Travelore News: Venice To Charge All Visitors To Access Historic Center

VENICE, Italy (AP) — The mayor of Venice says Italy’s new budget law will allow the lagoon city to charge all visitors for accessing the historic center, not just those spending the night.

Mayor Luigi Brugnaro announced on Twitter late Sunday that the tax will be extended to include anyone arriving in the city to “allow us to manage the city better and to keep it clean,” and “allow Venetians to live with more decorum.” The city council will determine the tax amount and collection mode.

Some 25 million people visit Venice each year, with about one-fifth spending at least one night in the historic center. Overnight visitors are currently charged a small tax per night.

Brugnaro said the substantial cost of cleaning and maintaining security has so far been paid “only by Venetians.”

Venice Is Banning Kayaks, Canoes, And Other Boats From The Grand Canal

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ANDREA ROMANO 

AUGUST 03, 2018

Locals and tourists in Venice will have to look for some other means of getting around the city now that a new regulation will ban certain types of boats from the Grand Canal.

As of August 1, authorities are now prohibiting recreational boats such as canoes, kayaks, paddleboards and others from being used in the canal, The Local reported. People who live or own businesses in the historic district, however, are exempt from the complete ban and will still be able to use their boats during restricted times.

And don’t worry if you had your heart set on a gondola ride – traditional Venetian watercraft are still allowed.

Following the death of a German tourist in 2013, regulations on the Grand Canal have slowly become stricter, beginning with fewer ferries on the waterway, The Local reported in 2013.

The new measure is simply a further piling on of measures in the name of public safety. Up until August 1, recreational boats were only allowed on the canal at peak times during the day.

The ban affects not only the Grand Canal, but also Cannaregio Canal and other waterways. Less busy, smaller canals will only enforce the ban during certain times of the day, namely peak hours.

If you’re planning a trip to Venice any time soon, consider saving a few euro for the public transport.

Source: https://www.travelandleisure.com/travel-news/venice-bans-kayaks-canoes

San Clemente Palace Kempinski Opens On Its Own Private Island In Venice

Dining on the terrace at Acquerello restaurant with a view of the Venice skyline The San Clemente Palace Kempinski Venice, the luxury resort set in a former monastery, is now open on its own private island in the Venice lagoon, 10 minutes by luxury speedboat from Piazza San Marco. The San Clemente Palace Kempinski's 190 guestrooms and suites have sweeping views of the Venice skyline, Giudecca, the lagoon and the Lido, to the gardens or the romantic courtyards. A special highlight is the newly built San Clemente Suite, located in the former monastery laundry, featuring a living room, master bedroom and two bathrooms with massive panoramic windows boasting the best view of Venice. The Marco Polo Suite at San Clemente Palace Kempinski  The San Clemente Suite can also be booked together with the adjacent Navigante Suite (the hotel's second largest suite, with more than 1,075 square feet), along with five Navigante Junior Suites and the Marco Polo Suite--forming a private Palazzo a Venezia.  Guests can arrive to their own private "resort within the resort" via a private boat dock, located just in front of the Navigante Wing and suitable for yachts up to 115 feet. The San Clemente Palace Kempinski also features three restaurants and three bars, including: the fine dining haute Italian restaurant, Acquerello, with an extraordinary view of the lagoon and the Venice skyline; the Mediterranean al fresco restaurant, La Dolce; and the breakfast restaurant, Insieme.  The private island also boasts a pitch & putt golf course, a tennis court, heated outdoor pool and outdoor jogging trails, as well as a Kempi Kids Club for younger guests.   "It is exciting to finally welcome our first guests at San Clemente Island," says Benedikt Jaschke, General Manager of San Clemente Palace Kempinski.  "We have worked toward this moment and now we can finally host guests. San Clemente Palace Kempinski has a lot to offer and we are very much looking forward to our first season in Venice." The San Clemente Palace Kempinski will be open for its inaugural season through November 8, 2016. Nightly rates start from €500 for Superior Rooms, €900 for Junior Suites, €5,500 for the Navigante Suite and €10,000 for the San Clemente Suite, all inclusive of breakfast at the resort's Insieme Restaurant. For more information about the San Clemente Palace Kempinski, please visit:www.kempinski.com/venice. ABOUT SAN CLEMENTE PALACE KEMPINSKI VENICE: The resort hotel has an impressive heritage and is uniquely situated on San Clemente Island in the Lagoon of Venice. Set among a centuries-old park, antique courtyards and monastery buildings, the hotel provides the perfect setting for total relaxation, just minutes from the bustle of Venice. All 190 rooms and suites provide a stunning view of Venice, the lagoon, the gardens or the inner courtyards. The hotel also offers six convention rooms for up to 450 people, and together with the whole complex and its surrounding grounds, it is the ideal place for weddings and other events,with the historic scenery providing an unforgettable setting.   ABOUT KEMPINSKI: Created in 1897, Kempinski Hotels is Europe's oldest luxury hotel group. Kempinski's rich heritage of impeccable personal service and superb hospitality is complemented by the exclusivity and individuality of its properties. Kempinski now comprises a portfolio of 78 five-star hotels in 33 countries and continues to add new properties in Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia. Each one reflects the strength and success of the Kempinski brand without losing sight of its heritage. The portfolio comprises historic landmark properties, award-winning urban lifestyle hotels, outstanding resorts, and prestigious residences. Each one is imbued with the quality guests have come to expect from Kempinski while embracing the cultural traditions of its location. Kempinski is a founding member of the Global Hotel Alliance (GHA), the world's largest alliance of independent hotels, which celebrated its tenth anniversary in 2014.

