My first visit to Venice was over thirty years ago, so it was time to return.  Now, older and wiser, I was able to experience the city in a new way.  Venice, like most Italian cities, has many layers.  The different layers only reveal themselves when one takes the time to breathe, to explore, and most important of all, to avoid the crowds that the city is notorious for.  Luckily, that is relatively easy to do: simply stay off the main walkways leading from the train station to Piazza San Marco.  Instead, spend your time on the small alleyways and back passages.  You will discover a city rich in history, art, and culture.  It can even be relaxing!  We arrived in Venice by train, from Milan.  The ride itself was lovely: short, fast, and comfortable.  It took only two hours to travel between the cities.  We had reserved a one-bedroom apartment in what we hoped would be a quiet area, the Sestiere di San Polo, and to our delight, it was exactly that!  The apartment was very spacious, and we immediately felt at home!

Of course, once we were settled in the apartment, it was time to explore our immediate surroundings a bit.

In Venice and the surrounding areas, what would be known as a “piazza” in the rest of Italy is called a “campo.”  The nearest campo to our apartment was a small, but lovely one: Campo San Boldo.  The tower that one sees, when entering the campo, is all that remains of the Chiesa di San Boldo, a church that was destroyed at the beginning of the 19th century.  The campanile, or bell tower, dates from the 14th century.

Next to the campanile, there is Palazzo Grioni, or Palazzo Businello, as it is also known.  The palazzo dates from the late 1500’s, but was modified in the 1900’s, incorporating other structures.

To me, the best part of the campo was the lovely pozzo, or water well, which sat in the middle of the public space.  We rarely ever saw other people in the campo, and I found it to be extremely charming and peaceful!

 

Next up: We explore more of our neighborhood in beautiful Venice!

 

Note: This blog is written in English and Spanish, and the author takes no responsibility for the quality of any other translations that may appear.  If you have enjoyed this post, please, check out our archives for posts from other Italian destinations.  Grazie!