10 Things to Do in Venice in the summer

The City of Canals is one of the most visited tourist destinations in the world. Venice's attractions are not limited to its monuments, churches and palaces, as the city itself, with its canals and bridges, is an attraction for anyone looking for a destination where they can spend several days.

The Venetian summer is usually hot and the city is full of tourists. Despite these drawbacks, no one doubts that it is an unmissable visit, as this is the time of year when the city celebrates its most attractive festivals and activities. It is also the best time to enjoy the night, especially a romantic gondola ride under the stars.

If a gondola ride during the day is already an incredible experience, imagine being able to do it at night, with the buildings and bridges dimly lit all around you. This activity, which the cold of winter in Venice would not allow, is highly recommended if you are travelling in summer. So don't hesitate to book a gondola ride in Venice.

Once it gets dark, the seasonal heat begins to descend and it's the best time for interesting activities. Among them, especially if you are travelling as a couple, is a stroll along the canals of the city of Venice and enjoy the reflections that the lights leave on the water.

Also, the night is the ideal time to visit the less frequented canals, as well as areas away from the centre. If you can, ask the gondolier to pass under the Bridge of Sighs as he takes you on this wonderful journey.

If there's one event (besides the carnival) that rivals Venice' s finest landmarks in terms of appeal to locals and visitors alike, it's the famous film festival. In fact, most people who come to the Lido, where it's held, do so in the hope of catching a glimpse of one of the international stars who attend each year, but that alone is enough to entice you to come.

The Venice Film Festival is the oldest film festival in the world and is usually held in the first week of September. As I said, the venue is on the island of Lido and one of its main attractions is seeing the actors and actresses arrive in gondolas to present their films, not forgetting, of course, the walk down the red carpet.

Keep in mind that there are many people who try to see these moments, so if you don't want to stay in the fifth row you should arrive early. Of course, you can also attend one of the screenings as an audience member. Just buy tickets for those that are not specifically for journalists.

Summer is the best time of the year to enjoy the Venetian night. There are two types of venues that star in these nights: the bacari and the terraces of some buildings.

If you are looking for a familiar and popular atmosphere, the bacari are the place for you. These are typical Venetian taverns, with few seats and a long counter. The most popular are those in the San Polo and Cannaregio districts. It is usual to order a glass of wine or a spritz, the most popular aperitif among the locals. To accompany your drink, there is nothing better than the popular cicchetti, the Italian version of tapas. Among other specialities, I recommend:

• Croutons with cod.
• Mozzarella in carrozza.
• Sardines in saor.

The terraces are another alternative for having a drink. The main advantage, which is no small thing, is the marvellous views you will enjoy. However, the price is usually much higher, as they tend to belong to luxury hotels such as the Danieli. Another interesting option is to book a gastronomic tour of Venice where you will discover all the secrets of Venetian culinary history.

The best place to bid farewell to the Venetian summer is on a nearby island famous for its textile works: Burano. So don't hesitate to book an excursion to Burano. Two highly recommended events take place there in the third week of September, not to mention that the island itself is a must-see for those travelling to Venice.

• Regata di Burano: The regatta has similar characteristics to the Regata Storica. Men and women take part in it with different types of boats. Thousands of Venetians come to cheer on the participants, as do the tourists in the area.
• Sagra del Pesce It is held at the same time as the regatta and is a festival dedicated to fish. Numerous stalls are set up on the island selling fried fish, always accompanied by a good white wine.

Burano's inhabitants, Venetians and tourists join in the celebration and enjoy the fish dishes among the **island'**s characteristic coloured houses.

If Italy is the land of gelato, or rather gelato, then Venice is the capital of gelato. During the hot summer days you should never miss tasting one of its varieties.

It is said that, after a time when it lost its popularity, gelato regained its splendour when the Venetian merchant Marco Polo returned from his trip to China. The route opened by Polo brought to Venice a number of gelato recipes that fascinated the city's nobility and from there spread to the rest of Italy. Today, Venice has a large number of ice-cream parlours where you can find all kinds of flavours. Among the most outstanding are the following:

• Bacaro del Gelato: it offers totally handmade ice creams at a very affordable price. One of the most popular flavours is chocolate and pistachio.
• Suso: located very close to the Rialto, in this place you will find ice creams with very original flavours and with Venetian names such as Opera or Bellini.
• La Mela Verde: located not far from St. Mark's Square, La Mela Verde offers a good variety of flavours, all of them handmade.
• Gelato Fantasy: some consider it to be the best ice cream parlour in town. Its most popular ice cream is the pistachio cremino, although the gianduiotto cup, a Venetian speciality, is not far behind.

And if you book a food tour of Venice and get the chance to try them, don't hesitate to do so.

Travelling around Venice in summer, with the crowds of tourists and the queues to get into St. Mark's Basilica or the Doge's Palace can be exhausting. The solution is to spend a morning or afternoon relaxing on one of the beaches near the city.

The best known are those on the island of Lido, which you can reach by vaporetto. To do this, book a Venice transport pass and you can get there at no extra cost. These beaches were chosen by the European bourgeoisie to spend the summer and today they are considered the best in the area. The beaches of the Lido are fine sand and the scenery is quite beautiful and picturesque. However, the crowds in July and August tend to be quite high.