Venice's Gondolas Become Accessible To Wheelchair Users

A man sitting on a wheelchair is boarded on a gondola in Venice, Italy, Friday, March 11, 2016. 

MILAN (AP) — With is many arched bridges, Venice cannot claim to be among the world's most wheelchair-friendly cities. But a pair of gondoliers is challenging that image.

A new private-public project, dubbed gondolas4all, on Friday unveiled the first access point for wheelchair users to board one of Venice's storied black-lacquered gondolas.

Gondolier Alessandro Dalla Pieta said that over 20 years he had seen "people in wheelchairs dozens of times looking at us as if we were the last Coca Cola in the desert. It tugged at my heart."

The service, from car-accessible Piazzale Roma, will begin in about six weeks, after gondoliers are trained in operating the lift. Visitors can book a ride at the usual tariffs, set by the city, at the website www.gondolas4all.com.

Travelore Tips: 3 Recommended Things To Do In Venice In July

Conveniently located just steps from the center of Venice, The BAUERs is the perfect base for exploring all that the city has to offer. This July, a number of special events make the already bustling city even more of an attractive spot for visitors.

1. History and spectacular views at Festa del Redentore:

The annual Festa del Redentore, beginning July 18^th, is a weekend of fun and fireworks located in the heart of Venice. Festival attendees have the chance to see a nearly hour-long fireworks display, and can watch from the many boats that fill Saint Mark¹s basin, or from the nearby Gran Canal Terrace at The BAUERs. Guests of The BAUERs will have a big advantage here, with only a short walk back to their rooms after watching the fireworks. A temporary bridge is also built between the Giudecca canal and the Church of the Redentore for the weekend, offering spectacular water views. The festivities continue the following day with the Regatta del Redentore, a gondola race that finishes at the Redentore church. The festival, which celebrates the end of a 16^th century plague, offers an exciting weekend in Venice for locals and visitors.

2.A change in scenery with beaches, vineyards, and parks:

After a busy weekend at the Festa del Redentore, head over to Lido beach for sunbathing and swimming in the warm, clear Adriatic Sea. Rent a cabana and cool off from the city heat on this picturesque Venetian beach. Located on the island adjacent to San Marco, this Island escape is only a short 30-minute ferry ride from The Bauers.

The beach isn¹t the only place to spend a relaxing day in Venice‹July is also the perfect time to visit the Venissa vineyards on Mazzorbo Island, only a short ferry ride from The BAUERs on San Marco. Venice is widely known for its spectacular art, many winding canals, and beautiful architecture, but one of Venice¹s best-kept secrets is the Venissa vineyard and the golden grapes that grow there. After touring the vineyard, head to the Venissa restaurant for a fresh and local Venetian meal.

There are also a number of public parks in Venice that offer visitors a change in scenery. In the midst of the many canals and historic buildings, these green spaces serve as a beautiful contrast to the city life. Sit under shady trees in the largest park, Giardini Pubblici, or visit Giardinetti Reali, a small but picturesque garden hidden between Piazza San Marco and the Grand Canal, and only minutes away from The BAUERs hotel.

3. Authentic Italian opera and theatre in the heart of Venice:

Last but not least, visit the Palazzo Ducale to see the Gothic style architecture that makes it a must-see in Venice. From July 7^th to 12^th, visitors will have the opportunity to watch Verdi¹s Otello opera at this historic locale. Located just minutes from The BAUERs in St. Mark¹s Square, Palazzo Ducale is a stunning example of Venice¹s varied and impressive architecture. Visitors should not miss the chance to watch an authentic Italian opera in the heart of Italy.

Towards the end of the month, Venice will host the 43^rd International Theatre Festival at Biennale Theatre. Held from July 30^th to August 9^th, the event includes thirteen performances and eighteen workshops, and is a must-see for anyone staying in Venice. Nine of the thirteen shows are Italian premiere performances, giving viewers a real entrance into authentic Italian theatre.