40 things to do before you’re 40 - Number 15!
Tuesday, May 21st, 2013
15. Ride a Gondola in Venice
Every city in the world has a main street, usually roaring with the noise of gridlocked traffic and honking horns. Imagine a city’s main thoroughfare where the tarmac is replaced by water, and cars are replaced by gondolas gliding quietly past 15th century palaces. This is reality in Venice, where the breath-taking Grand Canal is the main street in an incredible city built completely on water.
One of the most instantly recognisable cities in the world, Venice is an architectural wonder. Originally an uninhabited swampland, it was settled by Romans in the 5th century seeking refuge from constant attacks from nearby tribes. The crafty Romans built huge wooden pylons and drove them into the deep swampland, building their easily-defendable village on top of the pylons.
Instead of becoming a rural backwater in this bizarre environment, Venice expanded rapidly and canals were built to allow transport through the city – snaking their way past gorgeous palaces and churches. In a city with no roads, the only way to travel was by boat and gondolas became huge business. Sitting on a gondola as you glide through the canals of Venice will transport you back to a bygone age of extravagances and romance - an era when Casanova mingled with royalty and aristocrats at Venetian masquerade balls.
The unique way Venice was built may make it aesthetically stunning, but the impracticalities have proved too much for many locals - the population has halved since the 1940s to a mere 58,000 residents.
The most worrying thing for the Italian authorities is the rate in which the city is sinking. 2mm each year may sound like a miniscule amount but that, combined with rising sea levels, makes Venice prone to regular flooding. When “aqua alta” (high tide) hits, the locals don their most stylish pair of waterproof boots and make their way around the city on raised platforms. The fascinating sight of St Mark’s Square and its magnificent Byzantine Cathedral swimming in flood water makes the fragile state of Venice even more apparent.
One of the most wonderful things about Venice is that the only ‘traffic’ noise is the gentle splashing of canal water. Which other city in the world can say that? A gondola ride through this breathtaking and truly unique city should be a must-do on anybody’s list!
Topdeck Top Tip: If the crowds around St Mark’s Square get too much for you, seek respite and hop on a Vaparetto (water taxi) out to one the nearby islands - the price is capped at €7 for a one-way ticket. The island of Lido is home to some great beaches, while in Murano you can check out the famous glass-blowing factories.
Continuing last week’s James Bond theme, here is a video of 007 in Casino Royale sailing towards St Mark’s Square and then along the Grand Canal in Venice - www.youtube.com/watch?v=5DyvHwBl9vI.
