Family Travelogue: VENICE: Cheap Grand Canal Cruise by Vaporetto/ Family Travelogue 12 June 2017 3 OF 3

Cruising the Grand Canal in Venice is like cruising a painting. Both sides offer fascinating views. So beautiful!!! with all those picturesque historical buildings: waterfrount churches and palaces ON water...floating. So amazing!.

Last day in Venice and last day in Italy. We did not leave this marvellous city without cruising the Grand Canal. The day before, we cruised the Venetian Lagoon and visited Burano and Lido Beach. For us, the best way and the cheapest way to cruise the Grand Canal is by Vaporetto- Venetian's water bus. We started at the Rialto station and there were only 7 stops to Piazalle Roma. If you are taking otherwise, you could take the Line 1 from Piazalle Roma to Lido to get the whole picture of the Grand Canal. There would be 20 stops without transfer . The return from Lido to Piazalle Roma, I believe there is no direct yet. You need to transfer at San Zaccariah station

It was actually a double purpose, we needed to go to Piazzale Roma to check out the road bus we should be taking to the airport. We were to depart at Marco Polo Airport to Amsterdam at 14:50. By the time we were with our big luggage, all went smooth from purchasing the tickets to boarding the bus. We took the Bus No. 5 at 8 euros one way. For more info in regard to airport transfer by road bus, check out this site: https://www.visit-venice-italy.com/transport-bus-airport-venice.html

You could get cheap airfare in Europe if you book at least 5 to 6 months in advance. However, the check in baggage fees are not cheap.

Vaporetto (water bus) passing Chiesa di San Geramia (Church of San Geremia) and the Palazzo Flangini on the Grand Canal

Vaporetto is a waterbus in Venice, Italy. Vaporetti in plural. It travels between Venice and nearby islands such as Murano, Burano, Torcello and Lido. We have featured in the previous post cruising the grand canal and the lagoon from Venice to Murano to Burano to Lido and back to San Marco basin. More so, the colourful houses in Burano and brief stop at Lido Beach.

Vaporetto means little steamer. In the past, the ships were run by steam. This transportation system is the only means to go around Venice and nearby islands. Due to deep canals, it is impossible for a railway system.

Tourist travel Time Tickets

Tourist travel Time Tickets (Price per person - Time duration begins at the ticket validation)	24 hours	48 hours	72 hours	7 days
Time Ticket Water Bus+Bus* unlimited (Airport not included: 6€ extra for a single fare and 12€ for an airport return ticket)	20 €	30 €	40 €	60 €

Buy Tourist travel Time Tickets

These Tourist travel Time Tickets can be bought in all Venezia Unica ticket offices in Venice.
There are also ticket machines in front of the water bus piers of Piazzale Roma (Santa Chiara), Piazzale Roma (Parisi), Ferrovia Train Station (Scalzi), Ferrovia Train Station (Santa Lucia), San Marcuola, Ca' d'Oro, Rialto, San Toma', Zattere, San Marco Vallaresso and Giardinetti, San Zaccaria Danieli, Jolanda, Pietà, Arsenale, Fondamente Nove, Lido SME, Burano, Punta Sabbioni.
There are also ticket machines at Venice Marco Polo Airport, at the Garage communal of Piazzale Roma and at Mestre's train station.

Water Buses and Road Buses: Validity and Exclusions

The Tickets and Tourist Travel Time tickets are valid on all Water bus ACTV lines at the exclusion of lines 19, 16, 21 and Casino ACTV Line (Exclusive line for the Casino's clients). ACTV tickets are not valid on Alilaguna Lines (Airport)
* Road Bus lines included in Tourist travel time tickets from 12 hours to 7 days are the Mestre Urban lines.The Airport-Venice bus service by bus line 5 is not included in these tickets.
Urban Road Bus lines included in the Tourist Travel Time tickets are indicated on this page.

Reference: https://www.visit-venice-italy.com/transport-vaporetto-venice-italy.htm

Rialto Bridge (far end) spanning the Grand Canal in Venice, Italy

The famous Ponte di Rialto (Rialto Bridge) is the oldest of the four bridges spanning the Grand Canal in Venice, Italy. It was built in the 12th century and has reconstructed for several times. The bridge connects San Marco and San Polo

Gondolas cruising the Grand Canal in Venice, Italy

Colourful cargo boats to deliver goods to the market. Venice, Italy

Rialto Mercato Vaporetto station seen on the right. Actually, the station is situated on the left at San Polo district. The vaporetti zigzag between the stations. Before the Rialto Mercato station, the boat stopped at Rialto station which is on the right side, at San Marco district.

Opposite the Rialto Mercato is the Palazzo Santa Sofia. It is known as Ca' d' Oro and had been used as a museum, Galleria Giorgio Franchetti, since 1927.

Fondamente Vin Castello at San Polo District, Venice, Italy

The office of the Tribunale Ordinario di Venezia (Ordinary court of Venice) is in this building. Along the Fondamente Vin Castello are waterfrount cafes and restaurants that serve Venetian cuisine.

Rialto Fish Market (Pescheria) on Grand Canal, Venice, Italy

Rialto Fish Market at Campo della Pescheria in Venice, Italy

Approaching the Fish Market in Venice, the building with red drapes hung in the arches of the halls. The market is located at Rialto, San Polo district. It is commonly called Mercato di Rialto. The market is situated at Campo della Pescaria and covered by Loggia Pescaria for centuries. Butcher shops, mall, hotels... are also within this area. Rialto has been the heart of the city even before Venice became Republic.

