Venice: The City I Loved but Couldn’t Recognize

Venice has always held a special place in my heart. I spent two years there completing my master’s studies, and it was where my extrovert side truly emerged. I went from shy to connecting with over 800 people in my first year alone. Days were filled with endless pasta and fine wine, nights spent exploring hidden gems, and the kind of immersive experiences that only living in the city can offer.

I discovered off-the-beaten-path spots like Billiardi, a pool and music bar where you knocked to be let in, and the casino’s “Giovedì sotto le stelle,” a rare evening where the general public could enjoy an experience usually reserved for exclusive events. Watching the Redentore fireworks from Giardini during a picnic with friends remains a cinematic memory, capturing Venice’s charm beyond the tourist crowds.

Years later, after moving abroad, I kept returning to Venice whenever I could. My latest visit, after nearly seven years, was jarring. Many of the authentic places I cherished were gone. Restaurants with names designed to sound local were often run by foreign owners imitating Italian culture. Artisan shops had vanished, replaced by overpriced, tourist-focused establishments. Crowds pressed into every corner, and half the city now felt more like a luxury theme park than the intimate, authentic Venice I remembered.

Venice is still breathtaking, with canals that shimmer in the sunlight and a timeless elegance that’s impossible to ignore. Yet the soul of the city I once knew, the quiet alleys, hidden trattorias, and secret local gatherings, feels increasingly rare. My memories of living there remain vivid, cinematic, and deeply personal, a private escape from the bustling Venice of today.

Author

Anton Levytsky is a Mediterranean travel expert and photographer based in Southern Europe. Fluent in eight languages, he has explored 50+ towns and cities.