Nav•Nosh•Nip

Venice

The capital of the famed merchants of Venice. The city is built upon wood pilings, posts dug into the mud below the water. The city is actually sinking so a series of pumps were commissioned to send the water back out. However, famed Italian politics got in the way and there was still flooding at high tide while I was there. In the five years since I’ve been here last, the only thing that changed is the increased number of tourists.

Nav:

Rialto Bridge (where jewelry shops have been setup for centuries), gondola rides, Basilica San Marco, the Doge’s (like a governor) Palace…there is a lot to see here.

Pro Tip: Venice is a very popular tourist destination. There are lots of people at the key sites. Stay on island and go out later in the day for a more serene experience.

Nosh:

Seafood is always fresh, though not always flavorful.

Nip:

Birra Moretti is the better Italian beer. Peroni is skunky and bitter.

Aperol Spritz is a classic Italian cocktail. Aperol (an herbal liqueur) and sparking wine. Light and refreshing.