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Venice – Christmas 2024

We decided to go to Venice just before Christmas, from the 11th to the 14th December, just 3 nights. This time, instead of booking a hotel, we decided to stay in our favourite accommodation, an Airbnb.

Wednesday 11th December.

Up early (very early) for a 9am flight by Easyjet to Venice Marco Polo. Then a boat ride from the airport to the island and a short walk to the accommodation.

Who would know there would be so much traffic at 5.30am on the roads!! Road works, mega traffic and a journey which took 2 hours, not the normal 1 and a half. Then at the airport (Gatwick North), the queue for security was massive. In the end we had to walk very briskly over the bridge to the Easyjet section. We made it in time but with no breakfast or even a drink! The flight was good and we had 3 seats between the 2 of us. We also has a hot drink and a Croque Monsieur, both of which were OK.

On arrival at Venice Marco Polo airport we said goodbye to road traffic for a few days and caught the water bus to the main island. We hopped off at the Ospedale stop and walked to our Airbnb, which was quite a short distance. This is the first time we have opted for an Airbnb and not a hotel and we were not disappointed. An excellent little flat with all the usual Airbnb facilities.

After a supermarket stop we ventured to the Rialto Bridge and caught a Vaporetto Water Bus, and then another one back to our flat. Venice at night in December is lovely – more “Christmassy” than before when we have visited.

: on the Grand Canal

: Rialto

: Pizza

: Vaporetto water bus

Thursday 12th December

Another beautiful day. Blue skies and crisp but not too cold. We decided to walk to the Rialto Bridge and take Vaporettos – eventually to Murano. We had a lovely lunch in the bright sunshine. Following this we caught another boat and stopped off at the cemetery island. I don’t know what we were expecting but it was a surprise to see all the coffins above ground. We assume it’s to avoid flooding in the winter.

We had many more boat rides, mainly down the Grand Canal, plus a lot of walking. We had booked a viewing on the rooftop of the Fondaco Dei Tedeschi. Great views from the top of a very swish department store. We decided to walk home and eventually managed to find our Airbnb. Not easy in Venice as every bridge/church/square looks the same.

: DHL delivering

: Cemetery

: Lunch on Murano

: on the back of a Vaporetto

: Typical view

: Rialto Bridge

: Rooftop view

: rooftop view

: Rooftop panorama

Friday 13th December

We forgot that the Vaporetto crews were on strike to day and were running a very limited service. We were heading for Torcello Island but only made it as far as Morano before turning back to catch a boat to the main island.

We decided that tonight’s meal would be a take away Pizza from the next door takeaway. This meant buying a bottle of decent wine to wash it down with. We called in at the local Coop and then went back to the flat to have lunch.

After lunch we aimed to walk to St Mark’s Square. On the way and just a few metres up the path we discovered three places. First, a massive Church (Basilica Santi Giovanni E Paolo) , built sometime in the 1300s. then on to two museums connected to the ancient hospital. Firstly a pharmacy museum which was slightly gruesome! Then next door and upstairs to the Scuolo Grande Di San Marco museum. The is was fascinating and contained many Tintoretto paintings plus many ancient books and Bibles in immaculate condition, dating from the 15th Century.