25 Things to see in Venice

Venice, as a unique city in the world, is surrounded by the water and it is a must-see destination to visit at least once in the life.

In this post I will write my 25 locations and attraction that I suggest to visit as a local Venetian and as a insider. I really recommend to make a plan before visiting this city and understand very well how to move around and how transports work. The 25 things to see in Venice is a list including churches, romantic spots and cultural activities.

Saint Mark’s Square

 Piazza San Marco is one of the main stops during a visit to the city of Venice. 

Famous for its extremely expensive cafes, this is the only square in the city, in fact all other places with similar conformation are called "campi." 

Beautiful to visit during warm weather, it has a special charm when, due to high water, it turns into a huge saltwater pool. St. Mark's Square is one of the most visited places in Italy and the world.

In St. Mark's Square, right in front of the Basilica, there are three flagpoles to which no one usually pays attention, but they have always been there and painted countless times by all the artists who have provided us with an image of the square.

On the three poles now fly the flags of Venice, Italy, and Europe, but in reality they represent the three symbols of the kingdoms conquered by the Serenissima Republic: Cyprus, Candia (present-day Crete), and Morea (modern-day Peloponnese).

Burano

The island, with more than 4,000 inhabitants, has a sloping bell tower, which can be seen from afar.

From a tourist point of view, Burano is famous for its colorful houses. The inhabitants are obliged to paint, frequently, the facades of their houses. Legend has it that the facades of Burano's houses are colored because local sailors painted them so they could be recognized on foggy days.

Burano is an island located in the Venice Lagoon, nine kilometers north of the city. Burano is itself composed of four islets connected by a long bridge to the island of Mazzorbo and has about 2,800 inhabitants. The main activities are fishing, shipbuilding (rowing and motor boats) and lace-making. In recent decades Burano's main source of wealth has come from induced income from tourism. According to tradition, Burano's name derives from the Bòrea gate, from Altino: in fact, it seems that the first inhabitants of the island, fleeing from the barbarian invasions, were of Latin-Altine origin. The first name of the island was therefore Vicum Burianum.

Getting to Burano

One can get to Burano by private and public transportation. Among the many private companies offering excursions to Burano are: Venice Boat Rentals, Veniceboat. Actv provides a regular public vaporetto service (line 12) to Burano with departures from the Fondamente Nove stop every thirty minutes during the day. The journey takes about 40 minutes and the ticket cost is 7.00 euro. On the way you see the cemetery island on the right, then Murano on the left (Actv stop at the lighthouse). Entering the Canal dei Marani you reach the open lagoon, on the right you see the Arsenale and the green Certosa, then the islands of Vignole and Sant'Erasmo, authentic estuary gardens (whose agricultural products arrive daily at the Rialto market). We pass by the islands of San Giacomo in Paludo and then Madonna del Monte, the latter truly in a state of ruin.

Mazzorbo

You then come to Mazzorbo, the ancient Maiurbum once a resort with villas of Venetian patricians, now full of vegetable gardens and vineyards. 

Opposite the Mazzorbo vaporetto dock is the "Trattoria Maddalena" - Fondamenta Santa Caterina 7. 

Coming out of the Mazzorbo Canal, you can see on the right the small Church of Santa Caterina, founded in the 1300s, while on the left you can see the outline of Torcello. 

You then arrive at Burano's only landing stage, in front of the public gardens, which are equipped with benches, the perfect place if you want to improvise a picnic and in any case the place from which you start your visit to Burano. 

You can also reach Burano from Treporti or Punta Sabbioni via the vaporetto line 12 provided by Actv.

Houses of Burano

Tradition has it that this island has a multicolored appearance for a singular reason: during the winter season Burano is often shrouded in fog and when the fishermen return to their houses they can more easily recognize them because of their different colors. 

That is why the people of Burano paint the exteriors of the houses pea green, lilac, blue, yellow and so on. 

Burano's unique environment attracted many painters in the early twentieth century. 

Thus the so-called "School of Burano" was born and flourished between 1911 and 1946, not a real school but rather an important season for modern Venetian painting. 

We mention only a few of these artists who lived in Burano: Gino Rossi, Arturo Martini, Novello, Dalla Zorza.

