Hotel Information

Please note this list is a suggestion only, ISESS 2009 does not support or endorse any specific venue.

Foresteria Fondazione Levi
San Marco 2894
30124 Venezia, ITALIA
tel. +39 041 2770542
fax +39 041 786766
foresterialevi@libero.it.

Hotel Ala (San Marco 2494/a)
Tel. 0039 041 52 08 333
Single room 155 €
Double room 250 €

Hotel American (San Vio Accademia 628)
Tel. 0039 041 52 04 733
Single room 180 €
Double room 250 €

Agli Alboretti (Dorsoduro 882/884)
Tel. 0039 041 52 300 58
Single room 104 €
Double room 180 €

Locanda Art Déco (Santo Stefano 2966)
Tel. 0039 041 2 770 558
Single room 120 €
Double room 145 €

Istituto Artigianelli (Fondamenta Gesuati, Zattere 919)
Tel. 0039 041 5 224 077
Single room 55 €
Double room 98 €

Fondazione Levi (San Vidal 2894)
Tel: 0039 041 2770542
Fax: 0039 041 786766
Single room 64 €
Double room 105 €
foresterialevi@libero.it

Istituto Cilliota (Calle delle Munghe, S.Marco 2976) (www.ciliota.it)
Single room 85 €
Double room 95 €
Tel: +39 041 520 488
Fax: +39 041 521 2730
info@ciliota.it

Istituto Cannosiane (Fondamenta de le Romite,Dorsoduro 1323)
Tel: +39 041 2409713
Fax: +39 041 240 9712
cvenezia@fdcc.org

Istituto Salesiani ( Castello, 1281)
Tel: +39 041.240.3611
Fax: +39 041.240.3610

Foresteria Valdese
Castello, 5170
30122 Venezia (VE)
041 5286797
www.foresteriavenezia.it

Albergo Agli Alboretti,
Rio Terrà Antonio Foscarini 884 Dorsoduro
www.aglialboretti.com

American-Dinesen,
San Vio, Dorsoduro 628
www.hotelamerican.com

Albergo Antico Capon,
Campo Santa Margherita 3004/b Dorsoduro
www.anticocapon.com

Antica Locando Montin,
Fondamenta di Borgo 1147 Dorsoduro
www.locandamontin.com

Ca’Maria Adele,
Rio Terà Catecumeni 111 Dorsoduro
www.camariaadele.it

Ca’ Pisani Hotel,
Rio Terrà Antonio Foscarini 979/a Dorsoduro
www.capisanihotel.it

Ca’ San Trovaso,
Fondamenta delle Eremite 1350 Dorsoduro
www.casantrovaso.com

Casa Rezzonico,
Fondamenta Gherardini 2813 Dorsoduro
www.casarezzonico.it

Charming House DD724,
Ramo de Mula 724 Dorsoduro
www.dd724.it

Fujiyama B&B,
Calle Lunga San Barnaba 2727/a Dorsoduro
www.bedandbreakfast-fujiyama.it

Hotel Alla Salute Da Cici,
Fondamenta di Ca' Balà 002 Dorsoduro
www.hotelsalute.com

Hotel Galleria,
Rio Terrà Antonio Foscarini 878/a Dorsoduro
www.hotelgalleria.it

Hotel Pausania,
Fondamenta Gherardini. Dorsoduro 2824
www.hotelpausania.it

La Calcina,
Fondamenta Zattere ai Gesuati 780
Dorsoduro
www.lacalcina.com

Locanda Ca’ Foscari,
Calle della Frescada,
Dorsoduro 3887/b
www.locandacafoscari.com

Locanda San Barnaba,
Calle del Traghetto 2785-6
Dorsoduro
www.romanticasrl.191.it

Messner,
Fondamenta Ca’ Bala,
Dorsduro 216
www.hotelmessner.it

Pensione Accademia Villa Maravege,
Fondamenta Bollani 1058
www.pensioneaccademia.it

General Information

Venezia, La Serenissima, Queen of the Adriatic, city of canals and palaces...or tawdry sewer alive with crowds and charlatans? Venice's nature is dual: water and land, long history and doubtful future, airy delicacy and dim melancholy. If this precious place does sink, the world will be the poorer.

For a thousand years the city was one of the most enduring mercantile sea powers on the face of the earth. Today the brilliance and influence have long since faded, leaving a town of tarnished glories, out of time and out of place, so achingly beautiful it's hard not to look for the back of the set.

