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How to get around
The best way to get around in Venice is on foot. The city is small and getting lost in the little calli is a fascinating experience.
Vaporetti are water buses, operated by ACTV, Venice’s public transportation company. You can buy one-way tickets or day passes valid for 24 or 48 hours. Consider that with a day pass you can cross the Grand Canal by taking a vaporetto for one stop, so this may be a good solution even if you plan to explore the city on foot. You may also purchase the Venice card, which includes transportation and admission to several museums.
A gondola tour is unique, but expensive. If you simply wish to try this peculiar kind of boat, you can take the gondola ferry service across the Grand Canal for 50 cents. It is a fun short ride! Locations of the traghetto gondole are at San Marcuola, Santa Sofia, San Tomà, San Samuele, and Santa Maria del Giglio. Water taxis are another option.
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What to see
Venice is best explored on foot and by boat, and much of the beauty of “La Serenissima” lies in the charm of its maze of little streets and over 400 bridges that cross the many small canals, as well as the magnificent views you get of the islands from the waterways or across the lagoon. Explore, allow yourself to get lost a little, and enjoy the magic of this city. A small campiello, or a hidden maskmaker’s boutique, may well offer you the highlight of your stay.
Venice also boasts many of the world’s treasures of art and architecture, and no visit to the city is complete without some of the following:
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Piazza San Marco
Perhaps the most famous square of any major city, the piazza San Marco is a great place to stroll, watch people, or enjoy an espresso at the historic Café Florian. You can also board water taxis, gondolas, or vaporetti near here for tours through the canals or excursions to the other islands.
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Basilica di San Marco. This magnificent one thousand year old church was constructed in Byzantine style and decorated with gilded mosaics.
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Campanile di San Marco. The dominant bell tower affords a spectacular view in all directions. You can climb the stairs or take the elevator to the observation deck.
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Clock tower. This 15th century construction features the winged lion, emblem of the city, and bronze statues of two moors who strike the bell hourly.
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Palazzo Ducale. Reflecting the beautiful Venetian light, the 14th century Doges Palace seems made of lace, not stone. The interior was decorated in the 16th century by artists such as Titian, Veronese, and Tintoretto.
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Ponte dei Sospiri. You can visit the Bridge of Sighs and the prisons on a guided tour of the Doges Palace. It is best to reserve in advance, as spots are limited.
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Museo Civico Correr. Above the arcades on the narrow western end of the piazza, this museum houses a rich collection of art, costumes, weapons, and other objects from the glorious history of the maritime republic.
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Rialto Bridge and Market
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The Rialto Bridge, built in 1588-91, is still the main way to cross the Grand Canal and traverse the city on foot. It houses a number of small boutiques where tourists can find souvenirs. Venice’s upscale shopping area lies along the Mercerie streets that lead from here to San Marco.
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The Rialto Market begins on the west side of the bridge and winds through several streets and arcades along the Grand Canal. It is especially active in the mornings when local residents buy fresh vegetables and fish from barges that arrive at dawn.
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Canal Grande
You can take a leisurely ride on a gondola through Venice’s many small canals, but the Grand Canal, the main thoroughfare of the city, is best explored by boarding the vaporetti. Enjoy the views of the majestic facades and stop along the way to visit the many palazzi and museums that line each bank.
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The Ca’ d’Oro, close to the Rialto area, houses the Galleria Franchetti, an important collection of Venetian painting. From the Loggia of this splendid palazzo you can enjoy a beautiful view across the canal. |
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Galleria dell’Accademia. This museum is home to countless masterpieces of the Venetian Renaissance. Admire works by Giorgione, Veronese, Titian, and Tintoretto. |
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The Peggy Guggenheim Collection is located in this philanthropist’s former home, the palazzo Venier dei Leoni, on the Grand Canal. You can peruse the large collection of 20th century paintings and enjoy the views.
