Venice - Citi® Card Benefits
Transcription
Venice - Citi® Card Benefits
Citi Prestige ® Venice P1 The cult pocket city guides and mobile apps for the busy, sophisticated traveler CITI PRESENTS LUXE CITY GUIDES luxecityguides.com ESCAPING THE HORDES CAN BE TRICKY, BUT VENTURE BEYOND PIAZZA SAN MARCO INTO THE CITY’S LABYRINTHINE ALLEYS AND WATERWAYS, AND YOU’LL BE HANDSOMELY REWARDED... character, and the Grand Canal weaving through them in an inverted ‘S’. Taking San Marco as the center; fanning north to east is Castello; south is Dorsoduro, which includes Giudecca (the isle further south), west is Santa Croce with train/bus termini Piazzale Roma in the western end, plus San Polo with the Rialto market, and northwest is vibey Cannaregio. / LUXE VENICE Intro La Serenissima’s richly brocaded sleeve hides a myriad of historic wonders and artisanal gems, and though visitors to the city far outweigh born and bred Venetians, even the most hardened of travelers can’t help but be captivated by their first glimpse of this most iconic of cities. Venice is made up of six sestieri (quarters), each with its own distinct Blah Blah LUXE Insider LUXE Loves LUXE Loathes Drab vs. Fab LUXE Itineraries Citi Prestige ® Blah blah • Apr, May and Oct have the best weather, • Transport: make like a Venetian and work those gams by jumping on the but Venetians love tourist-free Jan vaporetti (buy a pass – 24/48/72-hr when it’s foggy and wet one day, then or 7-day); water taxis are spiffy but clear the next, though many restaurants charge like a wounded bull (>€80); and shops shut gondolas are purely for sightseeing, but their cousin the traghetto is handy for • Acqua Alta or ‘high water’ occurs crossing the Grand Canal Nov-Dec so be sure to bring your Pucci gumboots, and prepare to be herded • Many hotel rooms in Venice look onto like cattle throughout the peak season a wall and have either extortionate from Mar-Nov internet rates or no connection at all, so do check ahead if either of these issues • Events. Carnival: Jan/Feb for mask and is critical for you costume hell / carnevale.venezia.it; Biennales: May-Nov, cool and creative • Calle, Salizada, Ramo and Rio are with Art and Architecture on alternate streets (some resemble mere alleys), years; Film Festival: Sep, red carpet Ponte is bridge, Campo and Campiello glam / labiennale.org (C.llo) are squares, and Fondamenta (F.ta) is a street along a canal • Marco Polo Airport to town: 1.5hrs / €15 by Alilaguna ferry – scenic but slow, • Street numbers are confusingly all (bar orange and yellow) lines stop assigned by sestieri, ask for the street at San Marco (Giardinetti); water taxi: name, landmark or closest Campo to be 20-30mins / €110 (the absolute best way assured you’re in the right district to arrive for your first time in Venice), or €32 for a shared scenic route ride / bucintoroviaggi.com; 32mins / €6 • Most shops open around 10am-7pm by ATVO bus to Piazzale Roma, then Mon-Sat, close 3 hours for lunch, all day connect to water buses (vaporetti) / Sun and around Dec-Jan, except for the atvo.it most touristy places P2 / LUXE VENICE Intro Blah Blah LUXE Insider LUXE Loves • Coffee etiquette: caffè/espresso is a single shot, doppio is two, and milk in coffee (eg. cappuccino) after midday shouts ‘turista!’ • Aperitivi: a spritz con bitter or un’ombra (a glass) of wine with cicchetti (think tapas) around 6.30pm is vital to all Venetians • Public loos are €1.50 a wee, or you can get a discounted daily pass (2 wees), or weekly pass (7 wees) at veneziaunica.it (no, we’re not kidding…) • Italy’s international code is +39, the area code for Venice is 041, which must be dialed locally, and cell phones start with 3 • In emergencies, dial 113 for police, or 118 for ambulance LUXE Loathes Drab vs. Fab LUXE Itineraries Citi Prestige ® LUXE INSIDER Antonia Miletto GEMOLOGIST Antonia Miletto is a graduate gemologist from Venice, who has made New York her home for fifteen years. Always searching the world for the best examples of the materials she