10 romantic things to do in Venice on Valentine’s Day

Venice is a unique city in the world that rises on an archipelago of the Venetian lagoon consisting of 118 islands. Its central core is divided by Canal Grande with three main bridges: from here departs an intricate maze of smaller canals, calli and campielli.

The city is famous for its Gothic and Renaissance architecture, its artistic heritage, its craft traditions, but especially for its dazzling beauty.

Among the most famous events there are the Carnival, the Film Festival, the Biennale Arte, but a multitude of experiences await you in every season: between gondola tours, romantic dinners, art exhibitions and museums, boat trips to Murano, Burano and Torcello, there is plenty of choice to celebrate love, in Valentine’s Day and in whole year.

The gondola ride is undoubtedly an unforgettable experience to do at least once in your life, even better if with your sweetheart.

This typical boat of Venice is mentioned for the first time in a document of 1094 and has an asymmetric shape to be driven with a single oar in the narrow canals of the city.

There is nothing more romantic than sailing through the palaces of Venice on a gondola, admiring new views from a different perspective and listening to the serenades of the gondolier.

Venice is surrounded by other fascinating islands that can be reached by vaporetto or by a private boat. They are very different from each other and should be visited slowly, enjoying the suggestions of the landscapes.

Murano is famous for the tradition of blown glass, here for centuries valuable works of art are produced: visiting it you can watch the demonstrations of the master glassmakers and discover the history in the Glass Museum.

Burano is known for the ancient art of lace, handed down for generations among the women of the island: the Lace Museum tells the story, while in laboratories and shops you can buy valuable artifacts.

Torcello is the oldest and quietest island in the lagoon: you can visit the Basilica of Santa Maria Assunta, the oldest church in the lagoon, with its beautiful Byzantine mosaics, or climb the bell tower to admire the view.

The tickets to the Glass Museum, the Lace Museum and many other attractions are included in the Venice Pass.

Piazza San Marco is the heart of Venice and offers breathtaking views of the Bell Tower, the Basilica and the Doge’s Palace. At sunset, the colors of the sky are reflected on the water and create a magical atmosphere.

Among the important monuments here you will also find the Biblioteca Marciana, the Procuratie, the Clock Tower and the Royal Palace.

You can admire the spectacle from one of the historic cafés in the square, or walk by the sea admiring the changing lights when evening falls.

Tickets to the Doge’s Palace, the Campanile di San Marco, the Biblioteca Marciana and many other attractions are included in the Venice Pass.

Dorsoduro is one of the most evocative districts in Venice, home of university:  here we find  museums, galleries, and churches.

Here you can visit the Accademia Gallery, which exhibits works by Venetian artists from the fourteenth to the eighteenth century, the Peggy Guggenheim Collection dedicated to modern art, and the Basilica of Santa Maria della Salute, one of the most impressive in the city.

The streets around Campo Santa Margherita are full of restaurants, shops and vintage boutiques, while in the evening the bars in the area are populated by young people.

The tickets to the Peggy Guggenheim Collection and many other attractions are included in the Venice Pass.

Venice was the homeland of one of the most famous seducers in history, Giacomo Casanova: adventurer, writer, alchemist and diplomat was born in Venice in 1725, and his life was full of travels, meetings, passions, intrigues and adventures, which he narrated in his most famous work, "The Story of my life".

In this book he tells of his adventures with women of all social conditions, his escapes from prisons, his acquaintances with illustrious personalities of the time, his interests in science, philosophy, esotericism and politics.

In Venice you can visit the places that have marked his adventurous life, such as the Doge’s Palace, the Teatro La Fenice and the Bridge of Sighs.

Teatro La Fenice is one of the most famous opera houses in the world: inaugurated in 1792, it was destroyed by two fires in 1836 and 1996. Rebuilt on both occasions, it continues to be an important cultural and artistic hub.

The theatre offers a wide range of events: opera, concerts, ballets, art exhibitions and performances.

It hosts every year the New Year’s Concert, broadcast live on television around the world. The concert is dedicated to classical music and opera repertoire, with the participation of famous conductors and soloists.

The Canal Grande is the main waterway in Venice and divides the city in two parts. It is famous for beautiful palaces, churches and museums that overlook its banks, evidence of the artistic wealth of the Republic of Venice.

You can cross it with one of the four bridges that connect it, such as the famous Rialto Bridge, the oldest and the most photographed, the Accademia Bridge that offers a spectacular panoramic view, the Scalzi Bridge and the Costituzione Bridge.

To admire Canal Grande you can also take the vaporetto, or gondola if you are looking for a particularly romantic and unusual experience.

Caffè Florian is the oldest café in Europe: it was founded in 1720 by Floriano Francesconi in Piazza San Marco.

It is famous all over the world for its elegance and for being a meeting place for famous people such as Goldoni, Casanova, Goethe, Byron, Proust and Hemingway.

Caffè Florian offers its customers a variety of high quality products, such as coffee, chocolate, cakes, liqueurs and wines, but it is also a place for art: between rooms decorated with frescoes, stucco and antique mirrors there are temporary exhibitions and concerts.

The Campanile di San Marco, with its 98.6 meters high, is the tallest building in Venice and is located in Piazza San Marco, in front of Basilica.

If you want to enjoy a spectacular view of the city and the lagoon you can not miss this experience: inside you will find an elevator with which to climb directly to the panoramic terrace at 60 meters.

The view is enchanting: canals, palaces, churches, islands and on clear days in the distance you can even see the Alps, the Adriatic Sea and the lagoon. With a little luck, you might even hear the ringing of bells that mark the hours and celebrate special occasions.

The entrance to the Campanile di San Marco and many other attractions is included in the Venice Pass.

The Acqua Alta Bookshop is one of the most original and fascinating libraries in Venice and is located in Calle Longa Santa Maria Formosa, near Piazza San Marco.

Its name comes from the fact that the books are stored in unusual containers, such as gondolas, canoes and bathtubs, to protect them from the high water that periodically floods the city.

The interiors are decorated with frescoes and mirrors: its hidden garden overlooks the canal offering enchanting views.

The Acqua Alta Bookshop is also home to several cats, who wander among the books and let themselves be pampered by visitors.