Two Sunsets In Venice

La Serenissima exudes magic and romance like few other European cities can. In the second chapter of a lasting love affair, MITRAJIT BHATTACHARYA returns to his favourite city for a brief rendezvous.

To say that my first trip to Venice 19 years ago left me awestruck would not be an exaggeration. It’s a city that is unapologetically grandiose and charming with its old-world vibe. No wonder it epitomises romance to everyone who touches its shores. I went back to Venice this year, albeit on a short break of 48 hours, to get blown away once again by its beauty and soak in some of that joie de vivre.

While the city does pack in a punch with its labyrinth of culture, architecture, quaint and grand locales, culinary delights, and other surprises, it can also be enjoyed on a short sojourn.

TOUCH DOWN

There is no other city in the world that perches on stilts, with canals snaking through its streets. After almost two decades, I caught my first glimpse of the architectural marvel as the shadow of my small Helvetic Airways flight crisscrossed its canals and landed on the runway of the Marco Polo airport. Venice’s first settlers came from the neighbouring mainland in the Veneto area as they sought refuge from a savage Barbarian invasion. The refugees found their new lives in the lagoon more congenial than they had expected, and over time, the archipelago prospered. Heading to the city centre with no prior planning, I figured out a bus-boat combination that would take me to my destination in 45 minutes. With no time to waste, I also decided to pick up a return bus ticket and a two-day vaporetti (water bus) ticket for ₹3,594.

A DATE WITH HISTORY