Destination Information

Context is a network of architects, historians, and art historians who organize walking seminars for intellectually curious travelers (contexttravel.com/venice).

Orientation
Venice is built on 117 small islands and has some 150 canals and 409 bridges. Only three of the bridges cross the Grand Canal whilst a fourth, designed by Calatrava, has been interminably delayed. It is difficult to predict when or if it will finally be put in place, even the concept has become something of a Venetian tragi-comedy. The historic centre is divided into six sestieri (quarters): San Marco, Dorsoduro, San Polo, Santa Croce, Cannaregio and Castello. It covers a deceptively small area - if you don't get lost (which you will!), walking from Cannaregio in the northwest to Dorsoduro in the south should take only 30 minutes. The city's 'main street' is the Grand Canal, which passes most of the districts as it twists along the length of Venice from the railway station to San Marco.

Venice goes well beyond the six sestieri. The shallow waters of the Laguna Veneta are dotted by a crumbling mosaic of islands, including Murano, Burano and Torcello. Acting as a breakwater to the east is the long and slender Lido di Venezia, stretching south for some 10km (6mi) to the similarly narrow Pellestrina. This in turn dribbles down to the sleepy mainland town of Chioggia, marking the southern-most point of the lagoon. Spreading inland from the Laguna Veneta is the rather humdrum industrial town of Mestre, where the day-to-day 'life' of the city increasingly takes place. Mestre's southern half is occupied by Porto Marghera and its massive petro-chemical works.

Venice addresses aren't much help when it comes to finding your way around. Instead of naming a street, an address gives the name of one of the city's six sestieri, or neighborhoods (San Marco, Cannaregio, Castello, Dorsoduro, Santa Croce, and San Polo) followed by a number. The hitch is that the numbers don't necessarily run in sequential order, so San Marco 3672 and 3673 might well be several streets away from each other. With that peculiarity in mind, Venetian addresses in this book include the nearest campo (square), bridge, vaporetto stop, calle, riva or a fondamenta (all terms for a street) when helpful. An invaluable Web resource is www.venicexplorer.net, which has a mapping function that will pinpoint any address in the city.

Yellow signs posted on many corners point toward the major landmarks -- San Marco, Rialto, Accademia, etc. -- but don't count on finding these once you're deep into residential neighborhoods. Even buying a good map at a newsstand -- the kind showing all street names and vaporetto routes -- won't insure you don't get lost. However, getting lost in Venice may mean you've also lost most of the other tourists; patience with yourself and the Venetians you ask for help can go a long way in making the experience part of the adventure.

Italian addresses outside of Venice are fairly straightforward: the street is followed by the street number. However, you might see an address with a number plus "bis" or "A" (e.g., Via Verdi 3/bis or Via Mazzini 8/A). This indicates that 3/bis or 8/A is the next entrance or door down from Via Verdi 3 and Via Mazzini 8, respectively.

In rural areas, some addresses give only the route name or the distance in kilometers along a major road (e.g. Via Fabbri, km 4.3), or sometimes only the name of the small village in which the site is located.

Documentation Information

A visa is not required for a U.S. or Canadian citizens holding a valid passport unless they expect to stay in Italy more than 90 days.

N.B.: No visas (and no extension to previously issued visas) may be granted to tourists who are already on Italian territory.

For other questions on passport or visa regulations check the official Italian Embassy website: www.italyemb.org

Customs

As part of our ongoing commitment to ensure the safety and security of travelers, the Italian Government Tourist Board strongly recommends that tourists do not, under any circumstances, attempt to purchase any counterfeit items, as this may end up costing them well more than an authentic product.

As of May 2005 a new legislation was implemented (which carries fines of up to 10,000 Euros for people caught purchasing counterfeit products, and criminal charges for anyone caught selling counterfeit goods.) It aims at a national wide crackdown on the sellers and buyers of counterfeit items, i.e. purses, sunglasses, watches, belts, etc bearing luxury labels such as Prada, Gucci, Fendi only to name a few.

Overseas tourists arriving in Italy after visiting other countries are allowed to carry with them souvenirs purchased in other countries up to a total value of $500 and only a verbal declaration is required. Purchases may include up to a half litre of perfume.

Transportation Information

Bus
At the lower end of the luxury spectrum you can arrive in Venice by bus, deposited at Piazzale Roma. It's marginally cheaper than train, but much less comfortable. The bus station is on the southern side of the Grand Canal.