Those who prefer to escape the crowds (if only a little) can choose beaches on other islands, such as Jesolo, Eraclea or Cavallino. The best rated is Jesolo, where you can also visit its beautiful lighthouse.

The Regata Storica is one of the most exciting and engaging events of the Venetian summer for locals and visitors alike. If you happen to be in Venice during the Regata Storica, stop what you are doing and don't miss the colourful procession and the thrill of the competitions. If you can, try to get a seat in the stands overlooking the Rialto Bridge.

This regatta (regattas really) is a tribute to the city's dependence on the waterways that form many of its streets. It usually takes place on the first Sunday in September and the four races involve different types of boats, including gondolas.

Many of the participants, especially the gondoliers, dress up in period costume to make their way along Venice's Grand Canal. Both the pre-race parade and the races themselves are accompanied by musical performances, traditional food and drink, especially wine.

On the third weekend of July, Venice celebrates the most important festival of the summer, with activities that extend into the following days: the Feast of the Redentore, which in addition to its religious aspect, offers locals and visitors a fantastic fireworks display, dancing, traditional food and three regattas of typical Venetian boats.

This festival has been celebrated for five centuries and commemorates the end of the terrible plague epidemic that devastated the city between 1575 and 1577. At the end of the epidemic, when a third of the inhabitants of Venice had died, the Church of the Redeemer was built on the island of Giudecca, opposite the city.

The Venetians start preparing for the festivities as early as Saturday afternoon. First, they set up their boats, decorated with coloured lights and lanterns, and with little tables for eating. The atmosphere on the water is festive, with music, food and singing. Although it won't be easy, you may be able to find someone who will agree to put you on their boat to take an active part. Otherwise, along the banks of the canals, large tables are set up (especially on the Giudecca Canal) where traditional dishes are served for dinner.

Fireworks

After this, thousands of people try to find the best spot to watch the fireworks display. Be aware that it is difficult to find a good spot, as many people stand there for a couple of hours. The fireworks usually start around 23:30 and last for no less than 45 minutes.

The fireworks are launched from the island of Giudecca, which makes the shapes and lights of the fireworks reflect beautifully on the water. The feeling is that the whole bay is illuminated during this time.

After the fireworks, the party continues on the Lido (another island you must visit), with dancing and music until dawn. In the morning, the Redeemer's Regatta takes place, in which a large number of typical boats take part.

One of the most historic celebrations in Venice is the Festa di San Piero di Casteo. Not only will you be able to take part in this age-old tradition, but you will also enjoy live music and stalls offering typical Venetian dishes.

The event takes place over several consecutive days at the end of June (although it can sometimes reach the first days of July). It has a religious origin and, in fact, begins with a mass in St. Peter's Basilica officiated by the Patriarch of the city himself. The mass is followed by a procession along the water from the San Giuseppe canal and the fishermen of the city offer the so-called "anillo piscatore" to the Patriarch.

Most of the activities take place in front of the Basilica of San Pietro, located in the Castello district (sestiere), to the east of the historic centre. You can get there on foot or by one of the Venetian vaporettos that run to the area.

Going to a summer cinema is, for many, a way of going back to childhood. And if you can do it in a city like Venice, the sensations are multiplied. The Cinema Arena Campo de San Polo is the ideal place to enjoy a few hours of cinema, socialising and meeting people in the City of Canals.

The place where the screenings take place is in Campo San Polo, in the San Polo district. It is an open-air cinema with a long history in the city and only operates between the end of July and the last days of August in Venice.

The screen of the open-air cinema is the largest in the whole city and usually shows reruns of the most popular films of the year. Occasionally, however, there are some new releases. Although the experience is worthwhile even if you don't know Italian, some of these films are shown in their original version.

Summer in Venice is usually quite hot and humid. At the beginning, in late June, there can be spells of rain, but rainfall decreases as the season progresses. Temperatures often exceed 30 degrees Celsius. In any case, be sure to check the weather forecast shortly before your trip to make it more reliable.

It is common knowledge that tourists visiting the Vatican must follow certain dress code rules, but is this also the case in Venetian churches?

In principle, most churches do not have any dress code, although you can always be told something. This is most often the case in St. Mark's Basilica. There you will probably be asked to cover your legs and shoulders, and there is usually a stall where they sell brown cloth to wear as a scarf or sarong.

Venice' s attractions make it a city that is always worth visiting. But even so, each season has its advantages and disadvantages.

Unlike Venice in winter, the pros of travelling to Venice in summer are as follows:

• More hours of sunshine: not only does it rain much less, but there are many hours of daylight and, therefore, you can extend your tours.
• You can go to the beach: Venice is not usually considered a beach destination, but if you can't go without lying on the sand and having a swim you will find several beaches on the nearby islands.
• More atmosphere: the city's bars start to fill up as evening falls. This is the time to have an aperitif on the terraces and enjoy the music that enlivens the evening.

On the other hand, you will also find some disadvantages if you travel during the summer:

• The heat during the day: the Venetian summer always leaves some days of excessive heat. The humidity, moreover, does not help to make the atmosphere pleasant.
• Higher prices: As it's high season, prices for flights and accommodation go up a lot. My advice is to try to book well in advance.
• Large number of tourists: The city fills up with visitors during the summer months. Sightseeing will not be as comfortable as you would like and there are long queues to get into the most popular sights.