The best (and the worst?) of Italy

                  I quickly found Venice to be a polarizing topic when planning our trip to Italy. A good friend that studied abroad in Rome for months told me to skip it entirely. My Italian friend called it a tourist trap, not worth the effort. Yet a few other trustworthy travelers called it “the best city in the world” and “unlike anything they’d ever seen.” After a long process of (classic) over-analysis, we decided to extend our stay an extra night to see what it had to offer and decide for ourselves. With the recent flooding making national headlines— seems like we made the right decision because it might soon be under water.

                  So, was it worth it? The four of us agreed on a resounding HECK YES. But, not without some caveats. Here’s the thing, Venice is only a few miles by a few miles, and can be easily walked in a day if you like to keep on the move, so you really don’t need much time there. I recommend going to Expedia, looking at the top five things to do, and then AVOIDING THEM ALL. In a city (now) built almost entirely on tourism (20 million people per year!), its nearly impossible to find true Venetian authenticity, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try. The crowds of San Marco were annoying, and to be honest, it wasn’t that impressive (to this travel snob). I had more fun sticking to the outer regions where there is less people, and more interesting things to stumble upon. 

                  There’s a lot of reasons to use Airbnb, like its cost effectiveness, the many unique options, and the rich experience of living in someone’s home, but the best part is no doubt access to the host. A native Venetian, our host talked with us for almost an hour, and taught us the way of life there as best as he could. I couldn’t possibly share it all, but I narrowed down the best of the best for you: 

1.             Aperol Spritz— Day drinking might be for college kids and alcoholics in the States, but in Italy, it’s just the way things are. Istat, their national statistics agency, revealed that 8.2 million Italians aged 11and over drink excessive amounts of alcohol. Probably not a good idea longterm, but if you are on holiday in Venice and don’t have a spritz in your hand by noon, you messed up! Siesta’s aren’t just for the Spanish, and there’s often weird periods of time in the afternoon where some shops & bars close. Best get your buzz going before then. For a reasonable 2 Euros you can enjoy this refreshing, semi-bitter, low ABV%, Prosecco, Aperol, and sparkling water combo. 

2.             6342 a le Tole— If there’s one thing you take from this article, let it be this. This spaghetteria recommended by our host will live in my memories forever. Fresh pizza, fresh seafood, handmade pasta— you simply can’t go wrong here. Make reservations because it’s a small place and its deliciousness is no secret. We got a few spritz’s, two bottles of house red, two salads, two pizzas, two seafood pastas, and a weirdass “Chef’s Special” dessert all for about 50 Euros. The same meal in NYC would have been a few hundred dollars at least. I expected touristy Venice to be well overpriced but was pleasantly surprised when we made it out with some cash to spare. The owner was constantly checking on us with his broken English. “You ordered too much food…. We love you!!!” he yelled at us like a true Italian. As much as I love trying new things… if I went back to Venice, I would eat here again for sure.

3.              The Peninsula near Basilica di Santa Maria Della Salute— and the nearby Ponte dell'Accademia bridge provided some of the best views of the city. Rialto bridge is great and all, but for me, these two stops took the top spot for views. If you are looking for some good classic Venice photo ops not totally littered with tourists— these are your best bet. 

All in all, Venice was more than worth it… but, it really isn’t necessary to spend more than a few days there. Italy is a beautiful country— just pop in, get some pics and pasta, and get on your way. I would highly recommend checking it out while it’s still above water. (Bonus Tip: Wear boots or shoes you don’t mind getting soaked!). After Venice, dry out your boots and head just 2 hours north to hike the Dolomites— you won’t be disappointed there either.