5 here, Part 6 here, Part 7 here, Part 8 here, and Part 9 here!!