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Boat Trips
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Use the vaporetti to visit some of the surrounding islands. You can purchase multi-day passes that make this an easy and inexpensive way to get around. Visits to Murano, Burano, and Torcello can be combined into a single day trip.
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San Giorgio Maggiore. Directly across from the piazza San Marco lies the Renaissance church of San Giorgio Maggiore, on its own little island. From here you have one of the nicest views of the San Marco waterfront and the Doge’s Palace.
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Giudecca Island. This island of patrician villas and pleasure gardens offers promenades with grand views of the city and passing cruise ships. You can also admire the church of Redentore, a masterpiece of 16th century architect Andrea Palladio and site of the spectacular fireworks of the eponymous festival.
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The Lido di Venezia. Grand Hotels line the promenade of this classy beach resort, home to the famous Venice film festival.
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Murano Island. Observe glass making and the Museo dell’Arte Vetraria, dedicated to the long tradition of these artisans. The island’s gift shops offer a bigger selection of glass objects than stores in town, and besides traditional styles and touristy knick-knacks you can find pieces of modern artistic design.
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Burano Island. This island is famed for its tradition of lace manufacture. The Museo del Merletto is dedicated to this craft.
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Torcello Island. A quiet island covered by parks, gardens. A number of monuments attest to its erstwhile importance as a trading port predating the rise of Venice. The millennial church of Santa Maria Assunta features splendid mosaics.
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Festivals and Special Events
February: The Venice Carnival is one of the most famous carnivals in the world and certainly the most ancient. Every year, for ten days before lent, the city transforms as people don elaborate costumes and traditional masks. Public events and private parties contribute to the enchanted, surreal atmosphere. The typical sweets, frittelle and galani, are not to be missed.
March/April: On a Sunday in early spring the So e Zo per i Ponti takes place, a non-competitive 10 km run in the little calli and up and down the bridges. Quite fun!
May: The Sensa celebration is a tradition going back a thousand years, with political, social, and religious connotations. It commemorates the special relationship Venice has with the sea. Every year on Ascension day, the mayor and other authorities go by boat to the entrance of Saint Nicolo’s port to throw a ring into the sea, symbolizing the ritual “wedding of Venice and the sea”.
June: Every year the Palio of the Ancient Maritime Republics is hosted by one of them in turn: Venice, Pisa, Genova, and Amalfi. The boat race is spectacular, with people in traditional costumes.
June to September: The Venice Biennale, a big multi-faceted cultural event focusing on the modern arts, takes place every odd-numbered year from June to September. Art and architecture exhibits are in the Giardini Pubblici.
July: On the third weekend of July, the Redentore festival recalls the end of the plague, originally marked by the construction of the Redentore church in 1577 on Giudecca island. For the occasion a temporary bridge on boats connects to the Giudecca. The highpoint of the feast are the spectacular fireworks on Saturday night. Venetians dine on romantically illuminated boats in San Marco basin.
August/September: The Venice Film Festival at the Lido.
September: On the first Sunday in September, the Regata Storica is one of the most popular events in Venice. First a parade of historical boats files down the Grand Canal, following the Doge’s bucintoro, the symbol of Venice. Then there is a day of boat races, with different boat categories.
November: On November 21st Venetians celebrate the Festa della Salute. A temporary bridge is laid across the Grand Canal and residents pay respects to the Virgin Mary in Santa Maria della Salute. Gondolieri have their oars blessed.
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Art, Museums, Culture
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Venice Civic Museums: Doge’s Palace, Museo Correr, Clock Tower, Ca’ Rezzonico, Ca’ Pesaro, Glass Museum, Lace Museum, and others: http://www.museiciviciveneziani.it/main.asp?lin=EN
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Other Museums:
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Tourist Passes:
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Venice Card: (transportation, also from the airport, some museum admissions, and discounts) http://www.venicecard.com/cose_eng.jsp
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Carnival related links:
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1-800-786-5760 or 