VENICE: The City of Mirrors, The City of Mirages, At once Solid and Liquid, At once Air and Stone

Do Lafazon ki hai dil ki kahani, ya hai mohhabbat ya hai jawaani!!!!!! 

I am sure we all remember this romantic and intense song composed for the movie The Great Gambler, by the legendary musician, Rahul Dev Burman in the late 70's.

This song on the Indian Cinema screen brought to notice the nostalgic and melodious voice of RD's love: Asha Bhonsle and also came in limelight, the rustic and deep voice of the iconic Indian Cinema Screen Superstar, Amitabh Bachchan!!!

Not only this song became the favourite of many in Love or, out of Love, but it also introduced to the Indian audience, a mesmerizing place to go for romantic escapes or their Honeymoon. VENICE also called Venezia in Italian, is what we are presenting to our readers this edition.

Post the Great Gambler movie, Indians started flocking this tiny city interconnected with 118 Islands and surrounded by over 150 short and narrow canals for their honeymoon and anniversaries. Thus became popular among Indians, the culturally rich city "Venice" a World Heritage Site. Venice, an Italian delight located in North East Italy and by the marshy Venetian Lagoon, is most frequently visited the place by tourists in the world today.

A Celestial place, Venice just entices you, hooks you to the present moment and at the same time, pushes you back in time. A nostalgic city that, freezes your romantic moments, make you feel timeless, while you on your honeymoon wrap each other in, Love!

In my cruise tours to Venice as a Cruise Crew, I made it a point that I must visit St. Marcos Square and Basilica, mecca for tourists visiting Italy. Tourist coming to Italy do not miss Venice and The Vatican City, Rome. Some who have a flavour for village life, make it a point to visit Tuscany (a city in Italy, where one cannot miss to experience the Renaissance-era art and architecture, Apennine Mountains, Elbas Sunny beaches and Vineyards and Olive farms). 

Coming back to Venice, let's talk about Why one should visit Venice?

Venice Tourist attractions:

I am happy to share some of the many reasons, why you shall go to Venice, especially on a Honeymoon or even for your big fat Punjabi Wedding.

· Venice is Beautiful and the SUN in Venice is refreshing:

· It's laced with Canals and Dome savvy architecture and sprawling markets with Souvenirs.

· Murano Glass, its glass items, and Glass chandeliers are a native to Venice.

· The Doge's Palace: A palace built in Venetian Gothic style- is one of the main landmarks of Venice:

· For its Privacy and Peace in the Ocean's Jewel city " Venice".

· For its weather- Ideal time to visit: April end to October each Year: Ideal time to Cruise into Venice: June-September

· You will cherish each and every tiny canal you will encounter and cozy feeling you get as you travel in a Gondola at Snail's pace.

· You will enjoy doing a Picnic by the Grand Canal

· The Rialto markets for all sort of vegetables and Fruits

· The Sea Food

· For its Food Culture, especially the traditional small snacks menu "Cicchetti" which are exclusively served in Venice in a "Bacari" along with Quintessential Cocktail.

· You will get lost in the small and narrow lanes of this ancient city, and soon you have found yourself :-)

· Hope and Hop off Ferry Boat Rides

· The Romantic Gondola's (are priced between 75-100 Euros) for a couple

· To walk by the famous and well lit up St. Mark's square past Midnight

· The history and colourful buildings, multi restaurants will entice you to extend your trip a week longer.

Some noted places to visit Venice:

· GRAND CANAL (Longest artificial canal/river in the World, is the UNESCO world heritage site)

· RIALTO BRIDGE (hosts the bridge side market- it's a tourist site in itself, one can shop for fruits/veggies, fish, and appetizers. Also famous for quick meals.

· CAFFE FLORIAN (Oldest Café in the world, established in 1720, Located at Piazza SAN Marco)

· DORSODURO (6th sestiere or so-called District of Venice)

· PIAZZA SAN MARCO (Principal Public Square/place in Venice)

· SAINT MARK'S BASILICA (Saint Mark's Roman Catholic Cathedral Church)

· MURANO (A series of Islands in the Venetian Lagoon)

The Cruise Approach:

Venice is easy to approach, there are direct flights from Delhi, Mumbai, London, New York. One of the craze that is developing is going to Venice by a Cruise Ship. There are various cruises from Istanbul some are from Venice and then Back to Venice, such a 7-night cruise would include countries like: Turkey, Croatia, Greece, Montenegro, Monte Carlo-France. A cruise for 7 nights on a Premium Cruise Line will cost around 900-1000 USD per person.

Popular Hindi movies shot in Venice:

· The Great Gambler - Amitabh Bachan and Zeenat Amaan

· Song Khuda Jaane from movie 'Bachna Ae Haseeno’

· Kambakht Ishq - Kareena Kapoor and Akshay Kumar

Famous English movies shot at Venice:

· Casino Royale

· Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade

· The Merchant of Venice

· Casanova

Things you should know while visiting Venice:

Gondola is a flat bottomed manual rowing boat native to the Venetian lagoon

Campi is the name given to any urban place in Venice.

Airport name is Venice Marco Polo Airport

Currency in Venice is Euro

Stay:

For Budget Stays: A double bedroom in a 2-3 star hotel in Venice City will cost between 4000- 6000 INR

Famous and Luxury Hotels in Venice: (Most of them are located by the canals and your transport are small boats and ferry)

· Hotel Danieli- Located at Sestiere Castello

· Starhotels Splendid Venice- Located at St. Marcos Merciere

· The Gritti Palace Venice- Located at Campo Santa Maria

· Belmond Hotel

· Aqua Palace Venice

· Palace Bonvecchiati

· JW Marriott Venice Resort and Spa

There is something so different in Venice from any other place in the world, that you leave at once all accustomed habits and everyday sights to enter an enchanted garden.