More

    Tourist Attractions in Venice

    The most interesting tourist attractions places in Venice. Photos and a brief description.

    Venice
    clear sky
    80.3 ° F
    83 °
    78.2 °
    43 %
    2.9mph
    0 %
    Thu
    80 °
    Fri
    78 °
    Sat
    78 °
    Sun
    76 °
    Mon
    77 °
    About Venice

    Sung in the works of great poets, refined Venice is a city of elegant contrasts and illusions. Behind the magnificent facades of the Doge’s Palace and St. Mark’s Square, shabby, damp-eaten neighborhoods hide, and the sparkling masks of the bright Venetian Carnival hide the sad and sometimes difficult everyday reality of local residents.

    And yet Venice is grandiose, no matter what stories are made up about this city. Even if it has been submerged for decades, clever gondoliers will still roll tourists along narrow channels for many years to come. And as before — in the hot summer months, the main palaces of Venice will be crowded with tourists who have flown from all over the world just to touch the beautiful history of the most magical city in Europe.

    Top 35 Tourist Attractions in Venice

    Grand Canal

    The main water avenue of Venice is 4 km long, passing through the whole city. It starts right at the Santa Lucia railway station. There are many pleasure boats cruising here, from where you can see the city in all its glory. Also, a lot of people walk along the public transport channel. Along the shores there are the most beautiful palazzi, ancient churches, picturesque mansions. Every year, a historic regatta is held on the Grand Canal.

    Grand Canal
    St. Mark's Square

    St. Mark's Square

    The central Venetian Square, the most important city landmark and the pride of the Venetians. The square has long been a symbol of the city, its personification. Here are the main places in Venice, all cultural events take place, and the cobblestone pavement is trampled by the shoes of several million tourists every year. On the square there are two columns with statues of the winged lion and the Apostle Mark.

    St. Mark's Cathedral

    A cult temple in the classical Byzantine style (very uncharacteristic for Western Europe), adorning St. Mark's Square. Until the beginning of the XIX century, the cathedral served as the royal chapel, where the doge rulers were crowned. The relics of the Apostle Mark are kept here, which were brought to Venice in the X century after another Crusade. The cathedral began to be built in the XI century, but the work was completed only by the end of the XV century.

    St. Mark's Cathedral
    St. Mark's Clock Tower

    St. Mark's Clock Tower

    The structure, built in the XV century by the architect M. Coducci. The tower was designed in such a way that the astronomical dial could be seen from the Adriatic Sea. Thus, all the guests of the city, stepping onto the embankment, could immediately feel the power and wealth of the Republic of Venice. The tower is decorated with a sculpture of a winged lion, which is a recognizable symbol of Venice.

    The Campanile of St. Mark's Cathedral

    A hundred-meter bell tower of the XVI century, which previously served as a lighthouse for incoming ships. In the Middle Ages, there was a torture chamber inside. There are five bells on the bell platform, each of them has its own purpose. At the beginning of the XX century, as a result of an earthquake, the bell tower collapsed, but in 1912 it was restored again. The restorers managed to restore the original appearance of the tower.

    The Campanile of St. Mark's Cathedral
    Doge 's Palace

    Doge 's Palace

    An elegant palazzo, where the Doge rulers of the independent, rich and influential Republic of Venice lived for centuries. The palace was built, completed and decorated for more than 100 years, striving to give it sufficient grandeur and luxury. That is why the architectural ensemble is a mixture of styles. There are late European Gothic, Byzantine classicism, and elements of the Moorish manner. Nowadays, the building houses a museum.

    Scuola San Rocco

    The building belonging to the Brotherhood of San Rocco was built in 1477. A charitable organization has built a Renaissance-style palace on the square of the same name. Nowadays, in skuola, you can see an art gallery, rich ceiling and wall paintings. The entire interior of the palace is related to biblical stories and Christian relics.

    Scuola San Rocco
    Bridge of Sighs

    Bridge of Sighs

    An ancient bridge in the form of an arch, thrown over the Palace Canal. It connects the Doge's royal palazzo with the prison. The architecture of the bridge is distinguished by elegance and romanticism. This is a popular place for dating. According to one of the Venetian beliefs, it is believed that in a couple who kiss in this place, mutual love will never fade away. However, the increased attention of tourists to this attraction can spoil all the romance of the moment.

    Rialto Bridge

    The bridge over the Grand Canal in the Rialto quarter. All pleasure craft sail past it so that tourists can take photos for memory. The ferry in this place has existed since the XII century . At first it was a floating bridge, then a wooden one, in the XVI century. he turned to stone. The structure collapsed several times with enviable regularity. The construction of 1591 has reached our days, which turned out to be stronger than its predecessors.

    Rialto Bridge
    Academy Bridge

    Academy Bridge

    The southern Venetian Bridge spanning the Grand Canal. The structure connects the San Marco district with the galleries of the Art Academy. The modern version of the bridge was built in 1934. It was designed by architect Miozzi. Many times they wanted to replace the wooden structure of the building with a metal one, but the authorities did not allow replacement.