Lace Museum

The art of lace has ancient traditions in Burano. Production began in the 15th century, sustained over time by first Dogaressa Morosina Morosini and then Giovanna Duodo, wife of Doge Pasquale Malipiero. The "Burano stitch" or "stitch in the air" (so called because the creation does not rest on the canvas, nor on any other background fabric) became a technique appreciated and in demand throughout Europe. French competition came to the fore in the second half of the 1700s because of Colbert, prime minister of King Louis XIV, who with money and flattery brought many Burano lace makers to his court.

Lace

To no avail were the decrees of the Serenissima prohibiting the expatriation of the defectors: the lace crisis had begun. Adding insult to injury, the "point de France" technique began to be used in Burano. This situation persisted until the late nineteenth century, when it was thanks to the efforts of Countess Adriana Marcello and the elderly master lacemaker Cencia Scarpariola (then in her eighties and almost blind) that the centuries-old tradition of "Burano stitch" could be saved and thus handed down. A lace school and workshop was then founded in Burano, under the prestigious patronage of the Queen of Italy, Margaret of Savoy.

Burano's main street is called Via Galuppi, and here there are many stores selling lace, and bakeries and pastry shops displaying the island's traditional dessert: the Bussolà, a circle of sweet, hard egg-based dough about 10 centimeters in diameter. Another variation of the Bussolà is called Esse, with its typical "esse" shape, but with the same flavor. Burano is definitely worth a visit even if your stay in Venice should be short. There is a special atmosphere in Burano, probably the same as in the city in days gone by, before mass tourism took over. After seven o'clock in the evening, when the last tourists have left Burano, you find yourself immersed in a timeless place.

Ca’ D’Oro

The Ca' d'Oro is a well-known palace in Venice, located in the Cannaregio district and overlooking the Grand Canal, whose name derives from the fact that originally parts of the facade were covered in gold, a finish that was part of a complex polychromy, now disappeared, believed to be one of the finest examples of Venetian floral Gothic. Since 1927 it has been used as a museum as the home of the Franchetti Gallery.

The Ca' D'Oro represents one of the highest and most complete examples of Venice's rich Gothic architecture, of which the Doge's Palace is undoubtedly the most famous case and model for new construction.

The building, which overlooks the Grand Canal, was built between 1421 and 1440 as the residence of Marino Contarini, a wealthy Venetian merchant, on the site of an earlier Venetian-Byzantine mansion, and remained with his descendants until the mid-19th century, when the new owner, Prince Alessandro Trubetzkoi, had it restored by Giovanni Meduna. Several of the latter's arbitrary interventions, however, were removed at the end of the century, when the palace passed into the hands of Baron Giorgio Franchetti (1894), who had the original 15th-century appearance restored as far as possible, with the addition in the ground portico of the floor mosaic, modeled after the mosaics of St. Mark's, and the red-and-white marble bichromatic wall covering.

Since 1927 the Ca' d'Oro has been home to the Franchetti Gallery, created from the private collection of the baron, who donated the palace and works to the Kingdom of Italy in 1916.

Ca’ Nigra

The Ca’ Nigra is a Palace overlooking the Canal Grande with a beautiful garden full of different types of roses. Now an Hotel, it is the perfect location for a romantic trip with a partner.

An exclusive privilege for a Venetian home is to possess a garden, green corners that interrupt, if only for a moment, the hegemony of the water element.

Cà Nigra Lagoon Resort welcomes you to its two extraordinarily manicured gardens, protected by the Fine Arts. Precious green spaces adorn the splendid facades of our resort, welcoming you among roses and flowering trees, introducing your senses to the wonderful experience of a stay in Venice.

The Rose Garden on the Grand Canal

The Rose Garden overlooks the Grand Canal, ideal for a romantic aperitif at sunset, unusual declarations of love or even simply to enjoy breakfast. Given to the count by Countess Albrizzi, it constitutes a true example of an "Italian-style" garden.

A location coveted by lovers from all over the world, for extraordinary declarations of love, inspired, perhaps, by the illustrious soul of the tenant, Count Nigra, who at the time of the Serenissima, knew it all... he used to entertain precious ladies of the court with his romantic poems, in the moonlight.