Fondazione Prada

Ca' Corner della Regina is a Venetian palazzo overlooking the Grand Canal in Venice, Italy. It was built in the 18th century by Domenico Rossi for the Corner family of San Cassiano. It was erected on the ruins of the Gothic building where the then future queen of Cyprus, Caterina Corner, was born in 1454. The frescoes on the first floor represents the life of Caterina Corner.

Since 2011, it has been the headquarter of Fondazione Prada in Venice which has launched 5 research exhibitions. The facade on the Grand Canal is made of Istrian stone.

Chiesa di San Stae at Santa Croce District, Venice Italy

Chiesa de San Stae is a Catholic Church in baroque style, situated in the sestiere of Santa Croce along the Grand Canal . San Stae is an abbreaviation for Saint Eustachius. The main facade faces the Grand Canal of Venice, It was founded in the 11th century and reconstructed in the 17th century by Domenico Rossi. Statues on the facade were decorated by Giuseppe Torretto Pietro Baratta, Antonio Tarsia, and Antonio Corradini

Palazzos at Santa Croce districts, Venice, Italy from left: Palazzo Duodo, Ca' Tron and Palazzo Belloni Battagia

Three of the few Palazzos at the sestiere (district) of Santa Croce along the Grand Canal. to start from left:
The Gothic style Palazzo Duodo was built in the 15th century. The palace was let to Marchese Orzio Lancilotti in 1712 and from 1808 to Carlo Duodo of S Maria Zobenigo.
The Ca' Tron Palace was rebuit in the 16th century for the Tron family. It is currently owned by the University Lua of Venice and houses the Faculty of Territorial Planning.
17th century Palazzo Belloni Battagia, once residence of the Belloni family, currently houses the Foreign Trade Institute.
Fondaco del Megio

Palazzo Duodo

Rio di Ca' Tron Venice, Italy

Rio di Ca' Tron is one of the small street canals in Venice in the district of Santa Croce. From the Grand Canal it is between Palazzo Ca' Tron and Fondaco del Megio.

Venetian Cargo Boats passing Fondaco dei Turchi on the Grand Canal

Fondaco dei Turchi presently houses the Natural History Museum since 1923. The palace, a Veneto-Byzantine style, was built in the 13th century for the Pesaro family.. It was used for trading depot for goods coming from East. In the 17th century, the palazzo became the residence and business sites by the Turkish merchants until 1838.. In 1865, the palace has been restored extensively, thereafter housed Museo Correr and later, the Natural History Museum.

Rio del Megio, Venice Italy

Rio del Megio is a small street canal in Venice in the district of Santa Croce. From the Grand Canal it is between Fondaco dei Turchi and Fondaco dei Megio.

Vaporetto and service boats on the Grand Canal

Vaporetto on the Grand Canal passing Guidice di Pace on the left and Palazzo Flangini on the right

On the left is the building of Guidice di Pace (Magistrate's court) and on the right is the Palazzo Flangini.

Palazzo Flangini is currently hosting art exhibitions, corporate and private events. It is adjacent to Campo San Geremia in the district of Cannaregio and close to Santa Lucia train station. This Baroque style palace was designed by architect Guiseppe Sardi.

Canal at the district of Santa Croce

Another street canal at the district of Santa Croce. It separates the two San Simeon churches. If it was shown on the photo, Church of San Simeon of Profeta could be on the left (not along the Grand Canal) and San Simeon Piccolo on the right (along the Grand Canal)

Nearing our destination. Ferrovia Station on the right. You could get off in this station if you are taking the Regional train at the Sta Lucia Station (Stazione di Venezia).

Church of San Simeon Piccolo on Grand Canal, Venice, Italy

Church of San Simeon Piccolo/ Chiesa di San Simeone Piccolo is located in the Sestiere of Santa Croce, on the Grand Canal, across the Sta Lucia Railway Station. The church was completed in the Neoclassical period, 1738. by Giovanni Antonio Scalfarotto. The architectural design made a reference to the Roman Pantheon

The name of the church is actually San Simeon and Jude. It was just called San Simeon Piccolo to distinguish from the nearby church, San Simeon Prophet.

San Simeon Piccolo is the only church in the city that celebrate mass in Latin.

Vaporetto on the Grand Canal passing hotels and small bridges on the left, nearing Piazalla Roma- one more stop

Passing under the Ponte di Constituzione (Constitution bridge), the newest and the 4th bridge spanning the Grand Canal in Venice, Italy. The bridge connects the Stazione di Venezia to Piazalla Roma. The first three bridges are: Rialto bridge, Bridge of Sigh and the Ponte dell' Accademia.

That ends the cruise.

St Mark's Basilica viewed from St Mark's square, Venice, Italy

We went back to San Marco and walked around. We did not go inside the Cathedral, the queue was very long.

Without a doubt, Venice is one of the beautiful cities in the world! If given a chance and time, we want to visit this enchanting city. There are more cities though that we wish to visit. Villages at Cinque Terre at the Italian Riviera and Amalfi in the Region of Campania are our next station the next Europe trip.

St Mark's Square, Basilica and the Campanile, Venice, Italy

Goodbye Bridges. Goodbye Canals. Goodbye to this romantic place. Goodbye Venice. Goodbye Italy.

At San Marco International Airport, off to Amsterdam by Easyjet.

To continue to Amsterdam

Continued from Cruise from Lido Beach to San Marco by Vaporetto

Please click the link for more of our Travels in ITALY

Please click the link for more of our travels this DIY 2015 Europe/UK Tour.

Check out the places we had visited in Asia