An adventure in and around Venice
A trip to Venice offers an unforgettable insight into life in one of the world’s most unique cities. Venice is made up of six main neighborhoods, all separated by the Grand Canal. The heart of the city is considered to be San Marco, which sits on the major lower bend of the Grand Canal.
Several of Venice’s must-see parts can be found here and the key sights of San Marco are linked by three main thoroughfares that form a rough triangle: from piazza San Marco to the Rialto Bridge, from the Rialto to the Accademia. Bridge and from there back to the square.
Lavishly designed in Byzantine, Gothic, Classical, and late Renaissance styles, Piazza San Marco, or Saint Mark’s Square, is Venice’s main square and a central landmark and meeting place for visitors and residents.
The square is crowned by Saint Mark’s Basilica (Basilica de San Marco), a notable place of worship that is the most famous of the city’s churches and one of the best-known examples of Byzantine architecture.
Also accessible from the square is the Doge’s Palace or Palazzo Ducale, the residence of Venice’s elected leader and a political center consisting of grandiose staterooms, adorned with priceless works of art. The Biblioteca Marciana, or San Marcos National Library, is also located on the square and houses one of the largest collections of classical texts in the world.
The Correr Museum also branches off St. Mark’s Square and is dedicated to the art and history of Venice. Filled with all kinds of fascinating artifacts and paraphernalia, the museum also gives access to the Museo Archeologico (Museum of Archaeology), which is one of the oldest museums in Venice and houses rich collections from Greek, Egyptian, Roman and Assyro-Babylonian civilizations. .
To the east of the city is Castello, a working, inhabited and traffic-free side of Venice. Bohemian and chic, Dorsoduro is packed with art treasures and lies to the south of the city, while the quiet north of Cannaregio is a great escape if you need to get off the beaten track.
When looking for hotels in Venice, remember that there are certain times of the year when Venice is busier than usual.
For the ten days leading up to Shrove Tuesday, the Venice Carnival takes over the city with parades, street theater and masquerade balls. The beginning of summer brings the Vogalonga rowing regatta in June followed by the Redentore Festival in July. In addition, the Venice International Film Festival, usually in August and September, is a high-profile event, while the Biennale of Architecture, from September to November, attracts more than 100,000 visitors.
As you can see, no matter what time of year you choose to visit Venice, you really won’t be short of things to see and do on a trip to this popular Italian city.