The beautiful city of Venice likely comes to mind when anyone mentions traveling to Italy. Affectionately referred to as the “City of Water” and “The Floating City,” Venice consists of 118 small islands connected by marble bridges over gorgeous canals. And the familiar gondolas that travel along those canals as well as Venice’s rich Renaissance history truly add to its romantic atmosphere. Thus, this unique, carless city is filled with sights worth visiting and exploring, so read on to learn more about them.
1) Piazza San Marco
The Piazza San Marco, or “The finest drawing room in Europe” according to Napoleon, is a beautiful public square known for its numerous sitting areas and cafés. Shaped more like a trapezoid than a square, Piazza San Marco sits at the center of Venice’s water transport system. Aside from flocks of pigeons and studying youths, the Piazza features elements of Venice’s social, religious, and political culture in the many notable monuments concentrated here. These monuments include the San Marco Basilica (also known as St. Mark’s Basilica), Campanile Bell Tower, Duke’s Palace (the former home of Venice’s rulers), and Museo Correr (Correr Museum).
2) Campanile - Bell Tower
One of the most iconic symbols of Venice dating back to the 8th century, the Campanile Bell Tower was once used as a watch tower and a lighthouse. Between 1489 and 1902, the tower experienced an earthquake, several fires, and ultimately, complete collapse. Nevertheless, the Campanile was rebuilt in 1912 to its original height of 98.6 meters (323 feet) in a corner of the Piazza San Marco. Today, visitors can take an elevator to the top of the tower and enjoy a spectacular 360-degree view of Venice.
photo credit: Ariela Bankier/Venice for the Shameless Hedonist
3) Ride a Gondola
Stepping into a gondola may sound touristy or overrated, but it is absolutely one thing you must do in Venice! These flat-bottomed row boats are designed for traversing Venice’s waterways, so touring town is nearly impossible without them. For around 80 euros, you can enjoy a 20 to 30-minute cozy and romantic gondola ride through the waterways of Venice along with some memorable photo opportunities.
4) Canal Grande
The Canal Grande is the largest and most impressive canal in all of Venice. A source of inspiration for authors such as Marco Polo, poets such as Ezra Pound, and artists such as Canaletto, this S-shaped canal stretches 3,800 meters (2.36 miles) long. While private boats and gondolas are available for traveling the Canal, many tourists choose public transportation provided by waterbuses known as vaporetti. Although a vaporetto travels slowly, it offers tourists maximum time to take in the abundant sights located on both sides of the Canal. These sights include over 170 churches, palaces, and other buildings dating from the 13th to 18th century.
photo credit: Ariela Bankier/Venice for the Shameless Hedonist
5) Dine like a Venetian
Venice is known for its expensive restaurants; but, you do not have to spend a lot of money to enjoy its authentic cuisine. Seafood dominates Venetian cuisine, yet fruits, vegetables, rice, polenta (a grain), and game are also widely used. Overall, food in Venice represents a delicious combination between local traditions and influences from abroad. For instance, Venetians adopted the Italian concept of Italian aperitivo, or cocktail hour before dinner. This means you can buy a glass of wine and enjoy fried cheese balls, mini ham sandwiches, olives, hard boiled eggs, or small servings of full courses with your drink for 1.50 to 2.50 euros each. In Venice, these snacks are called cicchetti and provide a great, inexpensive way to sample the cuisine. To find out about the very best restaurants in Venice, and to discover top tips about where to dine like a local and enjoy the most mouth-watering Venetian delicaices, consult our best selling travel guide, Venice & Verona for the Shameless Hedonist.
6) Basilica di Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari
Commonly called the i Frari, this basilica is one of the greatest churches in all of Venice. Built in the Italian Gothic style, the i Frari’s exterior is plain, but its interior features a legendary collection of Renaissance art as well as tombs and monuments for prominent Italians from history. Some examples of art include: The Risen Christ by Alessandro Vittoria, Madonna and Child with Ss.by Giovanni Bellini, St. John the Baptist by Donatello, and Assumption by Titian. The i Frari also contains the heart of the sculptor, Antonio Canova, the remains of the painter, Titian, and many others.
7) Burano Island
Considered one of the top ten most colorful cities in the world, Burano Island lies about one hour from mainland Venice. Tourists do love Burano and rush here for its colorful, square-shaped homes that line narrow streets and reflect into the water of nearby channels creating picture-perfect scenery suitable for a postcard! Now in spite of the crowds, there are corners and alleys you can escape into to experience some of Burano’s calmness from fisherman hanging their fish to women lacemaking.
photo credit: Ariela Bankier/Venice for the Shameless Hedonist
8) Murano Island
Just 15 minutes from mainland Venice, Murano Island is well-known for its rich tradition of glass making. For centuries, Murano has produced many different types of glass such as art glass, glass jewelry, chandeliers, and even wine stoppers. Therefore, China and other manufacturers attempt to imitate these quality pieces, but there is just no comparison. Today, you can visit a glass making shop and observe Murano’s masters at work as they create glass with the same techniques employed by their forefathers.
9) Shop at Rialto Market District
Any trip to Europe is incomplete without shopping! So, you should definitely set aside some time to visit the endless maze of shops in the Rialto Market district. The Rialto serves as the financial and commercial center of Venice and contains the Rialto Bridge, which runs across the Canal Grande. Here you can find both retail and wholesale shops selling luxury goods, keepsakes, souvenirs, and much more.
10) Get lost in Venice
This last tip may sound strange, yet it truly adds to your experience. Venice has many hidden treasures known only to locals, but they are worth discovering. Navigating Venice can be challenging, so getting lost is often inevitable. However after stumbling upon bridges, canals, churches, piazzas, shops, and trattorias, you will be in no rush to find your way again!
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‘Venice & Verona for the Shameless Hedonist’ is the one boutique travel guide that can help you turn a good trip into an incredible one.
Find out where to enjoy a good meal with a mesmerizing view of the city, where to rent a Ferrari and take it out for a spin, and which first-rate spas offer the most indulgent pampering. Read which historic mansions and 18th century gardens shouldn’t be missed, where to find the most authentic and delicious aperitivo, how to buy tickets for the exclusive Carnival parties, and where to book a personalized rowing lesson that will turn you into a real gondoliere. Learn all about the best-value hotels in Venice and Verona, fantastic boutiques and outlet villages, fun cooking classes, helicopter rides, private after-hours tours to the city’s museums, and where to buy gorgeous, handmade Venetian masks and Murano glass souvenirs. Come discover with us. Your Italian adventure can begin today!