Calle Larga XXII Marzo

The name commemorates the date when the Austrians were driven out of the city in 1848. Enlarged and rectified by 1880, the street has a homogeneous appearance despite the different styles of the buildings that line it. Elegant stores can be seen there, but what stands out above all is the broad facade of the Stock Exchange and Chamber of Commerce building, making the area the center of business and finance in the city

Saint Mark’s Church Tower Bell

It is located in St. Mark's Square and is the Bell Tower of the Basilica of Venice. At 98.5 meters high, it is the tallest building in the city and offers spectacular views of the Serenissima.

In the past, the tower was used as a lighthouse for ships, in addition to its current function as a bell tower. After various renovations, it took on the appearance it has today in 1515.

It is majestic, it dominates the Piazza, it is visible from the islands of the lagoon: the Campanile di San Marco is the 'Paron de Casa' (master of the house), as it is affectionately called by Venetians. 

Features of the Campanile di San Marco 

A guided tour of classical Venice includes the history of the bell tower. 

It is the tallest in the city, almost 100 meters (including the height of the angel), exactly 99.78 meters. The base of the bell tower is embellished by Sansovino's loggetta, which was executed between 1537 and 1549: classical in style, it constitutes a precious and elegant decoration of the structure. 

The green spire gives that upward thrust that lightens the rather massive structure of the bell tower and ends with the statue of the archangel Gabriel. This one, equipped with huge wings, rotates on a pivot according to the wind, changing position several times in the same day, and from here Venetians understand how the weather will change!

Brief history and the collapse 

St. Mark's bell tower originally served as a lighthouse and watchtower. It was built in the ninth century under the doge Pietro Tribuno. 

There were countless remodels over the centuries, due to earthquakes, lightning strikes and fires. 

On July 14, 1902, the bell tower collapsed due to structural failure. Rubble everywhere, but fortunately no casualties! The city woke up that morning orphaned of one of its most important landmarks. It was immediately decided to rebuild it where it was and as it was, and in March 1912 it was completed. 

The Canal Grande

The Grand Canal, called the "Canalazzo" by Venetians, divides the city's historic center into two parts. It is much older than Venice, and the construction of the city on its banks had to adapt to the path that the main waterway takes.

The Canal is about four kilometers long and has the shape of an inverted "S" having as its two extremes the Graft of Liberty Bridge and St. Mark's Basin. The Grand Canal, on average, is 5 meters deep and its width varies depending on the points, where it can reach a maximum of 70 meters.

All along the perimeter it is possible to appreciate evidence of the greatness achieved by the Republic of Venice.

The Grand Canal is still the main transportation axis in the city's historic center. Traffic is regulated by time slots and type (transport service, gondola service, public water cab services) while still remaining prohibited to recreational traffic. Indeed, the wave motion produced by motor boats is a serious problem for building foundations.

However, many tourists prefer to experience the Grand Canal while lying on a gondola, to calmly admire palaces and bridges and discover places where famous people have lived.

Basilica delle Salute - Saint Mary of Health

The Octagonal Basilica of Venice

Santa Maria della Salute is a characteristic Basilica located in the Dorsoduro sestiere of Venice. The regular shape, giant dome and beautiful marble make this Church a true treasure of architecture.

The Basilica of Santa Maria della Salute (also known as the Salute Church) is a Venetian house of worship that enriches the panorama of St. Mark's Basin and the Grand Canal with its Baroque beauty.

The construction of the Basilica is a former vow to the Blessed Virgin by the Venetian population, which between 1630 and 1631 suffered a particular epidemic of the Plague, brought by an ambassador of the Duke of Mantua, who through some acquaintances managed to escape from the Old Lazaretto and infect the entire city. The Patriarch of the time, Giovanni Tiepolo made a solemn vow to Our Lady to "erect in this City and dedicate a Church to the Blessed Virgin, naming it Santa Maria della Salute, et ch'ogni anno nel giorno che questa Città sarà pubblicata libera dal presente male, Sua Serenità et li Successori Suoi will go solemnly with the Senate to visit the same Church in perpetual memory of the public gratitude of so much benefit."

