Venice is most commonly associated with sliding along a labyrinth of canals on a gondola, yet the waters of the Venice lagoon offer other boating options for the intrepid waterborne traveler. The lagoon and surrounding canals are an exciting European barging destination quite different from the Barging routes on the canals and rivers of France and the UK.
We started our cruise aboard a self drive Penichette, in Chioggia, the southern most town in the lagoon. Chioggia is a town linked to the mainland by bridges and has an amazing fish market. A walk through the market will tempt one to sample new seafoods; ‘bibarasse’ or clams, and ‘renghe’ a herring, are both local specialties caught in the lagoon.
A cruise on the lagoon offers the chance to visit the tourist attractions of Venice and explore other less visited parts of the lagoon. Crossing the Malamocco shipping channel towards Venice everyone on board was awed at the magnificent sight of The Campanile of St. Marks and the Doges Palace from the water. Several mooring spots are available for self-drive boats around the main island of Venice enabling one to explore this romantic city by foot. Venice can get somewhat crowded with cruise ship tourists during the day but we found that they return to their ships in the late afternoon, making the evenings a good time to visit the city.
The nearby islands of Murano and Burano are well worth a visit. Murano, “the glass island”, is famous for its glass production, an industry transferred from the Venition city center in 1291. The island is home to many glass kilns where you can watch master glass blowers at work and shop for the islands sought after glass products, just make sure your credit card is well topped up.
Burano is perhaps the prettiest town on the lagoon, appearing like a miniature Venice with brightly coloured houses lining the water. The island has a lovely mooring, a few minutes walk from the town center. Famous for being the center of lace production, Burano is home to the Lace Museum and a great place to buy lace products. Another local specialty, for sweet lovers, is the bussolai buranelli, a delicious biscuit available from local cake shops.
We cruised on past the tiny island Torcello to Cavillino and down to the coast at Jesolo where we moored in one of the many marinas amongst the ocean going yachts. In the summer months the temperature can climb and if the waters of the lagoon do not appear inviting for a dip, the beaches between Chioggia and Grado are amongst the finest in the Adriatic and a perfect spot to refresh.
Cruising on the lagoon offers variety, some boating experience is needed to navigate amongst the sandbanks of the lagoon and shipping traffic in the Malacca shipping channel. Other cruising areas are more gentle.
We headed up the River Sile for a change of scenery and a enjoyed the tree lined river cruising up towards the town of Treviso. An alternative inland cruise is the Brenta canal which winds through a regional landscape of villas and vineyards.
Combining famous tourist attractions, varied scenery and authentic local culture, cruising on the Venice lagoon is a very attractive European boating destination.
