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La Fenice and Ballroom/Salsa Dancing in Venice

Posted by (Thousand Oaks, CA) on

Hi,

We have tickets to the opera at La Fenice on the same day that we hope to do a short side trip to Padua. We hope to leave about 8:30-9:00 and would like to be back to our hotel by 2:30-3:00 allowing time to rest, freshen-up and arrive at the theatre by 6:30. Here are my questions:

  1. We purchased our opera tickets online. Should we expect any issues as long as we have our printed email indicating the purchase?
  2. How should we dress? I will have one black dress that can pass for cocktail. Will that work? What about for men? Any dress code?
  3. How much time should we allow to travel from Mestre (Hilton Mestre/San Giuliano) to La Fenice?

My second request is info related to dance venues. We are avid ballroom and salsa dancers. Any suggestions for clubs/lounges/dance venues near La Fenice on a Thursday night?

Thank you for your help in advance!
Regards,
Susan

Posted by
21394 posts

I'd give yourself an hour and a half to get from Mestre to La Fenice. Take one of the frequent trains to Santa Lucia station and then get on the No1 boat (direction Lido) and get off at Giglio. Walk straight back about 5 minutes to La Fenice. The boat costs 7 euro and takes 35 minutes from Ferrovia.
I bought online a couple of years ago and had no problem picking up the tickets. Your dress is fine, you'll fit right in.
Venice isn't big on dancing clubs, you'll have more luck in Mestre. However, if its nice out, you might want to wander down to the Piazza San Marco where there are live orchestras on the square. They play familiar ball-room type numbers and you can dance on the square. Just be aware you'll be a target for the flower sellers, but that's just par for the course. Its free, unless you decide to sit at a table and have a drink. Again, it can be a pleasant extravagance.

Posted by
21394 posts

Per your other post, the easiest way (not necessarily the cheapest) to Venice is with No 5 bus across the street from the Hilton Garden on Orlando St. It runs every 15 minutes and there is a combined bus/boat ticket for 12 euro (1 euro savings). The bus will get you to Piazzale Roma in Venice in 10 minutes where you can get the No 1 vaporetto and proceed per my previous post.

Posted by
16243 posts

Smart casual will be ok for both. There will be Germans in shorts and sandals anyway.
In Mestre there is a Salsa School called Emocion Latina. They probably have events in their calendar.
I doubt ballroom dancing is easy to find anywhere in Italy. It's not a popular genre.

Posted by
11613 posts

Oh my God, I'm going to disagree slightly with Roberto. I traveled extensively in Italy this year and saw signs and ads for ballroom dance schools in several places. If there are schools, there must be venues. Apparently t's becoming more popular, I don't recall seeing anything for ballroom dancing (except tango) a few years ago.

Posted by
21394 posts

The line 19 bus stops by the Hilton San Giuliano going to Piazzale Roma in 10 minutes and costs 1.30 euro. It runs every 15 minutes until 10:30 pm weekdays. Take that one rather than the airport bus which costs 6 euro, unless it is after 10:30 pm, when you need to take the No 5 bus which runs until 40 past midnight.

Posted by
9 posts

Thank you for your responses! I feel much more comfortable going to La Fenice now, and will check out Piazza San Marco for dancing. I understand there is some salsa dancing so I will research that a bit more.

Thanks again for your time and consideration.

Regards,
Susan

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