The design and construction of this building was entrusted to Baldassare Longhena, one of the most famous and important architects of the Venetian Republic, for the forms Longhena was inspired by some of the designs of Andrea Palladio, his master.

The Venetian architect decided to provide the Basilica with a crown structure precisely to be dedicated to the Virgin.

As mentioned earlier, the shrine overlooks the Grand Canal, from which the grand staircase leading to its interior seems to emerge.

The double dome that makes this place of prayer distinctive is a clear reference to the Crown of the Rosary. The "minor" dome holds the actual shrine, while a statue of the Virgin with the staff of "Capitana de Mar" towers from the major one.

Right from the exterior structure it is possible to admire a rich presence of decorative statues representing the Glorification of Mary. The central tympanum houses sculptures of the Virgin and Child together with the Prophets.

Once inside, it is impossible not to admire the centralized nature of the plan and the splendid flooring composed of polychrome marble. The shrine is divided into six side chapels, all illuminated by the numerous windows.

Inevitably jumping to the eye is the Presbytery and the High Altar designed by the same designer. The sculptural group is the work of Jouste de Corte, also known as Giusto Le Court, a Flemish artist who was very active in the Venetian area. The artist's work depicts the Madonna and Child, in order to represent Health defending the Republic of Venice from the plague.

The altar, on the other hand, holds an icon of Byzantine origin, known as Madonna della Salute or Mesopanditissa.

Art finds a real home in the Sanctuary, in fact in the side chapels are two altarpieces, the first by Titian depicting the "Descent of the Holy Spirit," and the second by Luca Giordano.

The Basilica also houses a valuable organ built in the late 18th century by Franesco Antonio Dacci and modified during the 1800s by Giacomo Bazzani.

The Arsenal 

Venice has always had a privileged relationship with water, and to consolidate its power over the Aegean and the Mediterranean, it created a large-scale system of building, maintaining, and managing its naval fleet and supplies.

The sestiere of Castello is the cradle of the arsenal, which occupies about 15 percent of the city's northeastern area. The arsenal was the flagship of the Republic and was the only place protected both from the lagoon waters and from a long city wall, and the only place from which one could "spy" on the interior was from the top of the bell tower in St. Mark's Square.

The Arsenal, or Arzanà, was a complex of shipyards that was cutting-edge for its time: workshops, foundries, and sheds, each with a specific function to work each component to the best of its ability.

It is currently home to the Navy, the Institute of Military Maritime Studies and the Venice Biennale. Thanks to the passionate words of the multilingual guide who accompanied us, we were able to relive the busy life that took place inside. The guide immersed us in the everyday life of the Arsenale: thousands of people bustling about building the great ships that would sail the seas to faraway places; the bell that rang in the morning to give the start of work; the women weaving the cloths; the engineers calculating the optimal techniques that would become one of the many secrets kept in there.

The Arsenal is not only the history of the Serenissima Republic, but of Venice itself. Among the tesoni, or warehouses, sprout bunkers from World War I and World War II, witnesses to the fact that this place has always been one of the fulcrums of this city and will continue to be.

Keep following our adventures and if you are interested in discovering the Arsenal, request to join the next excursion at the information office.

Fondazione Cini - San Giorgio

The Giorgio Cini Foundation was established by Vittorio Cini, in memory of his son Giorgio, with the aim of restoring the Island of San Giorgio Maggiore, severely degraded by nearly one hundred and fifty years of military occupation, reintegrating it into the life of Venice and making it an international center of cultural activities.

The significance of the undertaking, one of the largest - as a private initiative - of the 20th century, is evidenced not only by the initial investment in restoration, but also by the events promoted and hosted and the heritage, especially artistic, that is preserved at the Foundation on the Island and since 1984 also at the Palazzo Cini Gallery at San Vio.

In addition to its own research activities, exhibitions and conferences,shows and concerts, the Foundation hosts congresses and conferences of qualified scientific and cultural organizations and hosts initiatives of absolute importance in the field of international relations (first and foremost the two meetings of the G7 held in 1980 and 1987).

