Local Expert
Bradley Harden
Living the Sweet Life in a Fantasy Land
I was born in Missouri, but grew up in Minnesota where I was exposed to true winter and the health benefits of shoveling A LOT of snow. After graduating from…
Living the Sweet Life in a Fantasy Land
I was born in Missouri, but grew up in Minnesota where I was exposed to true winter and the health benefits of shoveling A LOT of snow. After graduating from high school I attended Northwest Missouri State University for 2 years and then transferred to Boston to attend Berklee College of Music and earned a degree in Music Business and Management. After deciding that a desk job simply wasn't my thing at this point in my life, I set out to see what the world had to offer. I found a wonderful little town a few miles southwest of Venice called Padova. This small, university town truly captures all of the ideas, visions, sights, and sounds of what you think Italy should be...except the gondolas, that is left for Venice.
I enjoy a lot of different things. Travel is obvious. I have traveled extensively throughout Europe in the years since arriving, trying to see as much as I can. This, of course, includes a vast amount of Italy. I have had a wonderful time experiencing the culture with real Italians that have taken me to the places that you can not find in any guidebook and that are not on any map. During the spring and summer I work as a liaison for travelers; helping them find their way from the airport or train station to their hotels and helping them navigate through Venice or surrounding area to see things that are off the beaten path. Of course, if it’s your first time you need to see the important historical things, but if you’ve been before perhaps a day of ‘live like a local’ is more your thing. I always find a huge amount of pleasure and satisfaction from seeing a city that I know very well through the eyes of someone who is experiencing it for the first time. When this happens I, too, see the city for the first time and I realize that the magic never left.
In addition to all of this, I also enjoy movies, most types of music, going out for a “spritz” in the piazzas during the evenings with friends, and since I’m living in Italy eating AMAZING food and drinking a GREAT glass of wine come almost automatically. This is the definition of "Having your cake and eating it too."
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The Lazy, Hazy, CLOSED, Days of Summer!
Venice during the summer time can be very exciting. There are festivals, celebrations, "neighborhood" BBQ's that abound all through the summer. For me, the best part about Venice in the summer time is finding a little place where I can sit outside and enjoy an icy cold beverage while watching the people hurry about their business. However, during the month of August, this simple task becomes slightly more difficult because Ferragosto reigns.
Ferragosto, if you're not familiar with it, is the 15th of August and is essentially the pivital point for every Italian on vacation. Either you are going to go from the 1st to the 15th, or you are going to leave on the 15th and return the 1st of September. Because of this holiday schedule many restaurants, bars, shops, and stores will close for the holiday and usually remain closed for the period of the 2 weeks, depending on the schedule of the owner...usually.
Venice is and always has been a city that survives and relies on tourism for it's primary economic means. When I first learned of this holiday I couldn't understand, and still don't to some degree, why the places that thrive on tourism would close. It makes sense to me that if you're having your busiest time during the summer, you should stay open to maximize your profits. Right?
Well ok, so you have this situation when you're in Venice. What can you do? Well, if the place you want to visit is near Saint Mark's Square...stop sweating, you'll be fine. Most of the places around Saint Mark's Square are open all summer and they are easy enough to find. However, if you are planning on visiting someplace in the area of Castello, Dorsoduro, Accademia, or places further yet from Saint Mark's Square, I suggest calling ahead to find out whether or not the the place is open and at what time. It might also be a good idea to make a reservation as well, supply and demand could make you wait for hours for a free table.
All in all, it's not a severe problem if you're willing to accept the fact that something might be closed when you get there. Make a reservation, or call ahead and you'll be fine through the month of August. If that doesn't work, then find a little place that is open and step inside. For my money, the smaller the place the better the food anyway!
If you would like to contact me directly about this, or anything else regarding Venice or northern Italy, visit me HERE