TRAVEL| 10 Fun or Not Facts About Venice, Italy

I travelled to Venice, Italy, in July 2023, and it was a wonder to experience this beautiful city surrounded by water. I always thought I would visit Milan after Rome before any other city in Italy, but fate had a different plan for me.

I’m sure you’ve heard of Venice, the city of love…Well, I finally understand why it’s referred to as that. Here are 10 fun or not facts about Venice.

1. Venice is a Car-Free City

Venice is a city in Italy built on small islands. The city’s main tourist area is car-free, and it can only be explored via foot or boat. The public mode of transportation is via boat, and there are a lot of boat stations where you can quickly get a ticket and move. You can also choose to walk or take a private boat taxi.

2. Bells are Rung To Tell Time

The first time I heard the bell ringing, I thought it was for a particular reason, but when the same thing happened an hour later, I realized it was to tell time. It rang once at 1pm and four times at 4pm. It was surreal, and I quickly got used to it. Thank goodness it isn’t rung in the middle of the night. Lol.

3. Venice is known as The City of Canals, Masks and Bridges

Venice is a city with endless canals. There is water everywhere you go and many small bridges you must go over. I noticed masks were being sold and asked one of the vendors. Apparently, people wore masks in the olden days to cover their faces. Now, they are only used during celebrations or carnivals. An annual masquerade ball is held in Venice every year.

A photo of me taken on a bridge in Murano

4. Rialto Bridge, a Popular Tourist Destination in Italy, is located in Venice

Venice is a city with many bridges. There are over 400 bridges in Venice. However, Rialto Bridge is the oldest of the four bridges over the Grand Canal in Venice. I passed by the bridge to get a photo and went up the stairs to look at the city from it.

5. Venice is The City of Gondola Rides

The gondola, a private boat ride to explore the city, is a popular tourist attraction in Venice. Gondola rides costs about $40, and it lasts 30 minutes. I think it’s ideal for people who visit Venice in a group or as a couple. Only locals are permitted to be gondoliers. They are great storytellers, charming and welcoming.

6. Marco Polo Originated from Venice

I flew out of Venice from Marco Polo airport, which I had to take a boat to. Marco Polo was an Italian merchant and writer, and if you’ve seen the series on Netflix, you will know all about him and his adventure. He is so famous that the airport is named after him.

7. Venice Has Narrow Streets

Some streets are so narrow that two people cannot walk comfortably side by side, and I’m not exaggerating. I had to take a longer walk from the hotel to a boat station when I was leaving because there was a transportation workers strike. I dragged my boxes through some really narrow streets. Thankfully, Google Maps works!

8. Venice is Renowned for Glass Blowing

I visited three famous islands in Venice (Murano, Burano and Torcello). In Murano, I watched a skilled worker make a flower vase and decorative glass horse by blowing hot glass and moulding it into shapes and forms. It was exciting and intriguing. All around Murano, most shops sell objects made out of glass.

9. Venice Biennale, an International Cultural Exhibition is Hosted in Venice

Venice Biennale is a large-scale international contemporary art exhibition in Venice. The Biennale Foundation organizes art, architecture, cinema, dance, music and theatre exhibitions annually. The 2023 Venice Biennale is scheduled for six months (20th May to 26th November). This year’s lineup includes

80th Venice International Film Festival
17th International Festival of Contemporary Dance
67th International Festival of Contemporary Music
51st International Theatre Festival

10. There’s a Gelato Shop on Every Corner

Just like I concluded with this in the Fun or Not Facts about Rome, I thought to do the same here. I loved all my gelato experiences, especially at the shop beside the Rialto bridge. The vendor was charming and guessed I was Nigerian.

Which fun or not fact did you just learn about?

I ate the best pasta ever in Venice, and I just had to end this post with a photo of it.