Jacobs Travel Blog

Italy Travels: Episode 8. VENICE

Venice is not simply a city—it is a living open-air museum where history, art, architecture, and everyday life blend seamlessly into one unforgettable experience.

Yes, Venice is over-touristed. But visit in spring or winter and you'll discover a very different city. The crushing summer crowds are gone, replaced by a gentler, slower pace that allows you to truly appreciate its magic.

My advice? Get lost on purpose.

Skip the checklist and wander through a labyrinth of canals, bridges, hidden squares, and narrow alleyways. Rise before sunrise, when Venice is at its most enchanting. Leave the main tourist routes behind and explore the quiet backstreets and peaceful canals that many visitors never see. Stay on the island itself if you can, ideally in a small family-run hotel where Venetian hospitality still feels warm and genuine.

Frequent the neighborhood bàcari—tiny local wine bars buzzing with life. Grab an espresso, a simple sandwich, a glass of local wine, and watch Venetian life unfold around you.

As evening approaches and the setting sun transforms the canals into ribbons of liquid gold, Venice enters one of its most cherished rituals: the giro d'ombra. Find a tiny bàcaro, squeeze in shoulder-to-shoulder with locals, order an ombra—a small glass of house wine—and sample a few cicchetti while conversations flow as easily as the wine.

And don't miss one of Venice's greatest bargains: a ride on the public vaporetto along the Grand Canal. As you glide past colourful palaces, centuries-old churches, and elegant waterfront facades, the city reveals itself from the perspective it was meant to be seen—from the water.

Venice rewards those who slow down, wander without a plan, and embrace the unexpected. The real magic isn't found in checking landmarks off a list. It's discovered around the next corner, across the next bridge, or beside a quiet canal where time seems to stand still.

That is most of what we did. Of course the Italian travels took months of research, early selections and reservations. Rick Steves books, videos and blogs were quite useful.

Italy Travels 2026: episode 6
If I have to select one favourite region it would be Tuscany. Stayed a week in Florence the key city, consuming its art, history, architecture, wine and food culture. Went through many of the neighbouring towns including Pisa, Siena, san Gimignano, Chianti, Lucca, Monteriggioni, many of Chianti hills and vineyards.

Italy Travels 2026:
Cinque Terre (five villages) was a photographer’s dream. Riameggiore climb to the castle was steep and lots of steps, but the view was worth it. Lots of hiking and steps to climb, made it with lots of rest stops. Quite tiring doing the villages, but the weather was gorgeous.

The art of traveling with spinner carryons has been fine tuned for 3+ weeks. So no checked baggage and easy for the stairs and cobblestones in Italy. We use compression bags for the content and carefully selected travel clothes. The bag also includes my camera equipment. Another thing to pick carefully is credit or travel cards that give you free business class lounge access so you can have your dinner in style. I am covered for Toronto and Milan. There are some classy lounges in many airports - in particular I like the Turkish Airlines and the middle easter airline ones.