My strongest memory of Venice at night was the time I got stranded there overnight, along with a number of other men from my ship. I served on a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier; we couldn't actually go into port and tie up to a pier anywhere overseas. We always had to "anchor out" a good distance from shore, and then wait in line (occasionally for hours) in the hangar bay to ride ashore on "liberty boats". The ride itself could be pretty long.
Anyhow, we were ashore at Venice one icy winter night when a storm came up. The boating to the ship slowed way down, and we stood outside in the sleet and wind for close to half the night. One young marine in particular was in agony, because his head was shaved. I don't know that anybody was dressed warmly enough; there's not a lot of room in a sailor's locker for civilian clothes, and you don't normally wear your uniform ashore unless you have the duty. Eventually all boating was secured till the next day, and we had no idea where we'd go. At something like 2 am (I think), a couple of Italian sailors showed up, and they marched us through dark streets to an Italian navy barracks (at the Arsenale?), where they put us up for the night. It was chilly inside, but we slept under these great, thick, coarse wool army blankets, which were wonderful. I can't remember so much about it now; for instance, I can't remember whether we got anything to eat. I do remember some swarthy young sailors (whom I thought were Turks) coming in and wanting to trade stuff with us -- the one thing I recall them saying was "Zippo, Zippo". They wanted Zippo cigarette lighters (this would make a great ad)!
I think I was ashore in Venice one other night, but I'm not certain it wasn't earlier that same night, before the weather turned nasty. I remember roaming around alone on little back streets, and how dark they were.
Well, there's my recollection of Venice at night. It's a little less romantic than yours, but yes, Venice certainly is a magnificent ciy. It's good to remember.
My aunt and I decided to explore on our own early evening and walked out of the hotel and wandered unexpectedly into St. Marks Square....there was a small orchestra playing, everything was lit up....it was so amazing. During the day the pigeons were everywhere....everything about Venice enchanted me. At one point the tide made it necessary to walk on boards in the square as the water was above the courtyards. No other place I have ever visited made such a lasting visual impression.