2:00-???
8:00 am departure - Train at 7:20
Gondola Factory
Opera
Cantine de Vino old Schiavi - Vini al Bottegon (Bizarre Foods - Where gondoliers eat) Near Gondola Factory
Venice Round trip prices
Possible future Hotels
May 10, 2013 by Meagan Drillinger
When returning from any big trip (you
know, the kind that takes months of planning and several disappointed looks at
your bank statement),
I find it’s often the smallest of activities that is the most meaningful. And
when I think of Venice, of course I think of the canals and the gondolas
and the labyrinth of streets that get you hopelessly (but romantically) lost.
(Seriously, Venice is gorgeous. Enough cannot be said about that.)
But these are never my first thoughts.
My mind goes straight to the Rialto, one of the most
heavily trafficked parts of an overly toured city. Tucked behind an unassuming
storefront,
directly across the street from the frenetic (and pungent) fish market is
Pronto Pesce, a small fish
shop selling local delicacies that were most
likely swimming just a few hours prior to your purchase.
I discovered this little gem on the Travel Channel‘s recently wrapped series, No Reservations. Knowing Anthony Bourdain would never steer
me wrong, I knew that this had to be a stop on my own itinerary to Venice. And boy, did Mr. Bourdain ever find a prime spot!
The display case, upon first glance, isn’t really all that impressive – especially if you don’t know what it is you’re looking at.
Fortunately, the people behind the counter speak English relatively well and are more than willing to explain what it is you see.
I asked for a sampling of everything. Greatest decision ever. The store clerk set to work, piling a plate high with smoked swordfish, squid eggs,
salted cod spread, sardines, shrimp, shark, and tuna. Add to that, crusty, rustic bread and tiny glasses of Prosecco, which are filled generously
and often. (Prosecco, to Venetians, is like morning coffee and completely acceptable for consumption before 11am.)
Pronto Pesce opened in 2007 as a
simple fish market with takeaway service, but since then has grown to become an
eat-in establishment, as well.
There are fewer than 20 seats in the entire store and through large glass
windows diners can gaze out at the raucous action at the Rialto.
The patrons that wander in and out are undeniably local – not a Nikon or a fanny pack in sight! If you are on a trip to Venice this is a perfect spot
for a light lunch, an afternoon buzz and a peek into what Venice would be like without anyone but Venetians.
Traveler’s tip: Because Venice is mostly occupied with tourists, I wouldn’t recommend spending more than one or two days in the city. Hotel rooms
and most restaurants are out-of-this-world expensive, and you are essentially visiting a giant outdoor museum. The city is a must-see, for sure, but
Italy is home to towns that are just as picturesque and infinitely more authentic.
Fortunately, Italy’s extensive rail network makes a quick trip to Venice entirely possible.
Visit
Trenitalia for train fares and schedules. A high-speed train from Rome takes less than four hours, making Venice a great destination for a weekend jaunt.
Left-luggage
offices are located at:
The arrivals hall of
Venice Marco Polo Airport,
near the post office. (The airport also has
free luggage carts.)
The
Venice Santa Lucia Railway Station,
near track 1. (The last time we checked, hours were 6 a.m. to midnight.)
The
Piazzale Roma (where
buses and taxis enter and leave Venice).
Click here for a Google
satellite map with a pushpin icon that
shows the location of the deposito
bagagli office. (Note: The office is separate from the Cooperativa's waterside
headquarters building.)
The
Venice Cruise Terminal's
Marittima and San Basilio buildings, where left-luggage offices are normally
open on days when cruise ships are arriving and departing.
Tip: For current rates and hours of the deposito bagagli offices at
Piazzale Roma and Marco Polo Airport, see the "Luggage Storage"
section of Cooperativa Trasgagagli Venezia's English-language Services page.
LUGGAGE STORAGE
At Piazzale Roma is available a service of custody and storage of the luggage,
daily from 6.00 AM to 9.00 PM at the cost of € 7,00 per piece
for each 24h from the delivery, to allow our customers in
transit to be able to move freely in town.
Tel: 041.5231107
In the airport, inside the arrivals hall close to the post office, the storage
service is available daily from 5.00 AM to 9.00 PM
at the cost of € 6,00 per piece for each 24h from the
delivery.
Tel. 041.2605043
Hotel alla Salute (lower left)
