I see in weather reports that it will be raining almost constantly in Venice for the next ten days. We are arriving on July 8 (w/3 teenagers) and I want to be prepared. I assume that if it is raining, the crowded museums will be even more crowded. Any tips on out of the way but indoor spots to pass some time? Also is there really a chance of flooding and what do you do when that happens
Posted by
Carbondale, IL, USA
1201 posts
Karen - The most likely rain scenario you will run into in July will be short lived thunderstorms. The same type you are likely to encounter at home in the summer. Probably not the all day rain you are fearing.
THe acqua alta (flooding) is mostly a function of the tides and winds blowing up the Adriatic towards Venice not so much normal rainfall. It is notcommon in the summer and occurs mostly in the Spring and Fall.
Posted by
Sacramento, California U.S.A.
10603 posts
Ron, FYI we don't get rain in the summer in Northern California. Well, maybe occasional showers in the mountains. Actually, these days we don't get much rain anytime of year!
Posted by
Vicenza, Italy
319 posts
Karen- Don't worry about flooding. Like Ken said, it is a spring fall thing. Bring or buy an umbrella and don't let the showers stop you from seeing the city. There may be heavy evening thunder stormes, or all day drizzle, but don't expect all day heavy rain.
Posted by
Wheaton, IL
52 posts
Karen,
I arrived in Venice the last week of March into what I can only describe as a torrential downpour. After taking the water taxi to our stop at the rialto bridge, my wife and our 2 teenagers (15 and 18) ran through the streets with our GPS looking for our hotel. When we found it, we traded our wet clothes for dry ones, and waited for the rain to subside slightly. We finally got the courage to venture out and found a great little place for dinner...spent a good 2 hours there, eating, drinking our first glasses of house wine, and enjoying the other families and students having a wonderful time. When we finally left the restaurant, the rain had stopped...but the floods had risen...in fact, Piazza San Marco was completely under water. We walked on the raised wooden platforms that they put up for the acqua alta (high water) and made our way through the city. It was almost unreal...everything was reflected in the water...the pictures at night are some of the best I've ever seen. My kids have never experienced anything like it ever before, and they still say it was the best part of the trip.
We were not the only ones out walking above this floating city that night...there we people everywhere. Some of the locals wore their hip waders and walked through the flood. When we looked up at the clock in Piazza San Marco, it was 2:30 in the morning! We walked around another hour before we decided to go back to our hotel and get some sleep.
Rain can dampen some vacation spots, but Venice seemed to be made for it that night. Water is no stranger in that fascinating city built above the lagoon.
If you're lucky...it will rain, and you'll experience something wonderful. If it doesn't rain, you'll experince something different, but no less wonderful.