In September 2023, we traveled to Venice, convinced that the crowds would be thinner outside the peak season. What a surprise—we were completely wrong.
And yet, even at its busiest, Venice remains an extraordinary place and one of my absolute favorites. We walked nearly 10 kilometers each day, getting lost in narrow alleys, crossing countless bridges, and collecting small, unforgettable moments along the way.
Highlights included the Peggy Guggenheim Collection, the majestic Doge’s Palace, a refreshing escape to the Lido di Venezia, and many other discoveries in between.
One culinary highlight was discovering cicchetti—small slices of white bread topped with wonderfully creative combinations, perfect for sampling Venice one bite at a time.
As a final “souvenir,” I came home with COVID shortly after the trip. Thankfully, it was mild—and perhaps unavoidable in a city that brings the whole world together. Even that couldn’t dim the magic of Venice.