Not just the Biennale. Not just the Gallerie dell’Accademia. And not just the Film Festival and the Golden Lion. A vacation in Venice doesn’t necessarily have to be monopolized by cultural activities. It’s fine to keep watering your artistic expertise and sensitivity so that your intellectually embedded DNA can sprout and thrive.
Actually, it’s an excellent idea: it’s impossible to wander around the Venetian calli without thinking at least once about Thomas Mann. And there are plenty of opportunities to admire the works of Tintoretto, Giorgione and Titian first-hand. But then comes the time to enter into recreation mode. And so regardless of the season—though spring and summer are naturally better— don’t forget that Venice faces the sea. Some of the local beaches, particularly the historical ones of the Lido, cater to everyone: those who are after simple seaside R&R as well as people who are curious about a very characteristic visual impact (with the numerous breakwaters extending from the sea) or appreciate the vintage atmosphere of the bathing establishments on this stretch of the Adriatic coast.
Even when they are equipped with new tourist facilities, they maintain a timeless air and an undeniable elegance that always has its reasons. In general, they are sandy beaches and the sea floor slopes very gently, making them ideal for families with children. The Venice Lido. This is probably the Venetians’ favorite destination during the summer. Yet it’s not just a matter of proximity and thus practicality. The fact is that the beaches of the Lido—both the free and the equipped ones— have maintained their very distinctive allure. The latter also offer the chance to rent a “capanna” instead of the simple solution of a beach umbrella and chaise. They are small cabins with an annexed veranda and an awning for shade. Depending on the beach establishment, you can opt for a normal or mini cabin, a small cabin with a chaise or a traditional sunbed.
Easy on theeye and very comfortable. The Lido also has free beaches, such as the Dune degli Alberoni and the Bluemoon beach, which is very handy because it is easy to reach with the vaporetto, but also because it has bathrooms and showers. Therefore, it is an excellent solution, though you need to consider that it is often crowded with people whose top priority is comfort. The sandy Alberoni dunes are an immense protected nature reserve. At the heart of its habitat you’ll find a pine grove and a series of dunes that not only give the landscape a vital air but also host various types of flora. It is a little gem of biodiversity in which sea birds represent the most abundant fauna. The nature reserve is along a major migratory route.
To change experiences completely, if you want to go just a little further north you can try Jesolo, a town that is lively all year. It offers a calendar of numerous events tied to food, culture, sports and fun in general. Its golden beach is about 9 miles long and the quality of the sea and environmental services is regularly awarded the sought- after “Blue Flag.” A golf course and numerous schools for canoeing, windsurfing and other sports attract the athletic-minded, but another of Jesolo’s strong points is its nightlife. Starting at dusk, a whole new city comes to life, until the glimmer of dawn.
