Today on Wish I was There Wednesday, I thought it might be fun to visit Venice, Italy, one of my favorite destination spots. The serenity of this beautiful city with its exquisite landmarks and warm friendly residents unexpectedly touched my heart and soul. I had not expected such a deep connection but totally embraced it wholeheartedly. So hop on my magic carpet ride and see if you love Venice as much as I do. Giuseppe Verdi was absolutely right.
Begun in 1631, the ‘Salute’ church was built as a kind of offering to the Virgin Mary for deliverance from the Black Plague epidemic ravaging Venice in 1630. Most of the objects of art housed inside the church refer to the Black Death.
The caption of the gondolier shown above was added as a tongue-in-cheek comment. Venetian gondoliers would never sing that song as that is associated with Neapolitans. Venice tourist officials have banned the singing of it since the 1980’s. Sadly, it’s what most Americans think of when in Venice.
Have you ever been to Venice? Did you fall in love with this beautiful city and its friendly people? Well, it’s guess it’s probably time for you to get back to work. Thanks for ‘traveling’ with me on a ‘Wish I was there” kind of day.
Live, love, bark! ❤︎
🐬..thank you for the great trip! 🐬….oughta have you stamp my passport! 🐬
Ha! Since the shutdown, we short on border personnel.
I went for a few years running with my father when in my teens…but always in November. He took me round the churches…lighting the pics with his torch because he would not pay to have them illuminated. I lived the place…chilly, foggy, ideal for a teenage romantic.
It’s a magical place to my way of thinking.
The romance of Venice goes beyond the teenage angst stuff. It’s such a lovely place to enjoy life.
Loved Venice. Check out my ‘Bright, Beautful Burano’ article, I would love to know what you think 🙂
It’s such a fabulous area with something for everyone.
Where I am kind of planning to retire. Possibly my favorite place in the world.
One of mine too. I’d move there in a NY minute if they’d take me. 🙂
There are so many European countries/cities I want to visit. I’ve been to South America, but I want to see Normandy, Paris, Nice, Marseilles, Salzburg, Germany, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Belgium, etc. But more than likely I’ll have to wait for my next lifetime to get there. So thank you for sharing your magic carpet rides with us!!
Ooh I love your travel wishes. I hope to share a few more magic carpet rides in the future. Get ready to pack your bags!
I’ve been all over Italy, and traveled mostly by bike. But I never made it to Venice. It looks gorgeous!
It truly is but riding around on a bike might be a tad problematic because of all the pedestrians. 😉
Never been, so thanks for sharing your memories.
So glad you could ‘travel along.’ 😀
Beautiful photos! (Also love the tulips-in-the-snow shot on the last post.) I love Italy! Went with my girlfriend many many years ago. We went to Venice, Rome, the Cinque Terrence … but my favorite city was Florence. Oh the food we had there!!!! Some day I hope to go back with the hubs.
I hope you are able to return soon. I love the whole country. And the food is just fabulous.
We have never been but it is a beautiful city. We did go to the Venetian in Las Vegas. LOL!
A semi-close second! 😇
I have been to several Italian cities, but never Venice. You’d think a city on the water would be the first place I’d visit.
Now I worry that it won’t last enough in the rising water for me to visit. So thank you for allowing me to travel vicariously.
I would love to go to Venice, we didn’t get there when we were in Italy a few years ago.
What a beautiful city! Thanks for sharing it!!
My human mommy visited Venice several years ago. Like you, she was completely surprised by how much she connected with and loved the city. Thanks for reminding her of how much she loved it!
It’s easy to become a believer once Italy has ‘kissed’ you. ❤︎
I love your Wish I Was There Wednesday posts! They always inspire me to throw a little money in the travel fund! Venice is so lovely! A true paradise on earth!
So glad you like riding on our magic carpet rides. Venice truly is a paradise full of wonder, beauty and some of the kindest people in Europe!
I haven’t visited Italy at all, though I would love to visit Venice (and many other places in the country)!
Well worth the trip!
I’d go for the food alone!
Food and wine rank right definitely at the top. 🍷
How did I forget the wine?!
See…you’re working too hard!
Less working, more wining!
A very close friend was there a couple of years ago while completing her culinary degree. Italy stole her heart. I think she would move there if she could, but then she would have to take me…and Jeff…and etc.
I know I’d move there in a NY minute!
Our pawrents went there butt said they didn’t have much time. BUTT they did go on a gondola ride that mom hated cuz she is so afraid of water. The man thought she was weird.
Your Pals,
Murphy & Stanley
When you live in a high mountain desert, it’s easy to be afraid of water. While I didn’t do the gondola thing, I did travel around in water taxis and loved the experience. Being on the water was so cool and the lagoon isn’t all that deep.
I just really wanna go on a gondola ride lol
They are fun to watch but I actually preferred the water taxis. You mingle with the locals and it was actually more fun (and much cheaper). 🙂
I really wanna go to so I can tour all the historical places. And eat at a real pizzeria 😄
The food is to die for…and not just the pizza. 😉
I’d starve to death. where’s the FOOOOOOOD?
Ate it all. Every. single. delicious. bite.
A place I would like to visit to one day.
It’s totally worth the effort to get there.
Great post!! Love all parts of Italy, each area has its own special beauty! I have relatives spread throughout Italy from the Swiss border to Sicily, and have so many great memories of every place I’ve been…and of course the people and the food. Why is it that when I think of the best –fill in the blank–I ever ate or drank, I always think of Europe?! 🙂
Truth be told, I never expected to fall in love with Venice-everyone said it was dirty, it smelled, etc. But fall in love I did and so grateful to have fully embraced it! And you’re right, best food/drink I’ve ever experienced was in Europe. They know how to tantalize the taste buds and make you savor the experience.
So true…
it’s one of my dreams but seems a world away. Beautiful pictures. I only wish you could return for a visit.
I thought so too and NEVER expected to fall in love with it. It truly is a world away and not just in distance. 🙂
Here Here! I loved Venice too. And the Gondola man even let me ride on one!
R
Wow Ralph, I’ve never seen a Venetian boat dog! Way to go.