loves – iridescent gemstones, hard woods, acrylic resin and ‘occasional objects’ – she has developed a distinctive line of jewelry that includes rings, earrings, necklaces, cuffs and more. The collection is handcrafted and cast in 18k gold by top-notch craftsmen in Italy, with some of the pieces being one-of a-kind. Her works have been shown in selected stores and private residences across the US, and in 2007 she opened her own boutique in the heart of Venice. antoniamiletto.com P3 / LUXE VENICE Intro Blah Blah LUXE Insider LUXE Loves LUXE Loathes Drab vs. Fab LUXE Itineraries Citi Prestige ® LUXE INSIDER Antonia Miletto WHAT’S THE ONE THING EVERY VISITOR TO VENICE MUST DO? Take a midnight walk around Piazza San Marco, looking at the magnificent empty square and paying attention to the midnight bell’s tone. It is the only bell of the Campanile di Piazza San Marco that survived the collapse of the tower in 1902 – it’s so special that it has a name, the Marangona. WHERE DO YOU RECOMMEND FRIENDS STAY WHEN IN VENICE? I recommend Oltre il Giardino near the Frari Basilica. It’s full of charm, quiet and off the busy paths of the city. It has just six rooms overlooking a green area that is ideal for breakfast. It’s run by the family of a Venetian friend. WHAT’S THE BEST SOUVENIR TO BRING BACK FROM VENICE? Of all the great traditional applied arts of Venice, one of the few that still remains is glass. My favorite artist is Massimo Micheluzzi (see LUXE Loves), and his studio is on Calle della Toletta, in Dorsoduro. P4 / LUXE VENICE Intro WHAT ARE THREE OF YOUR FAVORITE RESTAURANTS? WHERE DO YOU GO TO UNWIND? Naranzaria. I love to sit outside looking at the Grand Canal. Akira is the chef’s name, and the raw fish is a must-try. The wine from the Vistorta estate is also a favorite. Trattoria Antiche Carampane specializes in fresh fish – here I usually order ‘frittura mista di pesce’, (mix fried) fish from the Adriatic. And lastly, Al Covo where everything is extremely good, but my favorite dish is ‘cotoletta con patate fritte’, veal cutlet with French fries. I love food, therefore the Rialto Market and the area around it is the place where I go to relax. Every day fresh fruits, vegetables and fish arrive from the mainland and are gracefully displayed, though the fish market is of course closed on Monday. The best is the seasonal produce from Mazzorbo Island, the Garden of Venice. This is a treat for all our senses. I find all my delicacies at gourmet delicatessen Antica Drogheria Mascari and at the cheese store Casa del Parmigiano. WHAT’S THE BEST LOCAL DELICACY AND WHERE IS IT WORTH TRYING? The local delicacies are the cicchetti, small salty bites to eat while having an aperitif. From small meat or fish balls, to ‘baccala mantecato’ (a cream of cod fish), to pieces of tasty cheese or prosciutto over bread. The creativity of the chef is essential, and for me, the best cicchetti are at Cantinone Gia’ Schiavi (Fondamenta Nani / Dorsoduro 992 / +39 041 523 0034). It’s family-run, and everything is handmade by the lady of the house – fantastic! Blah Blah LUXE Insider LUXE Loves LUXE Loathes Drab vs. Fab LUXE Itineraries Citi Prestige ® LUXE Loves AMAN CANAL GRANDE BAUER IL PALAZZO JW MARRIOTT Hotel Hotel Hotel The lavish C.16th Palazzo Papadopoli in San Polo is the location of the Aman’s glorious Venetian resort, complete with gilding, Tiepolo ceilings, frescoes and C.18th Murano-glass chandeliers. With 24 mod-con suites, a restaurant, spa and two delicious gardens (almost unheard of on the Grand Canal), you’ll be spoilt and serene in equal measure. Arrive by boat, naturally. Venetian style and discreet opulence at the mouth of the fabled Grand Canal, with gourmet canal-side De Pisis, B-Bar for evening cocktails and live music, and Settimo Cielo – the seventh floor alfresco lounge and terrace with grandstand views. Upgrade to a suite if you can, but either way, be sure to arrange a room with a view. At these prices, you don’t want to be looking at a brick wall! Palazzo Papadopoli / Calle Tiepolo 1364 San Polo / +39 041 270 7333 Campo San Moise / San Marco 1459 +39 041 520 7022 Sitting pretty on Sacca Sessola, the largest of the islets in the Venetian lagoon, this greenery-engulfed 1936-built resort comprises a 5-star hotel, private villas, and a spa with rooftop infinity pool offering sunset views of Piazza San Marco. Lush terraces, a vegetable garden that feeds the island’s two restaurants, zero-waste facilities, and locally sourced finery, such as textiles by Rubelli, light installations by Barovier & Toso, and furniture crafted from Italian wood also make this an eco-chic winner. amanresorts.com ilpalazzovenezia.com Isola delle Rose / Laguna di San Marco +39 041 296 8111 marriott.com P5 / LUXE VENICE Intro Blah Blah LUXE Insider LUXE Loves LUXE Loathes Drab vs. Fab LUXE Itineraries Citi Prestige ® LUXE Loves IL RIDOTTO ALLA MADONNA I FIGLI DELLE STELLE Dining Dining Dining Teeny, glass and brick five-table dining dynamo taking on the establishment with its superb modern spins on traditional classics that are fish-centric and beautifully plated. Book well ahead and don’t be surprised if romance is on the menu along with calamari and cod! Feeding generations of grateful Venetians through the decades with the best seafood the region has to offer, the nine rooms of this friendly, simply decorated trattoria with its wooden beams and eclectic artwork buzz at lunch and dinner with excited diners. The frutti di mare risotto is exemplary. Particularly in summer, when you can dine on the few tables outside, it’s so worth making the journey over the lagoon to Giudecca for lunch or dinner at this homely, but contemporary osteria with its white and slate beach-house vibe. Its waterfront position means chilled lounging and great views to compliment the robust, flavorsome fare. Campo San Filippo e Giacomo Castello 4509 +39 041 520 8280 Calle della Madonna / San Polo 594 +39 041 522 3824 ilridotto.com ristoranteallamadonna.com Fondamenta della Croce / Giudecca 70-71 +39 041 523 0004 ifiglidellestelle.it RISTORANTE RIVIERA ANICE STELLATO BAR TERRAZZA DANIELI Dining Dining Bar Take your pre-booked table on the idyllic waterfront patio of the molto bella Ristorante Riviera, sitting smack bang atop the Zattere al Ponte Lungo with grand Giudecca canal panoramas. The menu pays respect to traditional Venetian flavours with a simply spectacular signature salt-baked catch of the day, while perfectly al dente pastas also impress. Fish takes the starring role at this off the-beaten-track treasure that prides itself on perfect risotto and fritti as well as classic Venetian dishes rendered fresh and new with subtle twists. Just a handful of canal-side tables and a simple woodpaneled interior far away from the hurly burly – bliss! Open from May to October (and weather permitting), this spacious roof terrace atop the Danieli with its gorgeous panoramic lagoon views, is a veritable magnet for the city’s style and society crowd, but arrive there late afternoon as it closes irresponsibly early. Zattere al Ponte Lungo / Dorsudoro 1473 +39 041 522 7621 Fondamenta della Sensa Cannaregio 3272 +39 041 720 744 Hotel Danieli Riva degli Schiavoni / Castello 4196 +39 041 522 6480 danielihotelvenice.com osterianicestellato.com ristoranteriviera.it P6 / LUXE VENICE Intro Blah Blah LUXE Insider LUXE Loves LUXE Loathes Drab vs. Fab LUXE Itineraries Citi Prestige ® LUXE Loves UN MONDO DIVINO PEGGY GUGGENHEIM COLLECTION Bar This little low-beamed, wine bar in a converted butcher’s shop has developed quite a following among both locals and visitors for its delicious and extensive range of cichetti and choice labels, with over 40 wines offered by the glass. In the summer months, sip and sup streetside. Salizada San Canciano Cannaregio 5984 +39 041 521 1093 10am-3pm & 5.30-10pm Tue-Sun CHIESA DI SAN PANTALON Activities Activities Peggy’s personal collection covering European and American art of the first half of the C.20th reads like a who’s who of just about every stellar name