TRANSPORTATION IN VENICE

Venice is well known by the nickname ‘city of canals’ is surrounded by water that provides a pleasant climate to the town. As the city is connected by system of canals so the transportation is mainly through water. Although canals are filled with a number of motor power boats, water taxis and water buses but the best-known mean of transportation to enjoy the cool and calm climate is the ‘Gondola’. These are the unique, keel less boat and have long been outnumbered by other vessels. These are the attractive feature of Venice with their elegant, sleek shape and gleaming black paintwork. One would love to be rowed at twilight through the canals, enjoying the singing of ‘Gondoliers’ along with running commentary of the site passing through. One could willingly pay the outrageous price for this. Previously these gondoliers used to recite the verses from such Italian poets as Ariosto or Tasso. Even many writers have described the beauty of these moments in their work. Now a day, the cost of their maintenance is drifting them towards gradual disappearance. It is better to check out the price, length and route of the trip before riding to avoid any confusion.

As Venice is a walking city, cars are not allowed on the island except some great parking at Rome square and the Lido. Thus most people get around on foot to get across the dry land, along the banks of the canals, on the paved streets, through the neighborhood squares and over the canal bridges.

If one want to move from one area to another then the facility of a variety of motor powered boats is there. They range from the vaporetti; public waterbuses to the private launch water motor taxis. But these make a bit of racket in the silence atmosphere of the place with no cars. Water taxis are quite expensive but the waterbuses are not, as they run by the municipal transport system.

Water buses provides several lines and routes along the canals and out in the lagoon with stoppage at various stops giving time to enjoy the various sites whether it is at Murano, the Lido, St.Mark’s square and so on. The need is to just buy a ticket to wander these places.

This water scene becomes colorful with other specialized craft such as the barges carrying fruits and vegetables, the garbage barges, ambulance and police launches, and the boats filled with tourists’ baggage.

The trip to up and down the Grand Canal becomes wonderful when the sight of all the palaces lining the canal is there and at the same time the view of many of the traditional arched marble bridges is amazing. Many of them are still present but in the 19th century a large number of old bridges were replaced by wrought iron structure.

Three bridges span the Grand Canal; among them the Rialto Bridge is the famous one that was designed by aptly named Antonio da Ponte. The other two are the Accademia Bridge, which is a high arched wooden structure with a temporary look and the bridge at one of the railway station made of marble in 1932.

Along with this buses and trains also runs on the mainland. Mostly the buses are from Piazzale Roma and trains are from Santa Lucia. Thus Venice provides all the facilities required for the transportation for a memorable trip.