Car
Driving into Italy, the main points of entry are the Mont Blanc tunnel from France at Chamonix (reopened in March 2002 following the March 1999 fire), the Grand St Bernard tunnel from Switzerland and the Brenner Pass from Austria. Once in Italy, the A4 is the quickest way to reach Venice from east or west, connecting Turin with Trieste, and passing through Milan and Mestre. Once over the Ponte della Libertà from Mestre, cars must be left at one of the huge, hideously expensive car parks in Piazzale Roma or on the island of Tronchetto.

Train
Direct trains call a halt at Venice's Stazione di Santa Lucia (known in Venice simply as the ferrovia) from Padua, Verona, Milan, Bologna, Switzerland and France. The Stazione di Santa Lucia is in the northwest of town, at the end of the Ponte della Libertà. Paris-Venice takes 9.5 hours, including the change at Milan. If you're coming from the east (Slovenia, Croatia, Hungary and beyond) you may need to change at Trieste, though there are direct trains from Budapest and Bucharest. The legendary Orient Express runs between Venice and London via Verona, Zurich and Paris twice weekly from March to November.

Plane
Marco Polo Airport is linked to Piazzale Roma in Venice by ATVO buses, a 20-minute trip that passes by Mestre train station. You can also catch ATVO city bus No 5. By boat, the Alilaguna hydrofoil runs from the airport to Venice or the Lido and Murano, or there are (more expensive) water taxis that can drop you at Piazzetta di San Marco. Land taxis are just as efficient and less costly.

From San Guiseppe Airport, buses to/from Piazzale Roma take 1 hour and 15 minutes. If no buses appear, you can catch local bus No 6 to the main train station in Treviso and proceed to Venice by rail.

Bus
Regular buses (yes, they do exist) run from Piazzale Roma to Mestre and other mainland destinations, but it's probably the least exciting way to get around the city.

Water Taxi
Vaporetto (water bus) is the quintessential method of getting around Venice; you won't find too many public transport routes as unforgettable as vaporetto No 1's trip along the Grand Canal. Get yourself a travel pass to do the vaporetto thing - single tickets don't come cheap.

Car
Obviously, don't bring the rental car to Venice - you'll just be paying to leave it in a carpark for the duration. Taxis - the regular four-wheeled variety - do operate from Piazzale Roma.

Walking
Walking in Venice can be a rewarding pursuit. Be prepared to get lost in the timeless backstreets, dead-end alleys, canalside fondamente and deserted squares that make up the real Venice.

Bicycle
Cycling is officially banned in the lagoon city - you'll see the sense of it as you traverse its narrow, choked walkways.

Small Boat
The classic gondola ride with the opera-warbling operator is pretty touristy and expensive but the traghetto is a commuter gondola that crosses the Grand Canal at strategic points. It's quite a balance test for newbies as you have to stand. Water taxis (motorboats) are almost as expensive as gondolas, but their pilots don't wear stripy shirts and sing 'O Sole Mio'.

Disabled Travellers
People with disabilities have not been completely left out of what is, after all, a fairly unfriendly environment for wheelchair users or those with other mobility problems.
A map available from APT offices has areas of the city shaded in yellow to indicate that they can be negotiated without running into one of Venice's many bridges. Some of the bridges are equipped with lifts ( montascale ), which are marked on the map. You can get hold of a key to operate these lifts from the tourist offices.

Most of the important vaporetto lines allow wheelchair access. Those that don't are Nos 13, 20, 51 and 52. Five bus lines are adapted for wheelchair users: No 2 (Piazzale Roma to Mestre train station), No 4 (Piazzale Roma to Corso del Popolo in Mestre), No 5 (Piazzale Roma to Marco Polo airport), No 6 (tronchetto and Piazzale Roma to the mainland) and No 15 (a mainland service running between Marco Polo airport and Mestre).

Climate

The moderating influence of the sea and the protection given by the Alpine barrier from the cold north winds join to bless Italy with a temperate climate. The temperatures in Venice in October range from 11-18 degrees Celsius.

Language

In Venice, language is not a big problem. You can always find someone who speaks at least a little English. Remember that the Italian language is pronounced exactly as it is written. (Many Italians try to speak English the same way, enunciating every syllable, with disconcerting results.) You may run into a language barrier in the countryside, but a phrase book and close attention to the Italians' astonishing use of pantomime and expressive gestures will go a long way. Try to master a few phrases for daily use, and familiarize yourself with the terms you'll need to decipher signs and museum labels.