in the firmament. Housed in her own canalside palazzo in Dorsoduro, you’ll find seminal works, from Picasso and Giacometti to Mondrian, Kandinsky and Pollock, and there’s a natty cafe if gallery-itis sets in. Palazzo Venier dei Leoni / Dorsoduro 701 +39 041 240 5411 guggenheim-venice.it Don’t be fooled by the rather blah exterior, this unassuming church is home to one of the largest and most beautiful painted canvasses in the world, The Martyrdom and Apotheosis of St Pantalon by Giovanni Antonio Fumiani. An afternoon of admiration may lead to neck strain, but discovering the immense baroque masterpiece and its exquisite detail makes the crick (and recovery spa session!) well worth it. Campo San Pantalon / Dorsoduro +39 041 523 5893 sanpantalon.it LA BIENNALE DI VENEZIA LUIGI BEVILACQUA MASSIMO MICHELUZZI Activities Shopping Shopping Venice’s much talked about bi-annual celebration of contemporary arts is back, and it’s bigger than ever. Opening its exhibition doors from May until November 2015, the central exhibition entitled ‘All the World’s Futures’ examines how artists from across the globe respond to the uncertain world around them through their chosen medium, be it painting, photography, dance, cinema or words. It’s also a great excuse to sip on a spritz or two, should the arty exchange ever grow tiring. Some of these sumptuous damasks, velvets, satins, taffetas and brocades have found their way into the White House and even the Vatican. Made on original C.18th wooden looms, they can also be woven to your own design, or you can choose from their delightful catalogue of over 3,500 patterns, ranging from chinoiserie to deco and even tiger stripes. Venetian-born Massimo’s much soughtafter contemporary glass designs range from chandeliers to vases and decorative vessels, featuring flowing forms and statement-rich coloring, fusing traditional techniques with modern aesthetics. Various venues across the city Or visit their retail outlet in Campo di Santa Maria del Giglio / San Marco 2520 +39 041 241 0662 labiennale.org Calle della Toletta / Dorsoduro 1071 +39 041 528 2190 Campiello della Comare Santa Croce 1320 / +39 041 721 566 by appt. only bevilacquatessuti.com P7 / LUXE VENICE Intro Blah Blah LUXE Insider LUXE Loves LUXE Loathes Drab vs. Fab LUXE Itineraries Citi Prestige ® LUXE Loathes THE ORCHESTRAS AT CAFFÈS FLORIAN AND QUADRI SHOPS CLOSING FOR THREE HOURS AT LUNCH €10 to sit and hear them blast Vivaldi over each other? No, thanks A three-hour lunch, everyday? PIGEONS IN PIAZZA SAN MARCO MENU TURISTICO VENETIAN INTERNET Either extortionate, cruelly slow or completely non-existent Put down that burger, Melvin Vermin with wings, quit feeding them P8 / LUXE VENICE Intro Blah Blah LUXE Insider LUXE Loves LUXE Loathes Drab vs. Fab LUXE Itineraries Citi Prestige ® Drab vs Fab P9 ITALIAN MASTERCHEF GONDOLIER TOURS TAXI TIME Eating your way through Venice is certainly an indulgent, if not waistlinedestroying experience, but what good is leaving the memories at the airport? Learn to cook in ‘Cooking Contessa’ Enrica Rocca’s palazzo kitchen, with market tours and wine pairings, and you can recreate the flavors at home for years to come. Haggling on the waterside with a gondolier is never a good look and all too easily a passion killer, but book ahead and you can arrange your own private gondola tour tailored precisely to where you want to go and what you want to see at Gondolieri Travel, and what’s more, they can arrange chocolates and flowers for maximum romance too. Waiting in line for public water transport can be a bore in peak visitor months, so why not consider zipping all around town on your very own private, crewed motorboat, or even have a go at driving yourself with Brussa Is Boat. DOGE’S DUNGEONS PERSONAL GUIDE Touring the astonishing Palazzo Ducale (Doge’s Palace) is a must-do for every visitor, but book well ahead and score yourself one of the limited tickets on the special Secret Itinerary Tour that includes the Doge’s private rooms, torture chambers