    Cathedral of Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari

    Franciscan Gothic church of the XIII-XIV centuries, dedicated to St. To the Virgin Mary. Several styles were used in the construction: Byzantine, Venetian and Gothic. The best masters at that time were invited to paint the walls and decorate the interiors. For example, in the temple there is a sculpture of John the Baptist by the famous Donatello and the painting "Madonna of Pesaro" by the immortal Titian.

    Cathedral of Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari
    Cathedral of Santa Maria della Salute

    Cathedral of Santa Maria della Salute

    The church appeared as a gratitude to the Almighty for the deliverance of Venice from the terrible plague epidemic in the XVII century. The disease claimed tens of thousands of lives (more than a third of the city's population in those centuries). The construction of the cathedral lasted 50 years, countless wooden beams were killed for stability under its foundation. The temple is located opposite the Doge's Palace on the main city square of St. Mark.

    Cathedral of San Giorgio Maggiore

    The church is located on the island of the same name. It was built in the XVI century in the classical Renaissance style. Since the 10th century, the island has been the property of the monastic Order of St. Benedict. Before the earthquake at the beginning of the XIII century, a monastery and an old temple were located here, which were destroyed as a result of the elements. The new church appeared by the beginning of the XVI century. The interior walls depict "Manna from Heaven" and "The Last Supper" by Tintoretto.

    Cathedral of San Giorgio Maggiore
    Cathedral of Santi Giovanni e Paolo

    Cathedral of Santi Giovanni e Paolo

    It is located on the square of the same name, built in 1430. The cathedral is dedicated to St. John and Paul. It is in this place that the 18 Doges of the Republic of Venice rest. The interior of the temple is decorated with numerous works of art. The facade is made in the Gothic style. A distinctive feature of the cathedral is that there is no bell tower in the temple tower.

    Church of San Pantalon

    It is located on St. Panteleimon Square. In its current form, the church was rebuilt in 1668. The ceiling painting of the temple contains 40 biblical stories woven together by Giovanni Fumiani. The ceiling painting in the church has no borders or framing. This creates the illusion that the walls and ceiling are one. A Christian relic is kept in the church chapel: the nail of the True Cross.

    Church of San Pantalon
    Ca d'Oro Palace

    Ca d'Oro Palace

    The official name of the building is the Palazzo of St. Sofia. The building was built in the XV century. Architect Bartolomeo and Giovanni Bona commissioned by one of the most powerful Venetian families. Gold leaf was used for exterior decoration, but it has not been preserved to this day. At the end of the XIX century, the mansion was acquired by Baron Giorgio Frenchetti. The aristocrat collected a large collection of paintings, which, together with the house, went to the state after his death.

    Ka’ Rezzonico Palace

    The museum is located in a luxurious palazzo of the XVII century, where the works of Longhi, Piazzetta, Tintoretto, Guardi are exhibited. In addition to painting in the museum, you can look at sculptures, pieces of furniture and clothes. The interiors of the palace demonstrate the desire for lavish luxury, characteristic of the Venetian aristocrats in the XVII-XVIII centuries. The palazzo belonged to the Rezzonico family, from which Pope Clement XIII came.

    Ka’ Rezzonico Palace
    Palazzo Cantarini del Bovolo

    Palazzo Cantarini del Bovolo

    The palace in San Marco was built in 1499. The highlight of the attraction is a spiral staircase leading to balconies with panoramic views of the city. For a long time, the Venetian palace was owned by Pietro Contarini. Today, tour groups are allowed to tour the palace.

    Fondaco dei Tedeschi

    A huge Venetian palace is located near the Grand Canal. The spacious and sunny courtyard was needed by German merchants who carried their goods through it to the house. In our time, the courtyard of the palace was covered with a roof. Now there are shops, cafes and souvenir shops. The galleries of the Fondaco Palace offer amazing views of Venice.

    Fondaco dei Tedeschi
    La Fenice Theater

    La Fenice Theater

    One of the main musical theaters in Venice. The building was completed by 1982. It was here in 1813 that Gioacchino Rossini made his debut, whose operas are now staged in all theaters of the world. The theater burned several times, but each time it was rebuilt in an even more magnificent form, for which it got its name ("la fenice" means "phoenix"). The last fire occurred in 1996, after which the stage opened to the audience only in 2003.

    Correr City Museum

    The museum is named after the collector Teodoro Correra, a representative of the aristocratic Venetian family. This philanthropist bequeathed his entire collection to the city along with the palace where this collection was located. Gradually, the museum's funds grew, new works of art were acquired, some exhibits were donated by private individuals. So the Fund of the City Museums of Venice was gradually formed.

    Correr City Museum
    Academy Gallery

    Academy Gallery

    The museum was founded at the end of the XVIII century. At first it housed a school of painting and sculpture, and then exhibitions began to appear. Among the exhibits there are paintings by Veneziano, Canaletto and Titian. In the XIX-XX centuries, the collection was quite modest, but thanks to the gifts of patrons, the number of exhibition halls increased to 24. There are always long queues at the entrance to the museum, so you will have to wait to get inside.

