Rising from the waters of Venice Lagoon is the Italian city of Venice, a city like no other. Begin your visit in the central district of San Marco, and walk upon one of the world’s great squares, St Mark’s Square. The square is surrounded by some of the city’s finest jewels such as St Mark’s Basilica, St Mark’s Campanile and Doge’s Palace. Just outside stand the Columns of San Marco and San Teodoro. From here, journey along one of the world’s great aquatic thoroughfares, The Grand Canal. Glide past elegant palazzos; once the homes of wealthy merchants, today many of these palaces house important museums and galleries. Known as The City Of Bridges, Venice has hundreds to explore. The Accademia Bridge links the San Marco district to the Accademia Gallery, and offers some of the Grand Canal’s finest views. The oldest of the Grand Canal’s four crossings is the Rialto Bridge, which today still serves as the gateway to the Rialto Markets. The most famous of all is the Bridge of Sighs, which connects Doge’s Palace to the historic prison. Venice is a city to get lost in, so put away your map and let her surprise you. Discover waterfront promenades of The Zattere and the sleepy canals and spacious piazzas of Castello. On the tiny island of Murano, glassmakers have been creating works of incredible delicacy and color for over 700 years. Further across the lagoon, the island of Burano is famed for its brightly colored houses and exquisite lace. Venice has shone her light into the far corners of the world for over one and a half thousand years. Just remember, this city smiles upon those who linger. So stay for a few nights, or stay for a month, and savor every moment she has to offer.
It's easy to think Venice is just for sailing, but fact is that it's too the world's most walkable city. So don't forget good footwear to enjoy the pleasures of walking while in Venice!
At the international Walk21 conference this week in Vancouver, British Columbia, an eminent authority on streets boiled the walkability of cities down to the number of street intersections per square mile.
Venice has 1,725 intersections per square mile.“It’s very complex, it’s very messy, and people walk,” said Allan Jacobs, urban design consultant, former San Francisco planning director, and author of Great Streets.
Brasilia, near the opposite end of the spectrum, “has 92 intersections, and you don’t walk there,” The Vancouver Sun reported Jacobs as saying. “Irvine, California is the classic automobile city. It has just 15 intersections, the lowest I’ve ever counted.”
Other places that are good for pedestrians, Jacobs said, include the Market Street area of San Francisco (300 intersections per square mile), Tokyo (988), Savannah, Georgia (538), Portland, Oregon (341), and Paris (281).
The most complex and messy stret patterns provide the most walkable and enjoyable experiences for both visitors and residents, according to Jacobs.”
– ‘Messy’ street patterns boost walking