Welcome to Venice
Venice is unlike any city you’ve ever seen and is one of my favourite cities in the world. I’ve travelled to Venice twice and enjoyed getting lost in the narrow cobblestone streets that at times open up to grand buildings with intricate moorish architecture. Some of my best memories are riding the vaporettos (water buses), exploring the Peggy Guggenheim museum shop, sitting by the water in canal side restaurants and having a wine at the water’s edge. Below you’ll find information on how to travel around, hidden gems and interesting facts.
Explore these beautiful destinations in Venice!
St. Mark’s Square
St. Mark’s Square is home to the city’s magnificent cathedral, famous for its stunning golden mosaics, ornate domes, and a rich history tied to the Crusades. I recommend visiting just before sunset to view during daylight and stay for a glass of wine and enjoy the orchestras that play in front of the trattorias.
Santa Maria Della Salute Basilica
The Santa Maria Della Basilica overlooks the entrance between the Grand Canal and the Giudecca Canal, in the heart of the San Marco. It is one of the most famous and important architectural cornerstones of Venezia, thanks to its octagonal baroque style and the large hemispherical dome.
The Grand Canal
This is the main waterway of Venice, and a ride on a gondola or a public water bus (vaporetto) is an essential part of the Venetian experience. You’ll pass by stunning palaces, views of trattorias from the waterway and understand what it might feel like to live like a Venetian using the waterways to travel daily.
Famous Venetian Bridges
Rialto Bridge
The Rialto Bridge (Ponte di Rialto) is an iconic venetian landmark that is lined with shops throughout the bridge and is the oldest and most famous of the four bridges spanning the Grand Canal.
Originally a wooden bridge, it was replaced by the current stone structure between 1588 and 1591 and Connects the San Polo and San Marco districts of Venice
Ponte Dell’ Accademia Bridge
The Ponte dell’Accademia wasn’t always a part of Venice’s iconic landscape. It was created in the 19th century and was named after the Accademia di Belle Arti di Venezia, an academy of fine arts located nearby. Originally built as an iron bridge in 1854, it underwent several modifications, replacing its iron body with a wooden structure in the 1930s.
Bridge of Sighs
The Bridge of Sighs is an enclosed bridge made of limestone and spans the narrow Rio di Palazzo Canal between the Doge’s Palace and the Venetian prisons.
The enclosed passageway was named for the “sighs” of the prisoners who passed over it. Tradition holds that if a couple kisses while passing underneath the bridge in a gondola, they will enjoy eternal love.
Take a Vaporetto
One of the best viewpoints of Venice is from the water. To travel around the island you can hop aboard a vaporetto (water bus) as there are no cars, no trams, no motor bikes or scooters allowed. This means it can become quite tiring walking the cobblestone streets so make sure you know of a the next Vaporetto stop as you head out to the see the Venice sites. Click below for the Vaporetto map and more info.
Plan your Trip
See the resources below from top restaurant lists, transportation information and other links out to help yout plan your perfect Venice trip.
How to get around: https://www.introducingvenice.com/transport
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