Venice, Italy: Something Old, Something New (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

Amidst the daily scramble of mobile communications, information overload and intrusive technologies, who wouldn't want to take a holiday from our postmodern (on the cusp of post-human) era?

I recently had the opportunity to ditch the tech in favor of the timeless when I visited Venice for the first time.

It seems amazing to me that -- having lived in Europe -- I never set foot in the stunning port city until now but in a way I'm glad. I think it takes a certain level of understanding nuances, slower pacing and maturity to appreciate Venice. I probably wouldn't have been able to grasp its allure during my club-hopping collegiate years, for instance.

I stayed in the Luna Hotel Balgioni, which has the distinction of being the oldest hotel in Venice. It's also a five-star luxury canal-front property -- beautifully preserved in time -- that has hosted legends in their respective fields like Sean Connery, Nelson Mandela and Ennio Morricone.

What I discovered on my short sojourn was how Venice so beautifully balances old and new in its architecture and art installations and in its lifestyle in general.

Please join me in re-living the sights and sounds of my short but sweet stay in this web video, Chic Trek: Venice, from my Chic Trek series.

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Comments

[robidomoore]

08:50 AM on 12/12/2011

possibly one of the most romantic cities with the least night life and one of the hardest to find a local hangout type of restaurant but at the same time wonderful to get lost in the backstreets of the canals. I only recommend this city for 2 days and one of those days should be on the outer islands.

[Shana Ting Lipton]

05:29 AM on 12/13/2011

I agree. It was my first time in Venice despite having lived in Europe for years. But (as I mention in another article), I don't know that I would have appreciated Venice when I was at school in Europe as I was more keen on hitting the nightlife--every night. The city has these rich nuances that I personally didn't notice or enjoy until the pace of my own life slowed a bit and I wasn't so much into hitting the clubs anymore. There are definitely better cities--like Barcelona and Amsterdam--for that. Where did you stay on the outer islands?

[Shana Ting Lipton]

06:47 AM on 12/11/2011

It was on a trip to London, Paris and Amsterdam in December that I decided to move to Amsterdam (where I later lived for several years)! It was bone-chillingly cold but--like Team Brogan says about Venice--full of locals. I got a real feel for what it could be like to live there and fancied it. Bundling up is kind of romantic too--as long as you have a warm, cozy place to return to after a day of chilly sightseeing.

[Shana Ting Lipton]

03:50 AM on 12/09/2011

I'm not going to lie, Venice in the Winter was cold (it's in the North after all) but while I was there it was sunny. I didn't mind because I was there to see the architecture and art more than anything else. Venice or even more generally Europe in the winter isn't for everyone though :) It never bothered me; plus it's when you find the best deals, even on more luxurious digs.

[Wistfulslinking]

11:26 AM on 12/08/2011

How WAS Venice in Winter?

I'm considering it, but leery.

[Team Brogan]

03:17 PM on 12/10/2011

For me, winter the BEST time in Venice. Venetians will tell you that December and January are now the only months of the year without the tourist hoards. This is significant when you consider that there are about 60,000 residents but an average of 50,000 tourists per day (130,000 during carnival). So bundle up and enjoy the peace and quiet, where streets empty out by 8pm, and there's always a seat on the vaporetto.

[Wistfulslinking]

07:00 PM on 12/10/2011

Considering January, thanks!

[WalterFano]

05:36 PM on 12/07/2011

Interesting video, indeed,
but when you mention "the Lido" actually the islands I see in the video are the "Giudecca" Island on the right and the "San Giorgio Maggiore" Island on the left ;-)
And it is important to stress that the "spritz" is not Venetian, but Austrian,
the true and only typical drink of Venice is the "ombra",
if you don't know what is it, you have to come back again!

[Shana Ting Lipton]

04:11 AM on 12/08/2011

Hey there. Yes I know the Lido is further in the distance not right across the way. It was in the general direction of my amazing room as one of the hotel staff pointed it out when he mentioned living there. The locals I talked to all said the Spritz came from Venice but it was given a Germanic name as you so accurately pointed out. They all seemed pretty proud of their Spritzes and Bellinis :) I would love to go back... Just waiting to be invited.

[WalterFano]

05:35 AM on 12/08/2011

Actually the "Spritz" was born in Venice during the Austrian domination in the nineteenth century: the Austrian soldiers were not accustomed to strong Italian wine so in the bars they asked wine and water, so was born the "Spritz", which at first was simply watered wine, then with time it was modified in several current variations.
I know very well the cuisine history and the Venetian because I organize some Venice tours on this topic ;-)