venice experiences, gondolas, concerts, Murano

Definitely do the gondola ride and night is best. Your time in Venice is a bit limited to go to Murano. We made the mistake of going on a Saturday and spent too much time waiting for the return vaporetto--they seem to run infrequently on Saturdays. The Vivaldi is most likely worth the price--the churches have great accoustics for concerts and we loved Vivaldi in Madeline Church in Paris. It is also possible to attend an opera in an old palace. The hotels have the information on these. We saw Barber of Seville and enjoyed it in an old palace lit by candlelight.

The one glass blowing demo I saw on visit to Murano was very brief, then you go into a showroom to look at a lot of beautiful and expensive glassworks. The island has a lot of glass shops, selling more inexpensive items -- so if you want to shop for glass, or just see a lot of the Venetian type of glass Murano is a good place -- though there is a lot on display in Venice as well. The island of Burano is also a very good, picturesque place to stroll around and shop. I wouldn't go unless the weather is pretty nice.

Help. We'll be in Venice 2 nights late May, Tue and Wed. Where can I find concert/opera info online?

for gondolas -- pay at the end!!! Also, i believe there is a city-regulated price-list for a gondola ride... check with your hotel - make sure you agree on the price beforehand and again, pay when you're done. If they insist on collecting before you head out, walk away. Gondolas are everywhere, you won't miss out.

Julie: Google "concerts in Venice,Italy" . You will get lots of hits.

My advice, Melissa, is to see some live classical music played by people not in period costumes! Not to say these people can't play, but it just makes one feel like he or she's in Disneyland or something. Last summer we saw a small group of talented college kids studying music from all over Veneto play in the old prison of the Palazzo Ducale, in a small 17th Century room, late one night. We're not classical music experts or anything, but this blew us away. So intimate, romantic, glorious...these kids played their hearts out. The name of the organization that sponsored the concerto was Collegium Ducale. You could probably Google it.

Good advice Gio. That would kind of be like getting pictures with "gladiators" in Rome. I took a look at the website, its all in Italian and I can't even remember the days of the weeks from my language course. I will try to look that one up when we get to Venice.

I agree totally with Gio. We heard a concert in the Frari church which began with eight men who stood in a circle and sang Gregorian chant. This was nine years ago and I still get goosebumps when I think about it.

Murano isn't worth it on a 2 1/2 day trip. Burano is better, but it's also farther. So stick to the city on this trip. You can see blown glass everywhere.

Melissa - Through 20 May the concerts are at Pallazzo delle Prigioni in Piazza San Marco.

From 24 May through 30 November, the concerts are at Chiesa di Santa Maria Formosa in Castello. The church is located in Campo Santa Maria Formosa. which is not too far from Piazza San Marco.

All the concerts start at 9:00 pm and are 25 euros for adults. They are on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.