and hidden passages. Getting lost in the maze-like back streets and alleys of the city when trying to shop is all too easy, but arranging your own personal guide to the best art, history, food and artisans in the city from Walks Inside Venice means you’ll never stray. / LUXE VENICE Intro Blah Blah LUXE Insider LUXE Loves LUXE Loathes Drab vs. Fab LUXE Itineraries Citi Prestige ® LUXE ITINERARY Romance Much like Paris, it’s rather difficult to find anything in this city that isn’t considered romantic. The sheer atmospheric beauty of the endless tiny alleyways, mini bridges, palazzos, and backstreet canals with their gently lapping waves and shabby-chic aura is heady stuff indeed. Start your day the classic lovers’ way with a gentle gondola tour of the canals with Gondolieri Travel (see Drab vs Fab). It’s hopelessly touristic, but hopelessly knee-weakening too, and for that very special moment they can arrange chocs, flowers and bubbles. Back on dry land head to Naranzaria, the always busy canalside hipanista hub close to the Rialto Market famed for its sushi – take a stroll P10 / LUXE VENICE Intro among the colorful displays of fresh fruit and veg afterwards. Venice has a wealth of shopping, but for true romance it has to be jewelry, and Antonia Miletto (see LUXE Insider) has the perfect balance of distinctive and wearable art off to a tee. Spa! You can never be pampered enough on vacation and the Bauer’s Palladio Spa is a real Betty. When you book, arrange for a private water transfer to whisk you over to Giudecca where you’ll find two floors of spa with lagoon views, and a whole slew of couples’ treatments, including an open-air Magnolia Massage in a private garden! Afterwards you can wander in the idyllic flower-filled gardens, before jetting back over the Blah Blah LUXE Insider LUXE Loves water for supper at La Caravella. It’s ship ahoy at this intimate, candlelit, cabinthemed osteria complete with helm and capstan, but book well ahead in summer to snag one of the lovely tables in the pretty garden, where Cupid is always to be found. All that remains is a peaceful Prosecco nightcap on the waterside terrace Bar Longhi at the famed Gritti Palace hotel for the perfect end to the ultimate, romantic day. LUXE Loathes Drab vs. Fab LUXE Itineraries Citi Prestige ® LUXE ITINERARY Style Despite the fact that Venice’s dwindling remaining inhabitants rely ever more heavily on tourism to keep afloat (no pun intended), it certainly hasn’t hindered the genetic Italian concept of la bella figura amongst those remaining. Make sure you put your best foot forward by stopping first at delectable Setecento. Alessandro Possati’s couture house specializes in taking traditional, lavish brocades and silks and conjuring them into unique, red carpet-worthy gowns, as well as jackets for dandies featuring all manner of beautiful details like Murano glass buttons and handmade lace. After your custom appointment it’s time for lunch at the Grand Canal Restaurant where you will join the chic set and all their P11 / LUXE VENICE Intro glittery friends for plenty of waterside air-kissing between sips of Prosecco. Now it wouldn’t be Venice without visiting one of the famed pair of caffès in Piazza San Marco, but avoid the crowds and leave the tourists to be deafened by the orchestras, and instead head inside Caffè Florian to the back bar where locals and cluey visitors go for their post-lunch espresso. Refreshed, it’s time to head over to Palazzo Grassi – François Pinault took over this gleaming white palace and had it redesigned by Tadao Ando as a home for rotating exhibits from his personal collection. Culture done, it’s time for cicchetti at a classic wine bar, the bacaro esque Osteria Enoteca San Marco, or if you don’t mind a short journey head over Blah Blah LUXE Insider LUXE Loves to Dorsoduro for Cantinone Gia’ Schiavi (see LUXE Insider). Grab a vaporetti and over the lagoon you go to Giudecca to catch the sunset from your alfresco table at the lesser-known Harry’s Dolci followed by