Bezos' wedding in Venice? That's old news. The concierge visits the lagoon city! Some of you might think the one is not connected to the other. And at a glance you might be right - but you are mistaken. The connection: Vilpian to Venice by train in under three hours. But what is there to do in Venice in one day? The concierge finds out.

While many cities in the north claim to be the Venice of the northern hemisphere (Hamburg, Bruges, St. Petersburg...), no city in the south would presume to be the Venice of the south. Venice is unique among all.

And while the historic cities of Verona, Padua, and Vicenza are all worth a visit, this time we have no choice but to pass through. Perhaps another time we say sorrowfully, but the first glimpse of the lagoon from the train windows makes us forget the cities of the ‘Terraferma’.

From the Ponte della Libertá, our only way to reach the city except by boat, the island city can already be spotted on the horizon. Fishing boats, mussel beds, and the first vaporetto reveal that we are at sea, or more precisely, the Venice lagoon. Getting off the train and leaving the station, a salty breeze is blowing, carrying the smell of the sea, and the Canale Grande appears before us.

Early in the morning, the concierge's first stop is the modest coffee shop ‘Pasticceria Rio Marin’. The concierge opts for an Americano, which can also be substituted for a cappuccino or cornetto (recommended – after all, coffee culture is alive and well here, an institution almost as historic as the Doge's Palace...).

On our way through the city, we pass the first sight, the Scuola Grande di San Rocco. Hidden behind the facade is one of the largest and most impressive collections of paintings in Venice (and thus in the world!). A must see, at least once!

Right next door is the equally impressive Basilica dei Frari, with the impressive tombs and mausoleums of the Bezoses of yesteryear. The city's most fascinating monuments are concentrated in a small area. And best of all, they are not overcrowded.

The city has one problem, and there's no denying it: the sheer number of tourists who, like us, wander through the narrow streets and past the picturesque canals of the city during the day. Still, the city has its quiet moments. But to reach them, we have to cross the bridge at the Accademia. The Ponte dell'Accademia is one of the few ways to cross to the other side of the city. Not only that, but the view itself is breathtaking and reason enough to linger and take a picture. And like us, many others seem to agree, stopping for the quintessential souvenir photo.

By the time we reach San Marco, everything becomes a little busier and the crowds make it difficult to get through. While the Basilica di San Marco is monumental, so is the crowd.

But we still have time for a quick detour to a little-known statue in one of the corners of the basilica. The four tetrarchs, stolen from the Byzantines (Romans), have adorned the same spot in the basilica since the Middle Ages. Free of charge and without queues. One pedestal is missing its feet. It got left behind in Constantinople, the place they were stolen from.

We leave the Ponte dei Sospiri, and the crowds behind us and head for the more quiet parts of the city.
In old Venice, trees were a sign of prosperity and were reserved for the rich. This makes the Giardini all the more significant. The city owes its greenery to Napoleon, and the Giardini is where the city's few green spaces are concentrated. It's a pleasant place to stroll, and the cooling shade of the cypress trees makes it easier to breathe.

From here, we can see the path we traveled. It is by far the most beautiful view of the lagoon, with all its islands and the Lido. The stress and crowds at the tourist hotspots are easy to forget here. And it begs the question, does it really make sense to rush through a large and historic city like Venice in just one day?

It's now midday and our lunch is already planned: the classics of the Venetian cuisine, baccalà, bigoli, and fegato alla veneziana await us. Natural wines and a contemporary interpretation of Venetian classics await us at the restaurant Estro. A slower pace in a city that is seemingly so fast and bustling. Slow food instead of fast food.

And still, there was a lot to see. There's Torcello, with its old basilica, mosaics, and the legendary throne of Attila (which isn't really Attila's throne, but we digress..), and and and...

There is no doubt. Venice is a sight to behold. A day trip to Venice like this is relatively exhausting. The concierge tried it out and you can be in Venice in just under three short hours by train and certainly see a lot. But in the end, there's much more to the city. You'll experience what makes Venice unique, but might miss out on what makes Venice exceptional.

And in the end, if a day trip sounds too stressful, our new swimming pool might prove a relaxing alternative.