Hi All,
i need input of what's better, spending the sunset in the canal (mostly small canal and a little bit of the Grand Canal) or spend it in St Mark's Square w/ its orchestra?
also i check that sunset in December is at 16.30pm. Does it mean it's totally dark by that time or there's still a hint of sun ray in the horizon until around 18pm?
if i want to spend it in the canal, what time would be best to start then, around 16.15 for a 30minutes ride for example?
Hi. I cannot help you decide which view you prefer, but if you go online, say right now, you can see what dusk looks like. Google Venice webcams and you get something like this:
https://www.skylinewebcams.com/en/webcam/italia/veneto/venezia/riva-schiavoni.html
At 16:25, it is still pretty light, but not much of a sunset today, cloudy instead.
I've answered about light in one of your other gondola questions
We just spent 6 nights in Venice in October. You can't go wrong either way . . . both amazing experiences. For St.Marks Square & orchestra . . . I recommend Caffe Florian - it's one of the oldest coffee bars in the world. Dates back to the 1720s - even though you may want to eat outside for the orchestra, be sure to check out the inside as most of it is stlll original from the 1720s - Charles Dickens, Lord Byron, Casanova and other famous people have been there. We put a review and photos on TripAdvisor . . . remember it is pricey, as you are paying the orchestra - but the experience was so amazing and we had a delish tomato and mozzarella croissant and coffee. The hot chocolate is also fantastic. You can enjoy this day or night . . . as well as the canal. The timing really wouldn't matter. Be careful trying to overplan - the weather is very unpredictable there. Just take it moment by moment and enjoy the experiences. Venice is truly amazing and be sure to venture into the non touristy areas . . . we enjoyed those places the most. La Zucca was one of the best meals we had during our 3 wks in Italy - reservations are a must.
A few years ago, we were standing on the Accademia Bridge at dusk, taking photos, when suddenly a large flotilla (12? 15?) of gondolas came around the curve, evidently from San Marco. There was an accordion player in the first gondola, playing "Santa Lucia", and the other gondoliers were singing along. It was one of our favorite moments ever in Venice.
I don't know if they do this every day, but when you're there, you could check with the dispatcher at a stazio near San Marco and find out if and when the flotilla will depart. Then station yourself on that bridge for an amazing experience.
On an ETB tour to Venice, a bunch of us visited the Guggenheim and were sitting on the terrace overlooking the Grand Canal at sunset. MAGICAL!
I would go to Punta del Dogana, or find a rooftop terrace.
Hi Debbie,
thanks so much for webcam. i don't think of that in first place.
Hi Nigel,
read ur post in the other thread. thank you :)
Hi chinalake67
how was Caffee Florian's coffee? was it that good? should we order the short black or cappucino? do you remember the price?
Hi Charlene
i could imagine how wonderful it is. perhaps your visit was by coincidence w/ an event there.
somehow by now i lean more in spending the sunset not in the gondola. that way, i could do the gondola first (if the weather permits) and then taking my time do the rest of the walking tour. and the gondola standard route also includes those very small canals that i think they won't have enough light and less view than the GC itself.
