When the sun sets, Venice acquires without doubt a special atmosphere.
You can add unforgettable memories to your stay in Venice with a tour during sunset, twilight and dusk.
SUNSET, TWILIGHT, DUSK
Sunset is when the sun drops below the horizon and out of sight.
Twilight is when the sun has set, but there is still sufficient light to see, so it follows sunset until the start of dusk. Dusk is a period of time towards the end of twilight, before it gets totally dark, thus the transition between from day to night.
sun setting behind the Salute church
I am sure you recall a lot of sunsets on instagram when the sun sets behind the baroque church of Santa Maria della Salute and its windows in the dome seem to be on fire or photos when the street lights are turned on and the sky becomes dark blue.
street lanterns in San Marco at night
Oil lanterns replaced torches in the late 18th century and these were replaced with cast-iron lanterns in the middle of the 19th century.
BOAT TOUR BY NIGHT
Well, one first option is a 1 hour ride with a private water taxi.
We will start with a ride along the Grand Canal and admire its palaces, then when navigating the Giudecca canal, we will be struck by the Stucky Hotel, a former mill, lit up, then we will reach the quiet canal behind the Giudecca island from where dots of lights remind us of the existence of islands such as Delle Rose, San Clemente and Le Grazie.
former Stucky mill, now Hilton Hotel
Then we would be heading to another amazing place at night, the former grand entrance into the Arsenal, always nicely lit up, nowadays this part is owned by the Italian navy.
Porta Magna of the Arsenal
WALKING TOUR BY NIGHT
Another option would be a walking tour of Venice by night or admiring Venice from the top of the Campanile, the famous bell-tower in Piazza San Marco.
In the summer months it is open up to 9:15 pm, last admittance 08:45 pm, it is always an amazing experience, but even more in July and August when the music of the different orchestras drifts up to the bell gable.
Saint Mark’s Square seen from the top of the bell-tower
Doge’s palace seen from the top of the bell-tower
Some interesting areas from where you can photograph sunsets are
– Ponte della Pietà, along the Riva degli Schiavoni,
– Terrace of the luxury hotel Danieli,
– Zattere Quay in the direction of Fusina, in the southern part of Venice.
Even from the island of Murano the skyline of the industrial centre of Marghera does not reduce the fascination of a sky devoured by flames.
If you will be landing late, remember to book a seat on the right of your plane. The view of the lagoon is breathtaking.
Hoping to guide you on a silent and fresh evening tour.
Venice by night
‘Red sky at night, shepherd’s delight’ is the translation of ‘rosso di sera, buon tempo di spera’.
Ps I will teach you the trick to know how long the sunset will last when you are out on a walk.
Fiona Giusto