The Jewish Ghetto

The term "ghetto" originates from the name of the Jewish quarter of Venice created in 1516, in which Venetian authorities forced Jews to reside.

A city within a city, with its five synagogues, museum and tall houses. This

itinerary to discover the ancient Jewish quarter of Venice and its special features, will

will make you in a secluded and charming area, far from the most popular tourist routes, in

an area of the lagoon city all to be rediscovered.

Among its many firsts, Venice boasts that of the oldest and best preserved of the Jewish quarters in the

Old World, established in 1516 as a result of the provisions of the Serenissima government, which

confined the Jews to a circumscribed area of the city.

The Biennale Gardens 

The largest green area in the city, the Gardens of the Biennale were created by a decree of Napoleon Bonaparte in 1807, who entrusted its design to Giannantonio Selva, a friend of Antonio Canova and the architect responsible, among other works, for the La Fenice Theater (1792).

Today, the gardens are divided into two large sections: on the one hand, the area that houses the numerous pavilions intended for the art and architecture exhibitions of the Biennial Board (42,000 square meters), and on the other hand, the actual public gardens that cover a space of 18,000 square meters. Among the majestic trees - plane trees, acacias, magnolias, linden trees - and gravel paths, numerous statues were erected there in memory of protagonists of history (Garibaldi), the arts (Carducci, Verdi and Wagner) and resistance, the latter masterfully represented by Augusto Murer's monument to the Partisan woman on a base created by Carlo Scarpa.

The Royal Gardens

They represent the green lung of Venice and overlook the basin of St. Mark's Square for 5,000 square meters. Wanted by Napoleon, who in 1807 decided to endow the Crown Palace with a green area, they were later given to the State Property Office and in 1920 became the property of the City of Venice and open to the public. It is said that Empress Sissi also loved them very much, and they retain some spaces from that era such as the neoclassical pavilion by Lorenzo Santi, the gate, the cast-iron pergola and the drawbridge that is still lowered on extraordinary occasions to connect the gardens to St. Mark's Square.

They were brought back to life by gardener-architect Paolo Pejrone, who reorganized the appearance it has today. 

A visit is recommended in the March-October period, when most of the flower species present bloom and it is possible to stroll among wisteria and begonias or in the Coffee Pavilion, with the greenhouse acting as a backdrop.

Giudecca

Giudecca is the largest island in the city. Formerly named Spinalonga because of its elongated shape resembling a fishbone.

It later took the name Zuecca, perhaps because of an early community of Zudei (Jews), or perhaps-not precisely known-because zudegai, that is, judged by the dogal courts, were confined there.

Giudecca was, for centuries, a vacation spot for rich and middle-class people who owned villas, vegetable gardens and gardens.

It is made up of 8 islets connected by an endless series of small bridges, consisting of a continuous fondamenta bordered by the Giudecca Canal, which faces the Zattere. It can only be reached by vaporetto due to the absence of a proper bridge connecting it to the historic city center.

Gondola 

Always called a romantic city par excellence, Venice welcomes you to its lagoon to discover its extraordinary architecture. Built directly on the water, instead of streets, we find its characteristic canals and bridges that historically connect the city's different Sestieri. Once you arrive in Venice, you cannot miss the experience of the coveted gondola tour...a charming way to relax while enjoying the colors, lights and monuments of the city. The gondola is synonymous with Venice, a bit like pizza in Naples, but few know that the gondola really carries the symbol of the city, an undisputed protagonist as emblematic as it is mysterious in its origins.

Guggenheim

The Peggy Guggenheim Collection is Italy's largest museum of European and American art of the first half of the 20th century and one of the most important of its kind in the world. It was created by American heiress Peggy Guggenheim (1898-1979), who acquired most of the works between 1938 and 1947, in Europe and New York, thanks to the advice of artists and art critics such as Marcel Duchamp, Herbert Read, André Breton, and Max Ernst, her second husband

Madonna Dell’Orto 

The Church of the Madonna dell'Orto is a religious building located in Venice, in the Cannaregio district.

The church was built by the congregation of the Umiliati in the mid-14th century.