More than a dialect, locally spoken veneziano is a real language with a rich history. All the Republic's official documents, all commercial transactions, and even many diplomatic missions to foreign states were written or conducted in the Venetian language. Unless you know some Italian, you may not realize how much of what you hear on the street is actually local language. If you listen closely, especially to the boatmen, or people in Castello or Cannaregio, you might notice a difference in tone, less enunciation, or the sound of a hard "g" or "z," normally not heard in Italian. Venetians also tend to drop consonants, so perhaps that's how an old Venetian greeting sciavo (literally "slave"), pronounced without the "v," became the Italian word ciao, used for both "hi" and "see you."

Etiquette

Most churches require knees and shoulders be covered and many forbid cameras of any kind. A dress code is actively enforced at Basilica di San Marco and the Chorus group of churches, so it's wise to carry a sweater, or scarf, to wrap around your shoulders before entering a church. Do not enter a church with food, and do not drink from your water bottle while inside. Do not go in if a service is in progress. And if you have a cellular phone, turn it off before entering.

Italians who are friends greet each other with a kiss, first on the left cheek, and then on the right. When you meet a new person, shake hands.

Residents and shopkeepers are plagued by visitors who don't respect right-of-way courtesy in the narrow streets and on bridges (keep to the right). When strolling two or three abreast in a tiny calle, be aware of the local who may need to get by.

Posted around Piazza San Marco are signs detailing what the city considers polite comportment. Regardless of how hot the weather might be, shirtless men or women in the historic city, including on the Grand Canal, can be fined EUR 40. Lying down in streets or squares is prohibited, as is sitting around your picnic lunch, unless you happen to be in one of the city's parks. Swimming or even dipping feet into canals is not permitted.

Vaporetto Etiquette
The vaporetto rules forbid men with tank tops, and riders must remove backpacks. When boarding the vaporetto, wait in the entry area instead of blocking the boarding ramp. Once aboard, move away from the entrance and don't block aisles with luggage. A significant number of Venice's residents are elderly -- be considerate about yielding seats.

Food

A few pointers on Italian dining etiquette: menus are posted outside most restaurants (in English in tourist areas); if not, you might step inside and ask to take a look at the menu, but don't ask for a table unless you intend to stay. Italians take their food as it is listed on the menu, seldom making special requests such as "dressing on the side" or "hold the olive oil." If you have special dietary needs, though, make them known, and they can usually be accommodated. Although mineral water makes its way to almost every table, you can always order a carafe of tap water (acqua di rubinetto or acqua semplice) instead, but keep in mind that such water is highly chlorinated.

Spaghetti should be eaten with a fork rolled against the side of the dish, although a little help from a spoon will not horrify the locals the way cutting spaghetti into little pieces might. Wiping your bowl clean with a (small) piece of bread is fine in less formal eateries. Order your espresso (Italians almost never drink a cappuccino after breakfast) after dessert, not with it. When you are ready for it, ask for the check (il conto): unless it's well past closing time, no waiter will put a bill on your table without your having asked first. Don't ask for a doggy bag.

Meals & Specialties
What's the difference between a ristorante and a trattoria? Can you order food at an enoteca? Can you go to a restaurant just for a snack, or order just a salad at a pizzeria? The following definitions should help.

Not too long ago, restaurants tended to be more elegant and expensive than trattorie and osterie, which served more traditional, home-style fare in an atmosphere to match. But the distinction has blurred considerably, and an osteria in the center of town might be far fancier (and pricier) than a ristorante across the street. An enoteca menu is often limited to a selection of cheese, cured meats, pickles, salads, and desserts, but if there is a kitchen, you'll also find vegetable soups, pasta, meat, and fish preparations. Venetian bacari are something between an old-style osteria and a wine bar: here it's possible to grab a fast snack (cichetto) at the counter swallowed down with a glass of wine (ombra), or, sometimes, to sit down for a fast meal. Most pizzerias don't offer just pizza, and although the other dishes on the menu are supposed to be starters, there's no harm in skipping the pizza. The typical pizzeria fare includes affettati misti (selection of cured meat), simple salads, and various kinds of bruschetta and crostino (similar to bruschetta, but baked). Pizzerias generally have fresh fruit, ice cream, and simple desserts.

Throughout the region, the handiest and least expensive way to grab a quick snack between sights is to hit a bar, caffè, or pizza al taglio. Most bars have a selection of panini (sandwiches), toast, (grilled sandwiches), and tramezzini (untoasted sandwich triangles). In cities, you may also find prepared salad, cold pasta dishes, and yogurt around lunchtime. Most bars have beer and a variety of alcohol, but few, except in Venice, sell wine by the glass.

