Explore Magical Venice with Insight Vacations
Explore Magical Venice with Insight Vacations
WJ Tested: Insight Vacations – Magical Venice Optional Excursion
Whether you’ve been to Venice before or it’s on your bucket list, we all have visions in our mind of this truly magical place. Showcased in movies, books and documentaries, “Venezia’s” unique setting on the Venetian Lagoon with its 118 islands, approximately 180 canals and over 400 bridges makes for an unforgettable experience.
Jill Takes a Water Taxi Ride on the Grand Canal
We LOVE Venice and reveled in every opportunity presented by Insight Vacations Italian Escapade Tour to delve deeper into this picturesque and culturally-significant locale. The optional ‘Magical Venice’ tour was a perfect way to say “ciao” (Italian for hello or goodbye) to this fine city on our first evening there with Insight.
Just out the door from Hotel Carlton – where we stayed for two nights – we boarded our private water taxi to cruise the famous Grand Canal. This canal, the main waterway, is the largest and longest in Venice. There are no roads in Venice! Shaped like a backwards ‘S’, it is just over 2 miles in length.
Magical Venice Water Taxi Ride
This was an evening cruise and the light was surreal. Watching water taxis, private boats, commercial vessels and gondolas maneuver amongst each other was a spectacle in and of itself. Cruising the canal allowed us sensational views of all the fabulous buildings along the way. With water lapping at their foundations we motored by the high rent district of the larger and grander residences of Venice. The facades were incredibly impressive and shutterbugs were in heaven.
Our boat took us to St. Mark’s Square. This ride took about 25 minutes with our fab Tour Director Mark narrating all along the way. Once at St. Mark’s Square we had free time (90 minutes) to roam as we pleased and grab a bite to eat. Here again, the evening light was superlative and many of us simply strolled about taking it all in.
Reflections in St. Mark’s Square
We met with our group again at 8:30 pm at the famous Gran Caffé Lavena. Here we sat on the terrace in Piazza San Marco and sipped on an included drink of our choice (many choosing Prosecco to set the mood).
Jill toasting with Prosecco at Gran Caffe Lavena in Venice
While the orchestra at the restaurant played lively, popular tunes we soaked up the view of St. Mark’s Basilica. As we basked in the beauty of this magical moment in Venice, Mark added his own special touch by giving all the ladies in the group a beautiful long-stem rose!
Gran Caffe Lavena in Piazza San Marco
San Marco Basilica at Night
Alas, all things must come to an end and we said “buona notte” to the dancing-with-light setting, boarded our private boat and slipped back down the canal to our hotel. Oh what a night!
Explore Magical Venice with Insight Vacations
Next… Murano Glass Demonstration and Venice Gondola Ride
Previous: Insight Vacations Italian Escapade Tour – Tour Overview | Meet and Greet in Rome! | Rome with Local Historian | Skip the Lines – Vatican Museums | Siena | Florence & Michelangelo’s David | Florence to Pisa | Exploring Baveno and Stresa on Lake Maggiore | Prosecco at Fratelli Berlucchi Vineyard | Visiting the Medieval City of Verona | Arriving in Venice and Hotel Carlton on the Grand Canal |
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Note: WAVEJourney were guests of Insight Vacations for their April 30 – May 12, 2013 Italian Escapade tour. Read our full disclosure statement to see that this has no effect on our reviews.
