Fast Facts

Acqua Alta-- During the notorious tidal acqua alta (high water) floods, the lagoon backwashes into the city, leaving up to 5 or 6 feet of water in the lowest-lying streets (Piazza San Marco, as the lowest point in the city, goes first). These floods can start as early as late September or October, usually taking place November to March. As many as 50 a year have been recorded since they first started in the late 1700s. The waters usually recede after just a few hours and are often virtually gone by noon. Walkways are set up around town, but wet feet are a given. The complex system of hydraulic dams being constructed out in the lagoon to cut off these high tides (a controversial project whose progress ebbs and flows depending on who is in government) won't be operational until perhaps the end of this decade.

American Express-- American Express is at San Marco 1471, 30124 Venezia, on Salizzada San Moisè just west of Piazza San Marco (tel. 041-520-0844). In summer, the office is open for banking Monday to Saturday 8am to 8pm (for all other services, 9am-5:30pm); in winter, hours are Monday to Friday 9am to 5:30pm and Saturday 9am to 12:30pm (for banking and other services).

Business Hours-- Standard hours for shops are 9am to 12:30pm and 3 to 7:30pm Monday to Saturday. In winter, shops are closed on Monday morning, while in summer it's usually Saturday afternoon. Most grocers are closed on Wednesday afternoon year-round. In Venice, just about everything is closed on Sunday, though tourist shops in the tourist spots such as the San Marco area are permitted to stay open during high season. Restaurants are required to close at least 1 day a week, called il giorno di riposo, though the particular day varies from one trattoria to another. Many are open for Sunday lunch but close for Sunday dinner. Restaurants that specialize in fish and seafood also typically close Monday, when the fish market is closed. Restaurants will close for holidays, translated as chiuso per ferie, sometime in July or August, frequently over Christmas, and sometime in January before the Carnevale rush.

Climate-- May, June, September, and early October are the best months with respect to weather to visit (and the most crowded). July and August are hot -- at times unbearably so. April and late October/early November are hit-or-miss; it can either be glorious or cool, rainy, and damp and only marginally less crowded. Also see "Acqua Alta," above.

Consulates-- The nearest U.S. Consulate is in Milan at Largo Donegani 1 (tel. 02-290-351). It's open Monday to Friday 9am to noon for visas only; from Monday to Friday it's also open for telephone service info 2 to 4pm. The U.K. Consulate in Venice is at Dorsoduro 1051 (tel. 041-522-7207), at the foot of the Accademia Bridge, just west of the museum in the Palazzo Querini; it's open Monday to Friday 9am to noon and 2 to 4pm. Like the U.S., Canada, Australia, and New Zealand have consulates in Milan, about 3 hours away by train (see chapter 7); all also maintain embassies in Rome.

Crime-- Be aware of petty crime like pickpocketing on the crowded vaporetti, particularly the tourist routes where passengers are more intent on the passing scenery than watching their bags. Venice's deserted back streets were once virtually crime-proof; occasional tales of theft are circulating only recently. Generally speaking, it's one of Italy's safest cities.

Dentists/Doctors-- For a short list, check with the consulate of the United Kingdom, the American Express office, or your hotel.

Drugstores-- Venice's pharmacies take turns staying open all night. To find out which one is on call in your area, ask at your hotel, check the rotational duty signs posted outside all drugstores, or dial [tell] 041-523-0573.

Emergencies-- In Venice and throughout Italy, dial tel. 113 to reach the police. Some Italians will recommend that you forgo the police and try the military-trained Carabinieri (tel. 112). For an ambulance, phone tel. 523-0000. To report a fire, dial tel. 115, 041-520-0222, or 041-520-0223. For any tourism-related complaint (rip-offs, exceedingly shoddy service, and so on), dial the special agency Venezia No Problem toll-free at tel. 800-355-920.

Fax-- From both the main post office and its Piazza San Marco branch (see "Mail," below) you can send faxes to almost any destination with the odd exception of the United States. For service to the United States, ask at your hotel; most will agree to do it for either a per-page or estimated-per-minute cost. Or look for SERVIZIO FAX signs in the windows of cartolerie (stationery stores).

Holidays-- Venice's patron saint, San Marco (St. Mark), is honored on April 25.

Internet Access-- For checking e-mail, go to Venetian Navigator, Castello 5300 on Calle Casselleria (tel. 041-522-6084; www.venetiannavigator.com; vaporetto: San Marco, Zaccaria, Rialto), daily 10am to 10pm (Nov-Apr 10am-1pm and 2:30-8:30pm), which charges 6€ ($7.50) per hour. There is another location at San Marco 5239 on Calle Stagneri. The Internet Café, 2967-2958 Campo Santo Stefano, San Marco (tel. 041-520-8128; www.nethousecafes.com; vaporetto: S. Samuele, Giglio), is a new spot open 24 hours daily that charges a steep 9€ ($11) per hour.

Laundry-- The self-service laundry most convenient to the train station is the Lavaget (tel. 041-715-976), Cannaregio 1269, to the left as you cross Ponte alle Guglie from Lista di Spagna; the rate is about 9€ ($11) for up to 4.5 kilos (10 lb.). The most convenient laundry to San Marco is Gabriella (tel. 041-522-1758), San Marco 985 on Rio Terrà Colonne (off Calle dei Fabbri), where they wash and dry your clothes for you within an hour or 2 for 14€ ($18) per load. They are open Monday to Friday 10am to 12:30pm and 2:30 to 7pm.

Lost & Found-- The central Ufficio Oggetti Rinvenuti (tel. 041-788-225) is in the annex to the City Hall (Municipio), at San Marco 4134, on Calle Piscopia o Loredan, just off Riva del Carbon on the Grand Canal, near the Rialto Bridge (on the same side of the canal as the Rialto vaporetto station). Look for scala (stairway) C; the lost-and-found office is in the Economato section on the mezzanino level, one flight up. The office is ostensibly open only on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 9:30am to 12:30pm, but there's usually someone available weekdays from 9:30am until the building closes at 1:30pm.

There's also an Ufficio Oggetti Smarriti at the airport (tel. 041-260-6436) and an Ufficio Oggetti Rinvenuti at the train station (tel. 041-785-238), right at the head of Track 14; they're open Monday to Friday from 8am to 4pm.

Luggage Storage-- The deposito bagagli in the train station (tel. 041-785-531) is open daily from 6am to midnight and charges for each bag 3€ ($3.75) for the first 12 hours, then 2€ ($2.50) for each additional 12-hour period.

Mail-- Venice's Posta Centrale is at San Marco 5554, 30124 Venezia, on the San Marco side of the Rialto Bridge at Rialto Fontego dei Tedeschi (tel. 041-271-7111 or 041-528-5813; vaporetto: Rialto). This office sells stamps at Window 12 Monday to Saturday 8:30am to 6:30pm (for parcels, 8:10am-1:30pm). If you're at Piazza San Marco and need postal services, walk through Sottoportego San Geminian, the center portal at the opposite end of the piazza from the basilica on Calle Larga dell'Ascensione. Its usual hours are Monday to Friday 8:30am to 2pm and Saturday 8:30am to 1pm. You can buy francobolli (stamps) at any tabacchi (tobacconists). The limited mailboxes seen around town are red.

Police-- In an emergency, dial tel. 112 or 113.

Travel Agencies-- Intras City Service at Santa Croce 1303b (tel. 041-275-0783) is centrally located, as is Kele e Teo on the Mercerie 4930 (tel. 041-520-8722; fax 041-520-8913; www.keleteo.com).