A caffè is like a bar but usually with more tables to sit down. Many caffès have limited restaurant licenses that allow them to serve hot pasta dishes, but choose carefully as some simply dispense microwaved portions. Pizza as well is often reheated. If you place your order at the counter, ask if you can sit down: some places, especially in Venice, charge extra for table service. In a self-service bar and caffè, it's good manners to clean up your table before you leave. Note that in some places you must pay before you place the order and be ready to show your scontrino (receipt) when you move to the counter. Few shops that sell pizza al taglio (by the slice) have places to sit down. Some pizzerias sell 1/8 of a large pizza as a slice, whereas in others, you'll pay by weight -- just point out which kind you want and indicate how big a piece.

Emergency Information

• 12   Phone Directory Assistance
• 112  Carabinieri’s service (military police)
• 113  Emergency Police Help
• 115  Fire Department
• 116  Italian Automobile Club – Roadside Assistance
• 118  Medical Emergencies
• 176  International Inquiries

Hospitals
SS. Giovanni e Paolo (Campo SS. Giovanni e Paolo, Castello. 041/5294111).

Currency

As part of the European Union, Venice accepts the Euro.

Banking Hours
Banks and post offices are the most reliable places to change travellers cheques and generally offer the best rates; shop around for the lowest commission deals and the shortest queues. Credit cards are widely accepted in Italy and the exchange rate is usually better than for cash or travellers cheques.

Banks in Italy are open Monday through Friday from 8:35 a.m. to 1:35 p.m. and from 3:00 - 4:00 p.m.; in many tourist areas they are open no-stop from 8.30 a.m. to 4p.m. and closed all day on Saturday and Sunday and on national holidays. The afternoon one hour opening may vary from city to city. Travelers checks can be exchanged for Italian currency at most hotels and shops and at the foreign exchange offices in main railway stations and at the airports.

Electrical Current

The electrical current in Italy is AC - the cycle is 50Hz 220 V. A tourist carrying electrical appliances to Italy should have a transformer, either obtained before leaving your country or bought at an electrical appliance shop in Italy. Plugs have round prongs, not flat, therefore an European Plug Adapter (round pin) is needed.

Tipping/Gratuities

You are not expected to tip on top of restaurant service charges, but it is common to leave a small amount, say €1.00 per person. If there is no service charge, you might consider leaving a 10% tip, but this is by no means obligatory. In bars, Italians often leave any small change as a tip. Tipping taxi drivers is not common practice, but you should tip the porter at higher-class hotels.

Bargaining is common in flea markets but not in shops, although you might find that the proprietor is disposed to give a discount if you are spending a reasonable amount of money. It is quite acceptable to ask if there is a special price for a room in a pensione or hotel if you plan to stay for more than a few days. Indeed, there is no harm in trying to bargain down room prices at any time.

Telephone Calls

Public Telephones
Public telephones are available throughout Italy. Either local or international calls require the use of a phone card (Carta Telefonica) which may be purchased at any newsstand, tobacco shop or "bar"(coffee shop).

Long distance Calls (Interurbana)
Both local and long distance call require the proper area code before dialling the number. Ex: to place a call within Rome you must dial 06 + phone number.
To call Rome from Florence : 06 + phone number; to call Florence from Rome : 055 + phone number.

When calling a cellular phone, drop the zero of the area code, ex: 397 + phone number of the cellular.

Business Hours

Although normally shops are open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 3:30/4 p.m. to 7:30/ 8 p.m., in large cities and tourist areas there is a tendency to stay open from 9.30 a.m. to 7.30 p.m. with possible variations from town to town. Department stores such as La Rinascente, Coin are found in many Italian cities and towns and are open from 9.30 a.m. to 7.30 p.m.

Computer/Internet Access

No matter how responsible you try to be with your phone card, you can run up quite a bill when you call your parents/ your kids/ your significant other. E-mail may be an alternative and less expensive mean of communication.

Whatever e-mail service you use in your daily life, I would set up web-access mail for your trip (like the mail offered by Yahoo!, Hotmail, etc.). It is the easiest to use abroad since the only software and configuration you need are built right into the browser. Set this account up before you leave home, so you don't waste valuable time abroad.

Directory of the Italian Internet Cafes
http://www.ecs.net/cafe/

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Developed at C.R.L.E (University of Guelph)
Copyright © 2005 C.R.L.E
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