How To Spend a Rainy Day in Venice

Venice is at its most romantic when wrapped in a cloak of mist. When the picturesque fog turns to rain, however, you’ll want a dry retreat to wait out the shower. Here are a few ideas for spending a rainy day in Venice.

• Linger in St. Mark’s Basilica and the neighboring Doge’s Palace, where you’ll find golden Byzantine mosaics and masterpieces by Titian and Tintoretto.
• Take a deep dive into Venice’s unique culinary traditions during a cooking class, which are often paired with a stroll through the city’s historic Rialto Market. Sample dishes you’ve prepared for lunch or dinner at the end of your lesson.
• Take a break from Venice’s baroque finery during a visit to the Peggy Guggenheim Collection, home to masterpieces by Picasso, Kandinsky, Dalí, and Pollock.
• Watch master craftsmen at work during a glassblowing demonstration on Murano island, the historic center of Venice’s artisan glass production. Afterwards, browse the island’s shops for Venetian glass souvenirs.
• Try your hand at creating a traditional Venetian mask, the symbol of the city’s exuberant Carnival celebrations. Create your own papier-mâché base and decorate it with paint, beads, feathers, and other baubles.
• Head outside of the city to browse a designer outlet, where you can find timeless pieces by Italian labels such as Armani, Gucci, and Prada for a fraction of the retail price.