How bad does Venice smell in the summer?

Question

Thinking Venice for honeymoon 7/28/07

Answer 1

Not so bad that it should keep you from seeing it.  

Get yourself a Vinegar box...

It is a little silver antique box with some sort of fabric inside the liner that ladies used to use to ward off the bad odors in the streets of Europe before sewers were invented.

Answer 2

It doesn't smell at all and it's an wonderful city. Go and you'll see. Congratulations !

Answer 3

Bad?

No, it doesn't smell bad of course...

At the very worst, in summer, when the water is low, you feel a light smell of alga or seaweed... which is not a bad smell... or is, if you don't like that :)

Let's not forget that Venice is on a Lagoon, on the shores of the Adriatic sea...

As any modern big city, Venice has had it's own sewers system for a long time...

Bad smell in Venice? The perfect examle of a real Urban Legend :)

Answer 4

......the same smell of Miami Beach......

What a question!!!

For you the most important thing about Venice is the smell ???

Answer 5

The smell in Venice really isn't an urban legend... but it does depend a lot on where you are, when you go, what time of day it is, and whether the garbage men are on strike (strikes are a very common occurence in Italy).  Trust me on this one... I've been to Venice quite a few times now.  I almost didn't go back after the first time as the smell was so bad, but fortunately I did, and now I know what to expect, and what to avoid.  I also know that the city has done a lot to get the garbage off the streets in the daytime, so most of the smell has gone.

A small part of the smell comes from some of the canals, and some slightly stagnant water, but (my opinion is) that most of the smell that people talk about is actually from the garbage (and quite possibly from their visit years ago, when trash was on the street at strange times of day).  As Venice doesn't have roads, and a lot of the pathways are quite small, they have a different garbage system to a lot of other places.  If you live in Venice, you put your garbage out EVERY day, in a plastic bag, on the pavement.  In recent years, the city has become much stricter and the rubbish can only go out late at night, or early following morning.  This means that the smell in Venice is much better than it used to be, as there is no garbage rotting in the sun all day before the pickup the following morning (which is usually before most of the tourists are out and about).  If you're out and about in the earlyish morning, you'll see guys wheeling around big metal bins which they throw the rubbish into, then wheel towards the nearest canal, where it's picked up by a rubbish boat.  You may also smell them at this time of morning, but unless they're on strike, these days the smell isn't really that noticeable, other than in local areas (usually away from the really touristy areas, which are cleaned up better).  This daily pickup of trash also explains why the city usually looks pretty clean despite the hoards of tourists which swarm there every day.

I wouldn't let the concern over smell put you off.  Venice is a must see place.

Answer 6

Che bella venezia.

I've been all over Venice in the summer, but do not recollect any bad smells...which means, if there were any, they were not so bad that I remember them.  In fact, what I do remember is how clean the pedestrian streets and the canals were.  Cleaner than many rivers and streets in the States and other cities in Europe.

As one answer put it, don't not go to Venice for fear of bad smells.  But do be aware that Venice was the most expensive city in Europe back in 2004 when I was last there.  On the other hand, the shoppes, restaurants, and tours are among the best in all of Europe as well.  So, if you don't mind paying for quality goods and services, go for it.  There may be no more romantic place on the Earth.

Answer 7

I have been to Venice twice (latest being this year).  The smell varies from place to place, depending on how close it is to the ocean, currents and tides. You can have some pretty stagnant canals that smell like a sewer and others that smell faintly like romantic salt air. Yes, Venice's canals do stink from place to place, but it should not be a major reason why you don't go to Venice. Prices, crowds and touristy-feel - maybe. But smell, no. Good alternative is Firenze (for art) or Roma (for history).

Answer 8

it doesn't smel bad!!