supper at I Figli delle Stelle (see LUXE Loves). Stylish and far from the madding crowd. LUXE Loathes Drab vs. Fab LUXE Itineraries Citi Prestige ® LUXE ITINERARY Culture It’s simply madness to think you could even scratch the surface of the extraordinary treasures of this city in one day, but excepting all the major tourist attractions, there are still masses of wonderful experiences to be had. One of the handiest ways to see as much as you can, if your time is short, is to jump aboard the Vaporetto dell’Arte. This smart boat takes you to all the major art stops along the Grand Canal like the Accademia (be sure to see the ravishing Carpaccios in rooms 20-21, as well as, of course, the works of Bellini, Veronese and Giorgione), and the Peggy Guggenheim Collection (see LUXE Loves). Right on the eastern tip of Dorsoduro is François Pinault’s second gallery masterpiece, once again in collaboration with Tadao P12 / LUXE VENICE Intro Ando, Punta Della Dogana. This dramatic C.15th palazzo-turned-customs house is host to a stellar cache of contemporary art in themed rotations, and also the rather convenient Dogana Café – perfect for respite from an attack of museumfoot. For lunch head up to the Rialto Bridge, and while it’s impossible to avoid the crowds there, barely a few steps away hidden in an alley you’ll find Alla Madonna (see LUXE Loves), our all-time favorite for seafood risotto. Suitably feasted, it’s time for a real cultural and historical treat. Before even arriving in Venice you will have pre-booked your Secret Itinerary Tour (see Drab vs Fab) for an absolutely fascinating ‘backstage’ view of the terrifying goings on in the infamous Doge’s Palace. Torture, secret Blah Blah LUXE Insider LUXE Loves passages, clandestine meetings, hidden rooms – the tour has the lot, and the limited numbers allowed mean that for once you’re not elbowed from pillar to post. As sunset drifts over this most beautiful of cities, treat yourself to a trip down the Grand Canal on a private boat from Brussa Is Boat (see Drab vs Fab) for your very own Canaletto moment (don’t forget your camera), before alighting for an enchanting alfresco supper on the canopied floating terrace of Lineadombra in Dorsoduro. Perfetto. LUXE Loathes Drab vs. Fab LUXE Itineraries Citi Prestige ® LUXE ITINERARY The Essentials ROMANCE STYLE CULTURE • Gondolieri Travel (see Drab vs Fab) • Setecento Calle del Ridotto / San Marco 1388 +39 041 240 6908 sete-cento.it • Vaporetto dell’Arte Isola Nova del Tronchestto 32 +39 041 2424 vaporettoarte.com • Grand Canal Restaurant Hotel Monaco & Grand Canal San Marco 1332 +39 041 520 0211 hotelmonacovenice.com • Accademia Campo della Carità / Dorsoduro 1050 +39 041 520 0345 gallerieaccademia.org • Naranzaria San Polo 130 +39 041 724 1035 naranzaria.it • Antonia Miletto (see LUXE Insider) • Palladio Spa Bauer Palladio Hotel San Marco 1459 +39 041 520 7022 bauerhotels.com • Caffè Florian Piazza San Marco / San Marco 57 +39 041 520 5641 caffeflorian.com • La Caravella Via XXII Marzo / San Marco 2399 +39 041 520 8901 restaurantlacaravella.com • Bar Longhi The Gritti Palace Campo Santa Maria del Giglio San Marco 2467 +39 041 794 611 thegrittipalace.com • Palazzo Grassi Campo San Samuele / San Marco 3231 +39 041 523 1680 palazzograssi.it • Osteria Enoteca San Marco Frezzeria / San Marco 1610 +39 041 528 5242 osteriasanmarco.it • Cantinone Gia’ Schiavi (see LUXE Insider) • Harry’s Dolci Fondamenta San Biagio / Giudecca 773 +39 041 522 4844 cipriani.com • I Figli delle Stelle (see LUXE Loves) P13 / LUXE VENICE Intro Blah Blah LUXE Insider LUXE Loves • Peggy Guggenheim Collection (see LUXE Loves) • Punta Della Dogana Campo San Samuele / Dorsoduro 2 +39 041 271 9039 palazzograssi.it • Alla Madonna (see LUXE Loves) • Secret Itinerary Tour (see Drab vs Fab) • Doge’s Palace Piazza San Marco 1 palazzoducale.visitmuve.it • Brussa Is Boat (see Drab vs Fab) • Lineadombra Ponte dell’Umiltà / Dorsoduro 19 +39 041 241 1881 ristorantelineadombra.com LUXE Loathes Drab vs. Fab LUXE Itineraries