ITALY - Best of Europe 2014 - page 1049

crowded train station by using a downtown travel agency. Most trains between Venice,
Florence, and Rome require reservations, even for railpass holders. A travel agency can
also give advice on cheap flights (book at least a week in advance for the best fares).
Near St. Mark's Square, Oltrex Change and Travel sells train tickets and books re-
servationsfora€4fee(ticketssolddaily9:00-18:00;onRivadegliSchiavoni,onebridge
past the Bridge of Sighs—see map on here ; tel. [phone], Luca and Beatrice).
Near Rialto, Kele & Teo Travel sells train tickets for a €4 per-person service charge
(Mon-Fri 9:00-18:00, Sat 9:00-12:00, closed Sun; leaving the Rialto Bridge heading
for St. Mark's, it's half a block away, tucked down a side street on the right; tel.
041-520-8722).
English Church Services: San Zulian Church offers a Mass in English (generally May-
Sept Mon-Fri at 9:30 and Sun at 11:30, Sun only Oct-April, 2 blocks toward Rialto
off St. Mark's Square, tel. [phone]). St. George's Anglican Church welcomes
all to its English-language Eucharist (Sun at 10:30, located on Campo San Zio in
Dorsoduro, midway between Accademia and Peggy Guggenheim Collection,
www.stgeorgesvenice.com ) .
Getting Around Venice
On Foot
The city's “streets” are narrow pedestrian walkways connecting its docks, squares, bridges,
andcourtyards. Tonavigate, lookforyellow signsonstreet cornerspointing youto (per) the
nearest major landmark. The first landmarks you'll get to know are San Marco (St. Mark's
Square), Rialto (the bridge), Accademia (another bridge), Ferrovia (the train station), and
Piazzale Roma (the bus station). Determine whether your destination is in the direction of a
major signposted landmark, then follow the signs through the maze.
Dare to turn off the posted routes and make your own discoveries. While 80 percent of
Venice is, in fact, not touristy, 80 percent of the tourists never notice. Escape the crowds and
explore on foot. Walk and walk to the far reaches of the town. Don't worry about getting
lost—in fact, get as lost as possible. Keep reminding yourself, “I'm on an island, and I can't
get off.” When it comes time to find your way, just follow the arrows on building corners or
simplyaskalocal, “Dov'èSanMarco?” (“WhereisSt.Mark's?”)Peopleinthetouristbusi-
ness (that's most Venetians) speak some English. If they don't, listen politely, watch where
their hands point, say “Grazie,” and head off in that direction. If you're lost, refer to your
map, or pop into a hotel and ask for their business card—it probably comes with a map and
a prominent “You are here.”
If you need to find a specific address, it helps to know its district, street, house number,
and nearby landmarks. Every building in Venice has a house number. The numbers relate to
the district (each with about 6,000 address numbers), not the street.