Venice
Venice is one of those iconic European cities from which you are bombarded with so many images, that you probably already know the way without having been there. Millions of pictures have been taken in this city. Thousands of books and guides have already been written. It is also one of those cities where you can easily be overwhelmed by the tourist hordes. But Venice is still able to retain its character and simple beauty among the chaos of guided tours and city-breakers.
I went to Venice just one time in August, and in those 2.5 days that I stayed there, 2 of them it rained terribly. I walked from morning to night, reluctant to spend time indoors. I walked off the main streets and found quiet little squares and I hung over the side of tiny bridges. I tilted my face up to the sky and grinned at arcane symbols and statues hundred-year-old palazzos.
Many people said that Venice did not look as good in real life compared to what we see in photographs and warned us that it would disappoint. Too crowded, too dirty, and too touristy most said. Others said that it looked decaying and old in real life. And to be fair, it is. The island city of Venice is crumbling and sinking into the lagoon where it is located.
Even with its state of being reliant on globalization and devouring tourism, Venice is paradoxically to me a beautifully quiet, dignified city. Tourism is obviously, what is killing the city, but it’s also what helps it survive. Venice will always need its tourists – after all, they represent the most important source of income and will.
Venice
Venice is one of those iconic European cities from which you are bombarded with so many images, that you probably already know the way without having been there. Millions of pictures have been taken in this city. Thousands of books and guides have already been written. It is also one of those cities where you can easily be overwhelmed by the tourist hordes. But Venice is still able to retain its character and simple beauty among the chaos of guided tours and city-breakers.
I went to Venice just one time in August, and in those 2.5 days that I stayed there, 2 of them it rained terribly. I walked from morning to night, reluctant to spend time indoors. I walked off the main streets and found quiet little squares and I hung over the side of tiny bridges. I tilted my face up to the sky and grinned at arcane symbols and statues hundred-year-old palazzos.
Many people said that Venice did not look as good in real life compared to what we see in photographs and warned us that it would disappoint. Too crowded, too dirty, and too touristy most said. Others said that it looked decaying and old in real life. And to be fair, it is. The island city of Venice is crumbling and sinking into the lagoon where it is located.
Even with its state of being reliant on globalization and devouring tourism, Venice is paradoxically to me a beautifully quiet, dignified city. Tourism is obviously, what is killing the city, but it’s also what helps it survive. Venice will always need its tourists – after all, they represent the most important source of income and will.
