A Month In Venice

The Dolomites is the mountain range that is outside of Venice. In the Veneto region this part of northerner Italy is one of the more spectacular sites you can see if you are a nature lover. The Dolomites are part of the Italian alps and was only incorporated into Italy until after the first world war.

Because the Dolomites are on the Italian alps this is a mecca for many skiers who choose to vacation here during the winter months. In the summer you have the mountain climbers who make it a challenge to scale the many steep ridges that make up the Alps.

Because this was once a transport route between Italy and the rest of Europe there are many mountain passes that can be walked by foot, driven by car or even by train if one should choose to do so.

Many sporting events take place around this area and during the summer you can see many free climbers trying to scale mountains without any help from gear. Free climbing was invented here when a 17 year old Georg Winkler scaled Die Vajolettürme. While I would not recommended doing this for the average tourist it is certainly something to look out for and if you are lucky enough to see one of these acts in person then take the time to  see if the person actually makes it.

You can visit many villages in the area including Arabba, Oritzer and San Martino di Castrozza to name just a few. Most of the villages here though will not be pure Italian as they will have some influences from the surrounding areas. Rather you will see a mix of cultures of Austrian, Swiss and Italian that pervades all of the surrounding valleys and hills in the area.

Regardless if you are backpacking through Italy it is vital that you check out this area as it contains many wonders that are not to be missed.

As you are probably aware I have not been updating this site as often as I should and want. The reason is that I have been expanding my blogging influence by starting up some other Italy related blogs. Some might still be aware that the whole purpose of this site was to help pay for me to spend a month in Venice Italy in order to learn the Italian language. Since I am fully aware now that I cannot do this with just one site I have chosen to expand to a multiple blog strategy. The goal with each site is to give valuable information for the budget traveler or student traveler that wants to spsnd some quality time in Italy.

My site on Naples, Italy for instance has only begun but it still gets some traffic even though it has a measly one post. I do plan on expanding the information on that site to cover all of the attractions around the area such as the Island of Capri, the city of Sorrento, the Amalfi Coast and do not forget the volcano Vesuvius. it should be a great resource for those interested in spending time in that area whether they are on honeymoon or just vacationing there.

I have another site on the city of Rome called Viva Rome. Now this site I have been expanding on and have included some of the foundation articles that I hope to later expand on. If you need to know the top ten sights to see in Rome then I have you covered. Right now I am doing a series on those sites so please read my blog if you want to know the nitty gritty about the city.

One final site I have just started on Florence, Italy also is turning out pretty well. I have already got some traffic on that site and again I hope to start a series on some of the top sights to see in Florence.

So yes I am sorry I have been neglecting this website but I have expanded to many other cities in Italy so hopefully you will still be able to find out useful nuggets of information regardless of which site you choose to visit.  And yes I do plan on updating this site as well. Sometime this week I should have some good insights on the surrounding areas of the Dolomites and the various activities you can do when you are there.

The city of Mestre is on the mainland that connects to the Venetian lagoon. For many travelers to Venice you will not stay in this part of Italy. This is not really such a bad thing as there really is not too much to do and see in this city. Rather Mestre is more of a jumping off point to get to Venice.

So then why devote an entire blog post to this non descript city? Well for many that want a
cheap romantic vacation in Venice but do not want to spend loads of money you have the option of staying in Mestre. Mestre caters to the budget Venice traveler as many of the hotels are a fraction of the cost then what you will stay in Venice. So you see a romantic stay in Venice is possible if you are willing to venture out a bit and stay in the less glamorous sections of this lagoon.

Here are just some of the places you can stay in Mestre that is sure to be kind ot your wallet.

Bw Hotel Bologna
Via Fiave 214, Mestre, VE 30175
One of the better rated hotels this is a sure bet to have your cake and eat it as well while you enjoy your stay.

Ambasciatori Hotel
Corso Del Popolo, Mestre, VE 30172
Another fine establishment that is sure to please many if not most. Certainly worth a visit if you are in the area.

Hotel Paris
Via Venezia, 11, , Mestre, Veneto 30171
I have not heard any negative reviews of this hotel yet so I am very confident that you should enjoy your stay here.

Kappa Hotel
Via Trezzo 8, Mestre, VE 30174
A quaint place that is sometimes well received by some. Since the reviews are hit and miss I might venture someplace else but it is worth mentioning.

There are many other places to stay because as I said that Mestre caters to the budget traveler and there seems to be an endless supply of those in the world. Besides who wants to spend an enormous amount of money when your eyes are closed anyways? I am sure you understand what I mean. If you are planning on going to Venice at some point make sure you check out Mestre as it will sure save your wallet some bucks.

Jack from Eyeflare.com did a great post on resources to plan a Venice trip and I want to continue on what he has done with a post of my own. There are thousands upon thousands of webpages dedicated to the city of venice so how does one decide which one is better then the next? Well that is more up to personal opinion then anything else but there are some factors to consider such as how often a website is updated and how accurate it is.

For instance I have found that the Venice City Guide from Time Out Travel to be one of the best resources online that you can find. Not only is the site comprehensive but it is also accurate and timely to boot.

The website of world 66 is also a great site if you plan on visiting Venice or any other city they may cover. The information covers all the bases to eating out to the history to day trips to and from Venice. Definitely worth a look.

Lastly I would recommend a website i recently just came across called Living Venice where it is from two people who actually live in Venice right now. You will not find a more up to date blog then this one. Well perhaps mine can come in a close second place.

The island of Burano is not really in Venice but it is in the Venetian lagoon. Like Murano this island has its specialty craft, in this case hand made lace. Burano is not just a single island but a network of islands or an archipelago. Many have equated Burano to be the Lego land version of Venice. This is mostly because all of the buildings are much smaller and the place is much more brightly painted then the main city of Venice giving it a almost toy like feel to the place.

The origins of this island are still in doubt and the name of the city has two very distinct stories as well. Some believe the island of Burano came from people who settled from an other island called Buranello which is five miles south of the city. Others however believe that this island was settled by members of the Buriana family. The island did not gain any prominence until the 16th century when the craft of lace making was refined here. A school was later built to teach the craft and much of the work of the island was exported to all parts of Europe who were eager to buy the lace.

So what is there to do on the island of Burano? Well unlike Venice this island is not swamped with as many tourists and hence it is much easier to get around. If you wanted to know what Venice felt like earlier this century then visit this island as it is like stepping back in time. The island is very popular with artists who prefer the brightly colored homes over the contrasted stark nature of the buildings in the city of Venice. There are a few attractions to see on this island such as the Church of San Martino and the Museum and School of Lacemaking.

I certainly would not consider this island to be hub of a bustling young nightlife as it is truly an Italian city which is pretty laid back as most people just enjoy a night out with friends and family. However if you should get the time to see this island I am sure that most will enjoy it.