As Venice marked both the beginning and the end of my magnificent trip, I thought I would write a few words about this magical city as an introduction to the destination. The charm of the city has already been recounted by so many able writers, that it seems daunting to follow their narration with my own. As such, I will simply share my own personal moments in the city with you.

My journey began at the Hotel Monaco & Grand Canal, very conveniently located next to San Marco. I was very fortunate to have a room overlooking the Grand Canal, and watching the sunrise on La Salute is probably one of the most privileged moments I’ve ever had in life.

During my short transit in Venice, I visited the François Pinault’s collection at the Punta della Dogana, which just opened in June after a renovation by the famous Japanese architect Tadao Ando.

The gallery occupies a prime location in Venice, and with the Ando touch, is definitely worth a visit. Although I appreciate modern art, I did find some of the exhibits quite disturbing. I find it difficult to understand the brutality and the vulgarity of some artists – is this perhaps a shortcut to fame, or a statement about our society? It seems to me that we already have our share of violence every day in the newspaper, and art, like music, should be our breathing space for peace, rest, soul searching, reflection and an appreciation of the beauty of life.

There are many restaurants in Venice, and one of my favourites is Trattoria Alla Madonna, a casual trattoria with simple, unpretentious and delicious dishes, including a must-try seafood risotto.

Since the day I found out that the famous Harry’s Bar tailors its price list to the customer – the locals pay the least, then the regulars, while the tourists are expectedly gouged – I’ve frequented the sister branch instead, Harry’s Dolci, located on the Giudecca, away from the tourist spot of San Marco, thus more difficult to access but more peaceful. Here, you will find the same signature dishes as in Harry’s Bar, including homemade baked tagliolini with ham, to be shared, as the portion is quite substantial. Don’t leave without trying their cakes – once you sink your teeth into the multiple layers of cream, you’ll never want to leave. Yumm!

Photo credits: thundafunda.com