Tourist information - Venice
Venice is quite a sleepy city, particularly when you compare it along with other major cities around the world. There are a few reasons for this. The very first is the high average age of its citizens possibly the highest in Italy. Second is the relative difficulty there's to get around. This isn't a place for cars as well as other private way of transport, and also a boat ride is not really perfect for an evening out. Finally, there's a not enough space in Venice, so things are all very crowded.
In short, you'll search in vain for nocturnal events. There simply isn't anything to do. However, if you really can't do without nightlife, you may drive to Piazzale Roma (a true Venetian would need an excellent justification for doing so) and after that on to Jesolo.
Besides, by nature Venetians do things differently. They prefer entertaining friends in the privacy of their own homes. Consequently, there are few restaurants which stay open until late to the point where going for something to eat after the cinema would be a major feat. It's only relatively recently that a number of restaurants with live music have reopened: "Il Paradiso perduto, in the Misericordia district, is famous for its environment and its endless disputes with local residents.
Campo Santa Margherita during the summer time is an exception to this rule. The presence of hundreds of students on their summer holidays transforms the square into a pleasure pavilion, with restaurants, live music and extemporaneous art exhibitions. One of the most well-liked are those at Du Champ, the Caffè Rosso and Ai Sportivi. Another exception is during the Carnival. In September, Campo San Polo houses an open-air cinema, where you could sit within the stars and see films which have recently been released at the Biennale Cinema.
The opening seasons of the Goldoni Thestre, and also the operatic-symphonic Fenice Theatre (until September at Palafenice in Tronchetto, but repeated for a little longer in the historic centre of renovated Malibran) aim to shift the winter-blues. For many who just like a gamble, there are two Casinos in the city and Mestre.
Finally, you have the Lido an island which makes this waterlogged city go bathing-mad. But even here, whether you like it or not, the emphasis is on Mann, rather than Maracaibo. The beach is amazingly beautiful, but where it is most beautiful, it is also very expensive. Where the sand runs out, around the Murazzi islands, the water is dirty and there are breakwaters, with not much as a stick of celery to take the shelter beneath.
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