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Rick Steves' Venice

Updates since the 2010 edition:

As of Dec. 13, 2009, Vienna–Venice daytime trains always require a connection, often including a bus on the leg between Villach and Venice (Venezia Piazzale Roma). Venice–Munich daytime trains now always require a connection at Verona (or choose the route via Villach with bus connection).

Updates since the 2009 edition:

Orientation

The American Express office near St. Mark's Square has closed.

Sights

Venice's city museums now grant youth and senior discounts to non-EU citizens. These museums include the Doge's Palace, Correr Museum, the Clock Tower on St. Mark's Square, Ca' Rezzonico, Ca' Pesaro, Murano Glass Museum, Burano Lace Museum, and the 18th-Century Costume Museum (a.k.a. Museo di Palazzo Mocenigo).

The Bridge of Sighs will be surrounded by scaffolding for the next few years while it undergoes restoration.

The new Constitution Bridge (a.k.a. the Calatrava Bridge) has finally opened, spanning the Grand Canal near Piazzale Roma, just upstream from the train station..

The Marciana National Library is not offering guided tours of the library while the collection is being reorganized (no word yet on whether tours will resume once the project is over).

The 17th-century Customs House — the last building on the right as the Grand Canal empties into the lagoon— now houses the new Punta della Dogana Museum of Contemporary Art.

Venice's Lagoon

Burano's Lace Museum is currently undergoing renovation; it's scheduled to reopen in 2010.

Sleeping

Family-run Hotel Mercurio offers 19 peaceful, comfortable, and recently renovated rooms. Near La Fenice Theater and a short walk from St. Mark's Square, some rooms offer canal views (Sb-€130, Db-€170, Tb-€200, €10 less with cash, less mid-June–Aug, 50 percent discount Nov–Feb except Christmas week, prices good with current edition of Rick Steves book, Wi-Fi, air-con, Calle del Fruttariol 1848, San Marco, tel. 041-522-0947, fax 041-582-5270, www.hotelmercurio.com, info@hotelmercurio.com, Monica, Vittorio, and Natale). From San Marco Vallaresso vaporetto stop, walk to the end of Calle Vallaresso, veer left, then immediately right onto Calle Frezzaria. Follow Calle Frezzaria, which takes you through a sharp left turn and over a bridge before becoming Calle del Frutariol. Hotel Mercurio is on your left just before La Fenice Theater.

The correct email address for Hotel al Ponte Mocenigo is info@alpontemocenigo.com.

The correct email address for Corte del Paradiso is cortealparadiso@yahoo.it.

Hotel al Piave has lost its beloved dog, Molly.

Transportation Connections

There is now just one direct train between Venice and Vienna (8 hours). The direct overnight train still remains, along with a few connecting options. From Vienna, the direct daytime train leaves at 6:23 a.m. It returns in the afternoon, leaving Venice at 15:48. See the Deutsche Bahn website for more details.

Padua

There's no longer a post office at the TI at train station, but there is one on Piazza Gaspari, a five-minute walk from the train station. Head straight down from the front of the station and take your second right - it's hidden under the arches in a square (Mon–Fri 8:30–14:00, Sat 8:30–13:00, closed Sun).

Verona

Buses #11, #12, and #13 run from the train station to Piazza Brà on weekdays only. On weekends, take bus #90, #92, #93, #96, #97, or #98 instead.

Private guide Marina Menegoi has a new email address, mmenegoi@gmail.com, and website, www.venetoguide.it.

The Internet café off Piazza Brà, formerly called Internet Train, is now called "Verona Web."

The Tombs of the Scaligeri Family, mentioned on our self-guided walk, are currently closed for renovation.