A thought I have almost every day on a solo trip is, “I wish my sister was here to experience this with me.” I’ve had the privilege of returning to Venice for my second summer, this time with my family. I am lucky to have watched my parents and sister experience Venice for the first time, while creating new memories together.
Venice feels like a dream world. In what reality could I imagine a city where your backyard is literally the ocean and cars are swapped for boats? But this magical city is more than its canals and spritzes. Built over 1,500 years ago, the floating city of Venice stands atop wooden pillars driven into the mud of the lagoon that have now petrified.
In history class I feel I was always being reminded of the Roman Empire, but never the Venetian empire. For nearly 1,000 years Venice was one of the richest cities in the world. The remains of this wealth can still be seen touring the Doge’s Palace and Saint Mark’s Basilica. I found the extravagance of these monuments breathtaking—from the gold mosaic ceilings of the Basilica to the murals filling entire ballrooms in the palace.
To better understand the city beyond its postcard beauty, my family booked a tour with a Venetian local, Simonetta. Since my favorite way to discover a new city and learn about a culture is through their cuisine, I asked her about her favorite local cuisine. While walking through the city, she told me to eat at an “osteria” or “trattoria.” These names, found at the beginning or end of a restaurant’s name, will lead you to local, mostly family-run taverns.
Traditional Venetian food consists of seafood from the lagoon surrounding the island. When I asked Simonetta what her favorite Venetian dish was, she said “Baccalà Mantecato” with no hesitation. By the 18th century, merchants were delivering preserved cod from Norway to Venice, where it was then rehydrated, mashed with oil, and served on top of polenta. Simonetta led us to a bar for a mid-tour snack break to try Baccalà Mantecato. This was not my personal favorite, but all the locals in the bar were excited about it (and even more excited about the octopus). I paired this with a “Select” spritz, which I was told by the bartender is more of a staple than an Aperol Spritz.
Along with food, I love art history. Our tour included entry to Saint Mark’s Basilica and the Doge’s Palace. Simonetta was incredibly knowledgeable about not only the history of Venice, but also the art. The best part about this is I was able to listen to the history of Venice, and also envision what it all looked like centuries ago. Venice is suspended between water, history, and imagination. Returning for a second summer reminded me that some places are just as magical the second time, especially when shared with the people you love.
Other Mentions:
Anda Venice Hostel - Amazing air conditioning, also 1 block from the train station. Party hostel, but room is quiet unless there’s a noisy guest in the room.
Baglioni Hotel Luna - If budget allows, I felt like a princess in this hotel.
Libreria Acqua Alta - Beautiful book store, great for photos
Soul Kitchen - On the same block as Anda Hostel, amazing food and tiramisu.
Suso - Not just a hyped up gelato spot on TikTok, Simonetta recommended Suso as well! (The line moves quickly)
Caffe del Doge - Amazing chocolate croissant
Interested in a tour? Book through Viator