Venice: Why you shouldn't trust Google Maps when exploring the city.

A tourist fell into a canal after following directions. Discover why popular map apps are useless in Venice and how to navigate efficiently.

Venice and the trap of navigation apps.

Venice, the city of romantic canals and ancient alleyways, has always been a captivating destination for tourists. However, this unique urban structure presents a significant challenge to modern navigation apps. Recently, a female tourist named Wiktoria Guzenda slipped and fell into a canal while following directions from her phone, a reminder that one shouldn't rely solely on technology in Venice.

The still image from the video shows the moment the female tourist fell into the canal.

Wiktoria's situation is not unique. Many tourists have found themselves in frustrating situations when apps like Google Maps provide routes that don't exist or are blocked by water. So what makes this familiar tool so unreliable in Venice?

Why is Google Maps ineffective in Venice?

Navigating Venice is far more complex than in other cities around the world . Digital map applications often struggle to accurately interpret the city's labyrinth of roads and waterways.

Unique addressing system

Venice does not use a sequential street naming and house numbering system. Instead, the city is divided into six districts (sestieri), each with its own numbering system. The numbers can "jump" from one building to another randomly, making GPS navigation extremely difficult.

The intricate network of canals is a distinctive feature but also presents a challenge when navigating Venice.

A labyrinth of canals and bridges

With its dense network of canals, the small bridges spanning them are the main pathways. However, map applications often "mistake" them for regular pedestrian walkways or fail to recognize them at all, leading tourists down dead ends or to the edge of the canal.

The narrow alleys are easy to get confused about.

Venice has countless narrow alleyways (calles) and passageways. The app's algorithm can misidentify a small alleyway as a main street, or conversely, miss important shortcuts known only to locals.

Tips for getting around Venice like a local.

To truly enjoy the experience of exploring Venice, put away your phone and adopt traditional yet more effective methods.

• Follow the signs: Look for the yellow signs mounted on buildings. They point to important locations such as St. Mark's Square (San Marco), the Rialto Bridge, and the train station (Ferrovia). This is the most reliable way to navigate.
• Use a paper map: A high-quality paper map will be a great companion. It gives you an overview of the city's layout and major routes.
• Don't be afraid to get lost: Getting lost is part of the Venice adventure. You might stumble upon quiet squares, charming craft shops, or a cozy café.
• Ask the locals: The people of Venice are very friendly. If you're not sure about the way, don't hesitate to ask them.
• Use the Vaporetto: The water bus system (vaporetto) is the main form of public transport. It's a great way to get around the main attractions and see the city from a different perspective.

Instead of staring at your phone screen, take the time to observe and appreciate the beauty around you.

Exploring Venice is a journey of patience and observation. By trusting your intuition and signposts instead of GPS, you'll have a more memorable and safer trip.

Source: https://baolamdong.vn/venice-ly-do-khong-nen-tin-google-maps-khi-kham-pha-thanh-pho-398319.html