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Globe Trekker TV Shows: Venice City Guide |
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Presenter: Justine Shapiro
Traveller Justine Shapiro explores what is arguably
the world's most stunning city, Venice. Situated
in a lagoon in the Adriatic Sea off mainland
Italy, this city built on water is a maze of
over 100 tiny islands linked together by a network of
bridges.
The way to explore Venice is either by boat or on foot
- there are no cars in the city. Justine hops aboard
a public waterbus, or vaporetto, that takes her
along the Grand Canal to her evening's accommodation,
an elegant palazzo with amazing views over the
city. |
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St. Mark's Square, Venice
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Justine begins her sight-seeing at the epicentre of
Venice, St. Mark's Square. Napoleon described
it as the 'the finest drawing room in Europe' but Justine
finds it full of tourists and pigeons today. She marvels
at the basilica, and its ornate mosaics that
tell of how daring Venetians stole St. Mark's body from
the Orient and brought it to the city for prestige and
honour. As Justine leaves the main sights behind and
explores Venice's backstreets she finds that it's all
too easy to become lost in the labyrinthine alleyways,
although she also discovers this is a perfect way to
stumble upon hidden treasures.
No visit to Venice would be complete without a ride
in a gondola; Justine gets a romantic ride and
a cheeky insider's view on the city from pin-up gondolier
Gianbattista. |
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Justine takes a ten-minute boat ride from Venice across
the lagoon to the island of The Lido for some
glamour. It is the setting for the annual Venice
Film Festival and she lines up with other tourists
along the red carpet hoping for a glimpse and a chat
with some of Hollywood's hottest stars.
Next stop is Burano, a complete contrast to
The Lido. This sleepy fishing village is famous for
its brightly coloured houses and lace-making. Justine
tries her hand at the intricate needlework with the
help of an octogenarian islander.
Back in Venice, Justine mingles with young Venetians
at a popular bar and tries the local seafood tapas
before taking an unusual night tour with the romantic
city's most infamous lover and libertine, Casanova. |
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Row, row, row your boat: Justine Shapiro with Gianbattista
the gondolier
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The Venice Regatta, Grand Canal
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The following day, Justine heads to Doge's Palace.
This palace, resplendent in gold and sumptuous oil paintings,
was the political heart of the Republic of Venice. It
was home to the city's elected leader, the Doge, and
its Bridge of Sighs leads to the city's incarcerated.
Venice's unique status of being built on water also
means that it faces a precarious future, as the city
is regularly prone to flooding. Justine takes a boat
ride with a local scientist who explains how heavy water
traffic and industry are threatening the equilibrium
of the lagoon, and what counter-steps are being taken.
Back on a boat on the Grand Canal, Justine completes
her Venetian adventure - by taking part in one of the
city's most colourful and joyful festivals - the annual
Rowing Regatta. A flotilla of historic boats
is followed by fast and furious racing to determine
the city's speediest gondoliers.
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