The name by which the church became part of the history of Venice and is known throughout the world was the name given to it by the population after a statue of the Virgin, believed to be miraculous, was placed there. The statue was sculpted by Giovanni De Santi, commissioned by the parish priest of S.Maria Formosa, who, not finding it to his liking, rejected it when it was still being made.

Palazzo Ducale

Palazzo Ducale is a splendid Venetian palace located in St. Mark's Square. In the 9th century, the Doge's Palace was a fortified castle, rebuilt because of a fire and used as a prison.

The stunningly beautiful building has Byzantine, Gothic and Renaissance architectural elements. Inside are various works by Titian, Tintoretto and Bellini.

For over 1,000 years, as many as 120 doges directed the fate of Venice from the Doge's Palace.

Visiting the Doge's Palace

After crossing the Golden Staircase (a golden staircase leading to the second floor of the palace), you will visit the Doges' and voting rooms, the armory, the courtyards and the prison.

In the Doge's Apartment, the rooms are extraordinarily decorated; here you will find the works of artists such as Veronese, Titian and Tintoretto, illustrating the history of Venice.

Continuing the tour, you will reach the Hall of the Great Council, where more than 1,000 people voted for the fate of the Serenissima. In this room is Tintoretto's "The Paradise," the largest canvass in the world.

In the armory you can see armor and various types of weapons, from the most classic to complex firearms.

The tour ends with the prison, where you will see cells and wells. The appearance of this area of the palace is anything but welcoming.

The famous prisoner Casanova escaped, in 1756, from the roofs of the palace.

Palazzo Grimani 

The palace, that reopened on December 20th, in the year 2008, constitutes a particularly valuable novelty of international significance for the city of Venice, due to the originality of its architecture, its decorations, and its history.

Antonio Grimani, in the early years of 1500s, donated the stazio house to his sons: the complex would later be completed thanks to his nephew Giovanni, patriarch of Aquileia town, and his brother Vettore, a procurator of St. Mark's. 

It is likely that the Grimani heirs themselves intervened in the design and decoration of the palace.

Palazzo Contarini Polignac 

Interesting early Venetian Renaissance construction (late 15th century) for whose design the names of Mauro Codussi, Pietro Lombardo, Giovanni Antonio Buora have been mentioned.

Truly unique appears to be the skillful mixture of Byzantine forms and classically inspired decorative motifs that gives this architectural work an aura, at the same time, of severity and grace, much admired even by the famous John Ruskin.

The beautiful façade, clad in marble and decorated with polychrome roundels, is tripartite with pilasters bordering the median sector characterized by elongated arched pentaphores.

Lido di Venezia

Venice Lido, just across the street from the lagoon city, is perfect for a visit with children, in all seasons.

Escape from the mad Venetian crowds, or simply looking for new pleasant destinations, discover with us the happy island with long shorelines, eclectic architecture and Malamocco, a small undiscovered Venice.

The Lido is a long strip of land, washed on one side by the lagoon (Venice side) on the other by the sea.

Beaches therefore abound, both equipped and free.

The easiest to reach is the Blue Moon, right at the natural conclusion of the Grand Avenue. But in summer it is also the most crowded, so we suggest you walk a bit, or take the bus, or rent a bike, to reach the most beautiful and wild beaches.

Ponte dei Sospiri 

Between legends and beliefs, the Bridge of Sighs is one of the first places to visit in Venice, one of those must sees that at least once in a lifetime must be visited especially if with loved ones. Perhaps the best known bridge in Venice as well as paid homage all over the world for many reasons is built of Istrian stone.

The Bridge of Sighs is visible on both sides but can only be observed from two other bridges, the Ponte della Paglia and the Ponte della Canonica, since it is hanging over the gondola navigable canal, the rio di Palazzo. From the outside one can see two small windows on each side pierced from which one can see some of the city's beauty through the weave: in what was designed as a junction bridge between the Doge's Palace, a palace of justice, and the New Prisons of Venice in fact the island of San Giorgio Maggiore, for example, is clearly visible.