    The Peggy Guggenheim Collection

    The Museum of Modern Art, founded by the niece of the famous collector Solomon Guggenheim (its galleries are open all over the world). Works by Kandinsky, Picasso, Klee, Dali and Miro are exhibited here. Temporary exhibitions are held periodically on the territory of the museum. The collection is housed in an unfinished palazzo. The exhibition is based on paintings from Peggy Guggenheim's personal collection.

    The Peggy Guggenheim Collection
    Punta della Dogana

    Punta della Dogana

    The art gallery of the city is located in the old customs building. The building was built in the city in 1678. More recently, a local gallery has opened an exhibition of contemporary art. Provocative works attract the attention of visitors literally from the doorstep. There is also a marine exhibition in the building, where you can see fragments of ships and everything that was lifted from the seabed.

    Murano Island

    An archipelago of five small islands, where Venetian glass products have been made for hundreds of years. From here, glassblowing spread throughout Venice. On the island, you can watch the process of creating masterpieces or visit one of the many shops offering products of local craftsmen for every taste. Muranov glass is a well–promoted global brand, highly appreciated outside of Italy.

    Murano Island
    Burano Island

    Burano Island

    A small island near Murano, where one of the city blocks of Venice is located. The place is interesting because there are picturesque colorful houses of unusually bright colors. A local legend says that it was the wives of local drunkards who painted the walls so that tipsy husbands would not confuse their house with the neighbor's dwelling. Interestingly, a certain color is officially assigned to each building.

    The Venetian Ghetto

    A plot surrounded by canals in the Cannaregio area. It was nicknamed the ghetto due to the fact that once only Jews lived there. In 1516 they were expelled from the city, they were settled on this island. Jews in Venice were forbidden to hold public office, they could not master a number of professions, entered the city only with the permission of the island's guards. In order to somehow accommodate the growing population of the ghetto, the Jewish community had to build eight-story buildings.

    The Venetian Ghetto
    Arsenal

    Arsenal

    Armory and shipyard in the historical part of Venice. The arsenal was founded at the beginning of the XII century . for the purpose of equipping war galleys. A galleon was invented here – a warship, a real floating fortress, which was used in many future naval battles. Now the Arsenal building houses a research center and an exhibition hall, where you can trace the history of shipbuilding at the Venetian shipyards.

    Rialto Market

    The market in the historical quarter of the city has existed for more than 1000 years. Venice began its existence with the Rialto. On small islands near the Grand Canal there are shopping malls with vegetables and fruits. There are also mandatory fish shops for these places. The modern building with shopping malls was erected in 1907. Adjacent to the market is the adjacent courthouse, where the Carabinieri regularly deliver prisoners in handcuffs. The market itself is open from Tuesday to Saturday from 7.30 am to lunch.

    Rialto Market
    Libreria Acqua Alta

    Libreria Acqua Alta

    The famous bookstore is located by the Grand Canal. There are no usual bookshelves in it. All publications are stacked on the floor. When there is a threat of flooding for the old building where the store operates, the owner puts books in baths, basins and even boats. The store sells both rare editions and popular literature in Italian from 9 am. At the entrance, visitors are greeted by the owner's cat, and Luigi himself, the founder of this place, is standing behind the cash register.

    Cafe Florian

    The iconic Venetian coffee shop, operating since the XVIII century. The cafe has several halls and even has its own orchestra. All the famous people who have been coming to Venice for the last 150 years have definitely noted their presence in this place. In the "Florian" you can taste specialty desserts, cocktails and coffee. There are stories about the prices in the institution among tourists, as they are quite high, as in any similar place.

    Cafe Florian
    Beaches of the island of Lido

    Beaches of the island of Lido

    Venice's satellite island is a resort with mind-blowing beaches. Ferries and boats carrying tourists run from the city's pier to the island around the clock. Lido beaches are divided into paid and free. Paid areas can only be used by guests of local hotels. The beach area consists of sandy and pebble stretches. All beaches are equipped with the necessary infrastructure.

    The gondola is a symbol of Venice

    The very first thing that comes to mind at the mention of Venice is a gondola and its helmsman: a cheerful, quick–witted and slightly stupid gondolier. Walking along the Venetian canals is the most popular pastime for tourists. But few people know that some boats are more expensive than the most expensive cars, and to obtain a gondolier's license, the applicant needs to study for a long time and pass a difficult exam.

    The gondola is a symbol of Venice
    Venice Film Festival

    Venice Film Festival

    A well-known international event in the world of cinema, which gathers world stars and representatives of the elite. Author's films, documentaries and short films are submitted to the jury here. The main prize is a Golden Lion. Having received the coveted statuette, the director can count on the most profitable contracts and interesting projects. Many moviegoers from all over the world are eager to get to the Venice Festival.

    Venice Carnival

    A festive extravaganza before the onset of Lent, going back in traditions to the distant past. During the Carnival, the streets are filled with people in luxurious costumes and masks, many of which are works of art. The palazzo hosts balls, Renaissance and Baroque dinner parties. This is a magical time when the whole city goes to the brilliant past for ten whole days.

    Venice Carnival