By Katy Budge
Venice is a magical city … in more ways than one. Designated a UNESCO heritage site, its very existence defies logic and logistics.
The population of Venice began to amass in the 5th century largely because some people were fleeing invasions, and found refuge on some easy-to-defend islands in a lagoon. A rather inauspicious start to one of the world’s great cities.
Venice would eventually find itself situated at the crossroads of global trade, and built itself into a formidable industrial center. All this with no “roads” — just waterways and a byzantine tangle of city “streets”.
As such, to this day, the only wheeled devices allowed in Venice are pushcarts. Indeed, they’re the only contraptions that can make it through the narrow alleys, over the bridges, and through the gawking crowds. As our guide explained, yes you can order a bed from Ikea, but it’ll cost you ten times the price to get it to your doorstep. She then pointed to a rather small window on the second floor of an apartment, and said, “It doesn’t matter what size flat screen TV you want, it has to fit in that window.”
Arguably, it wasn’t the ideal place to establish a city, and the fact that Venice still exists is amazing. Yes, it is sinking. It’s built on islands after all. The city regularly floods several times a year, and locals consider knee-high rain boots an essential part of their wardrobe. (The causes of that flooding are ample and rich fodder for another time.)
Still, it is a magical city. And I count myself very lucky to have been there amid the off-season, and during a time when floating cities of cruise ships are still not allowed to disgorge their teeming masses.
I got to experience this Venice …
Ciao Venice! Hope to see you again soon, and I hope you can keep your magic.