Jacobs Travel Blog

Italy Travels: Episode 8. VENICE

Venice is not simply a city—it is a living open-air museum where history, art, architecture, and everyday life blend seamlessly into one unforgettable experience.

Yes, Venice is over-touristed. But visit in spring or winter and you'll discover a very different city. The crushing summer crowds are gone, replaced by a gentler, slower pace that allows you to truly appreciate its magic.

My advice? Get lost on purpose.

Skip the checklist and wander through a labyrinth of canals, bridges, hidden squares, and narrow alleyways. Rise before sunrise, when Venice is at its most enchanting. Leave the main tourist routes behind and explore the quiet backstreets and peaceful canals that many visitors never see. Stay on the island itself if you can, ideally in a small family-run hotel where Venetian hospitality still feels warm and genuine.

Frequent the neighborhood bàcari—tiny local wine bars buzzing with life. Grab an espresso, a simple sandwich, a glass of local wine, and watch Venetian life unfold around you.

As evening approaches and the setting sun transforms the canals into ribbons of liquid gold, Venice enters one of its most cherished rituals: the giro d'ombra. Find a tiny bàcaro, squeeze in shoulder-to-shoulder with locals, order an ombra—a small glass of house wine—and sample a few cicchetti while conversations flow as easily as the wine.

And don't miss one of Venice's greatest bargains: a ride on the public vaporetto along the Grand Canal. As you glide past colourful palaces, centuries-old churches, and elegant waterfront facades, the city reveals itself from the perspective it was meant to be seen—from the water.

Venice rewards those who slow down, wander without a plan, and embrace the unexpected. The real magic isn't found in checking landmarks off a list. It's discovered around the next corner, across the next bridge, or beside a quiet canal where time seems to stand still.

That is most of what we did. Of course the Italian travels took months of research, early selections and reservations. Rick Steves books, videos and blogs were quite useful.

Italy Travels 2026: Episode 8.
The post office in Vatican City, established in 1929, has its own stamps and seals. We of course wanted a postcard with Pope Leo’s Vatican stamps and Vatican postal seal on it – so we posted cards also to ourselves from Vatican. The Vatican's post office sends millions of letters every year and its services are considered more reliable than Rome’s which is why many Italians travel there to post their letters and cards. In fact the Vatican City’s postal system was declared to be “one the best postal systems in the world”, by the Universal Postal Union. The Vatican's postal code is 00120.

Talking about Vatican City, you know it has been the world’s smallest independent recognised state since 1929. It’s also home to the smallest and oldest standing army, the Swiss Guards, who have protected the Pope since 1506. In the Vatican City stands the beautiful St Peter’s Basilica, the largest church in the western world, with a suitably impressive dome painted by Michelangelo.The Vatican museum has1400 rooms containing art and artefacts from 3,000 years of Roman life. The breathtaking Sistine Chapel is the Pope’s private chapel and venue for papal elections. So its worth the long lines and the crowds – ensure you get a timed entry tickets at least couple of months before your visit

Italy Travels 2026: episode 7
Lake Como and Northern Italy is not on every traveller’s itinerary. Pity because it is so beautiful and different from your history / art trip sections of Italy just like Cinque Terra. As a Canadian it reminds me of our beautiful lakes and mountains with chic charm of history. Combine it with a short stop in Milan from where it is only an hour away. Switzerland is about 15 km away and if you like trains consider the Bernina express for a day trip to the St Moritz. Must visit includes several villas and towns like Veranna, Bellagio, Mennagio, Lenno etc. A great mother’s day gift from my daughter who joined us here from her base in London.

Italy Travels 2026: episode 6
If I have to select one favourite region it would be Tuscany. Stayed a week in Florence the key city, consuming its art, history, architecture, wine and food culture. Went through many of the neighbouring towns including Pisa, Siena, san Gimignano, Chianti, Lucca, Monteriggioni, many of Chianti hills and vineyards.

Italy Travels 2026:
Cinque Terre (five villages) was a photographer’s dream. Riameggiore climb to the castle was steep and lots of steps, but the view was worth it. Lots of hiking and steps to climb, made it with lots of rest stops. Quite tiring doing the villages, but the weather was gorgeous.

Italy Travels 2026:
here I am here in shoulder season, spring 2026. Early, yet the tourists are flooding in: everything is crowded. The on line reserved fixed time slot entries is a way out. I am more of a traveler than a tourist, but my wife has specific attractions that she has to take in. Fortunately in Rome we found a nice family hotel in Monti (booked 6 months ago) which puts us in walking distance to most sites.

The art of traveling with spinner carryons has been fine tuned for 3+ weeks. So no checked baggage and easy for the stairs and cobblestones in Italy. We use compression bags for the content and carefully selected travel clothes. The bag also includes my camera equipment. Another thing to pick carefully is credit or travel cards that give you free business class lounge access so you can have your dinner in style. I am covered for Toronto and Milan. There are some classy lounges in many airports - in particular I like the Turkish Airlines and the middle easter airline ones.

Birding Trip to Panama 2:
Here is a report I prepared for fellow birders on the trip with loads of pictures. Click on the link to check out the pdf document.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1okHjxvRFRsRaawRGMkDm_ZSzzejSiwZn/view?usp=drive_link