The beauty of the Baroque-style friezes and decorations, the historical peculiarity of having been built by the famous architect Contin, as well as the imprisonment of the more than famous Casanova made this place famous: he told the romantic Italian adventurer, in the book "History of My Escape from the Piombi," how he escaped from that very prison. One thing not to be missed is a visit from the inside-with due reservation of a guided tour-that shows a totally different sight from what you expect!

History of the Bridge of Sighs

The Bridge of Sighs was built in the early 17th century from a design by architect Antonio Contin, son and grandson of art. His father, in fact, was Bernardino Contin and his grandfather was Antonio Da Ponte, builder of another famous Venetian bridge: the Rialto Bridge.

The bridge was built at the behest of Doge Marino Grimani as a link between Venice's new prisons and the offices of the state inquisitors. It is precisely this original function that is linked to the origin of its name.

Why is it called the Bridge of Sighs? The origin of the name

The most probable but unsubstantiated story concerns the view of the exterior by prisoners who saw for perhaps the last time the most beautiful lagoon city in the world and who, in doing so, sighed giving rise to the myth: now the sighs about it are quite different, since they are more like exclamations of wonder by tourists and lovers.

Rialto Bridge 

Rialto Bridge - The Rialto Bridge is one of Venice's best-known landmarks. With a 28-meter archway that allows even the largest boats to pass under it and a foundation of elm and larch pilings nearly 500 years old, this bridge is a true marvel of medieval engineering. Together with the Accademia, Calatrava and Scalzi bridges, the Rialto Bridge is now one of four bridges spanning the Grand Canal.

Venezia Santa Lucia

A typical terminus station and the only real gateway to the lagoon city, it is located in the center of the city and frequented by an average of 82,000 people a day, for a total of about 30 million presences a year; it accommodates about 450 trains every day. The station is located in Fondamenta Santa Lucia and is also connected to Piazzale Roma by the fourth bridge over the Grand Canal, the Ponte della Costituzione built by architect Calatrava. The public transport system surrounding it is based exclusively on the vaporetto lines along the Grand Canal, while the urban and suburban road transport services are concentrated in Piazzale Roma. The project for the construction of the Venice Santa Lucia station went through ups and downs before a final solution was drafted. It was architect Angiolo Mazzoni who first formulated plans in 1924 and studied possible solutions for more than a decade. In 1934, a competition was announced for the construction of the railway yard: architect Virgilio Vallot won, whose project remained suspended until 1936, when it was decided to entrust the construction of the front body of the passenger building to the Mazzoni - Vallot collaboration, which continued until 1943, and the rebuilding of the compartment building to Mazzoni. The final solution was completed after World War II, designed by architect Paolo Perilli.

Zattere 

There is a place in Venice where in spring, on the first days of fine weather, you are sure to find someone enjoying the warmth of the sun, sitting in front of a wonderful view.

This place is the Fondamenta delle Zattere, in the Sestiere of Dorsoduro. A curious name that derives from the fact that here in the past carpenters used to bring in, via rafts, the logs that, transported along the rivers, reached the lagoon.

The Fondamenta truly has a unique location. In fact, it overlooks the island of Giudecca and the beauties that this strip of land offers, such as the church of the "Santissimo Redentore," designed by Andrea Palladio in 1557.

A route that is as easy to do as it is interesting is certainly the one that has Punta della Dogana as its starting point, where you can admire the Bacino di San Marco, and then continue along the Fondamenta, passing by the Magazzini del Sale, now home to art exhibitions. Continuing on, the church of Santa Maria del Rosario (called "dei Gesuati") with its ceiling decorated with frescoes by Tiepolo is worth a visit.

Walking along "le Zattere," you cannot fail to make a quick detour to see the squero di San Trovaso, where gondolas are made, before returning to walk along the Fondamenta and enjoy the beautiful view.

These are just a few of the many things to see and do in Venice. On Giorgio Profili Travel Guide of Venice, written by a local insider, you can see other attractions and interesting locations. 

Whether you're a history buff, art lover or just looking to take in the unique beauty of the city, Venice has something to offer every traveler.

Pictures are courtesy of Giorgio Profili Travel Guide about Venice

Sources and bibliography

Steves, R., Openshaw, G. (2016). Rick Steves Venice. United States: Avalon Publishing.