Venice in November

Isabelle Feliu
Nov 26
3 min read

A burst of inspiration and Spritz

View from Gran Caffè Quadri overlooking St. Mark’s Basilica on a calm November day. — **View from the terrace of Gran Caffè Quadri on St. Mark’s Square.**

I love travelling, but my tolerance for crowds is extremely limited. With that in mind, Venice doesn’t sound like the ideal destination; and yet, it ended up being one of my favourites this year. November turned out to be the perfect season: the last bit of vitamin D I desperately needed.

With this article, I simply want to share a bit of the atmosphere of this trip; nothing pretentious, no tips, no intention of being a guide.

Illustration of aperitivo on St. Mark’s Square in Venice, with the orchestra in the background. — **Aperitivo on St. Mark’s Square**

Il Palazzo Experimental

As per my personal tradition, I kept the small notepad from our room. It’s always the first thing I look for when I arrive at a hotel, and this one was perfect: ideal size, no lines, and the prettiest dusty pink paper for capturing a few impressions.

The hotel is filled with soft pastels and arches that echo Venetian architecture. It’s set in a Renaissance palazzo with impressively high ceilings; the atmosphere feels light and playful, with details like a small masked-face logo I loved spotting on the coasters.

Butter Yellow 🧈

The colour of the trip was generously handed to us by my boyfriend’s sweater. It matched beautifully with the terracotta walls, the faded pinks, and the golden afternoon light. A dream palette and the perfect muse.

Once named, the colour seemed to bring out everything around it: the blue of the lagoon, the greyish-white of the full moon, and even the red of the Select Spritz.

Select Spritz and sketchbook on a table in Venice, warm colours and late-afternoon light.

Steps, Only

One thing I’m especially grateful for in Venice: the total absence of scooters and cars. Even bikes are rare. For someone who like me who likes walking everywhere and who gets motion-sick easily, it’s a luxury. In November, the city is noticeably calmer; crowds appear at times, but they’re easy to escape by slipping into a quiet side alley.

At a canal-side bar in Venice, viewed from behind.

If someone had told me a few years ago that I’d become a runner, I wouldn’t have believed it. Yet I’ve grown to enjoy this habit that lets me discover corners I’d never see otherwise. Running puts me in a frame of mind where details stand out more easily: a statue, a façade, a reflection I would have missed.

An Unexpected Pen

I’m constantly fighting the urge to buy more art supplies. My drawers are already overflowing, and I’m trying to stick to what I have (with varying success). But in Murano, I completely let my guard down. I only meant to browse, and somehow ended up trying those glass dip pens I’ve always been curious about.

They make irregular strokes, slightly unpredictable lines that forgive my clumsiness and make my mistakes look nicer. And I love being able to use different inks without having to clean a mechanism every time. In short: a low-maintenance tool with plenty of charm, and one I’ll probably use often.

Wandering, Willingly

We were tempted by a few museums, but it’s hard to appreciate anything when you’re packed in like sardines; so we avoided the big attractions. We mostly walked, wandered, browsed and enjoyed aperitivo.

Walking under the arches of St. Mark’s Square in Venice with golden afternoon light.

To me, that’s what makes a short getaway successful: taking the time to step away from goals and routines, and letting your attention settle on its own. Noticing the winged lions scattered across the city, the hidden details, or the lady feeding an enormous seagull from her window.

It gave me, for the first time in months, the chance to let inspiration come back on its own instead of trying to force it.