Tina
100+ Posts
Things didn't go as planned last winter so come spring we were in need of a short break which didn't involve a long drive from where we were near lake Iseo. Friends had visited Chioggia a couple of times over the winter and their enthusiasm convinced us it could be a good destination. We spent four nights there towards the end of March. The perfect time of year apparently- after the mists and fogs of winter but before the major onslaught of visitors in later spring and summer. The other risk of visiting the area in winter, and not only then, is the risk of the ‘Bora’ - the cold, dry wind from the northeast which can hit the Adriatic coast ruining any outdoor activity with its fierce, gusty blasts. But the weather for us was sunny and mild.
Chioggia is built on canals and is not far from Venice - it's part of the the Venetian lagoon and separated from the sea just by the narrow strip of land of Sottomarina and its beaches. It is delightful, with its ancient palazzi and vintage feel - don't expect smart bars and eateries here. The food is excellent and prices in restaurants and bars, even for fresh fish are more reasonable than other seaside towns in Italy But it hasn't been spruced up to please the tourists.
Many bars and cafèes are still as they were, 1980s style. Chioggia is also a living town, so there are normal shops, not just boutiques or shops with knick-knacks to cater to tourists. Apparently it is very busy in season but on weekdays in March there were just a handful of other contented tourists enjoying the slow pace and quiet streets. You could also use Chioggia as a base for visiting Venice - by bus all year round or by boat during the summer, as well as other islands of the Venetian lagoon, the Comacchio area, the Naviglio del Brenta and Padova.
We booked last minute and were lucky. Our apartment was ideal – owned by a small enterprise which run about 8 apartments, these kind and efficient hosts had done their homework about what visitors need - a friendly welcome, secure parking, shuttle service to the apartment, help up the stairs with the luggage were a prelude to a bright sunny smart clean apartment with a view on one of the Canals.
We arrived on Sunday and everywhere was quite busy so we just explored Chioggia and Sottomarina. More here
On Monday morning we explored Chioggia itself a lot more, slowly, because it isn't enormous but invites photoes everywhere. In the afternoon we walked along the Diga to enjoy the sunny weather and get some sea air. Details here
On Tuesday we drove to Villa Pisani on the Naviglio del Brenta, which made for an interesting morning. In the afternoon we walked along the beach in Sottomarina Our day here
On Wednesday we had a lazy look around some areas of Chioggia we hadn't already visited, in particular Riva Vena, in the morning. In the afternoon we went for a walk along the Laguna del Lusenzo. Details here.
We very much enjoyed our days there and I think we will return!
Chioggia is built on canals and is not far from Venice - it's part of the the Venetian lagoon and separated from the sea just by the narrow strip of land of Sottomarina and its beaches. It is delightful, with its ancient palazzi and vintage feel - don't expect smart bars and eateries here. The food is excellent and prices in restaurants and bars, even for fresh fish are more reasonable than other seaside towns in Italy But it hasn't been spruced up to please the tourists.
We booked last minute and were lucky. Our apartment was ideal – owned by a small enterprise which run about 8 apartments, these kind and efficient hosts had done their homework about what visitors need - a friendly welcome, secure parking, shuttle service to the apartment, help up the stairs with the luggage were a prelude to a bright sunny smart clean apartment with a view on one of the Canals.
We arrived on Sunday and everywhere was quite busy so we just explored Chioggia and Sottomarina. More here
On Monday morning we explored Chioggia itself a lot more, slowly, because it isn't enormous but invites photoes everywhere. In the afternoon we walked along the Diga to enjoy the sunny weather and get some sea air. Details here
On Tuesday we drove to Villa Pisani on the Naviglio del Brenta, which made for an interesting morning. In the afternoon we walked along the beach in Sottomarina Our day here
On Wednesday we had a lazy look around some areas of Chioggia we hadn't already visited, in particular Riva Vena, in the morning. In the afternoon we went for a walk along the Laguna del Lusenzo. Details here.
We very much enjoyed our days there and I think we will return!