Venice is a city of great beauty and historical significance, but it is also distinct from the rest of Italy. Venice, the capital of Northern Italy’s Veneto Region, is actually made up of 117 small islands connected by a number of bridges and separated by a network of canals. Venice is not one of Veneto’s largest cities, but it is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the country, with a population of roughly 250,000 people.
Venice was a powerful bastion and a major financial and military center during the Middle Ages and the Italian Renaissance. It was also a place that had significant cultural and artistic growth and was well-known around the world. Let;s check Best Things To Do In Venice.
1: St. Mark’s Basilica
St. Mark’s Basilica, arguably Venice’s most renowned and iconic structure, is a majestic piece of architecture that has endured the test of time since its construction in 1092 and is one of Northern Italy’s most prominent religious structures.
From the elaborate detail, sculptures, and artwork on the front facade to the magnificently painted frescos and Byzantine works of art on the inside of the domed ceiling, every part of this cathedral is fantastic.
This basilica, which is easily accessible from the Grand Canal and is located in the Piazza San Marco, is one of the best-known remaining examples of Italian Byzantine architecture.
2: St. Mark’s Square
The most famous building in Venice is St. Mark’s Basilica, while the most famous plaza is St Mark’s Square.
This piazza, which is located on the Grand Canal, opposite the island of San Giorgio Maggiore, is a particularly spectacular destination to visit in Venice.
A series of elegant structures with arched arches surround the Piazza, perfectly framing it.
Several major buildings, including St Mark’s Campanile, St Mark’s Basilica, Doge’s Palace, and Torre dell’Orologio, are all located on the plaza. This area is a fantastic site to begin your tour of Venice and see some of the city’s most magnificent sights.
3: Canale Grande
Venice is home to hundreds of canals that connect the city’s many islands, the greatest of which being the Canale Grande.
This massive canal, which resembles a river and runs from one side of Venice to the other, snakes through the heart of the city in a wide S curve.
The canal’s banks are lined with around 170 buildings dating back to the 13th century, and it has been an important waterway in the city for hundreds of years.
The great canal is only crossed by four bridges because most citizens and visitors travel along the canal rather than over it. Consider taking a walk along sections of the canal, enjoying the structures that border it, and watching the hectic water activity of Venice.
4: Ponte di Rialto
The Ponte di Rialto is unquestionably the most famous and recognizable of the bridges that span the Grand Canal.
The bridge, which connects Venice’s San Marco and San Polo neighborhoods, is a major pedestrian thoroughfare as well as a renowned tourist attraction. This conclusion, which was once a wooden bridge, stood for hundreds of years until it collapsed in 1524. Following this tragedy, an elaborate stone bridge was constructed, which is still in use today.
The bridge’s detail and design are stunning, and its symmetry elegantly frames the Grand Canal.
There are also a number of stores along the bridge that sell everything from souvenirs to jewelry.
5: Gallerie dell’Accademia
This museum, located on the Grande Canal near the Ponte dell’Accademia, houses a fine collection of pre-19th century art, including pieces by Bellini, Canaletto, and Titian.
The gallery is housed in a structure that was once a monastery and was turned to a museum in the mid to late 1700s.
This exhibition is a must-see for everyone who enjoys Renaissance art and renowned classics.
The Vitruvian Man by Da Vinci, which depicts the ideal proportions of man, is perhaps its most well-known work.
Other significant works include Tintoretto’s Resurrection, Titian’s Virgin and the Child, and Veronese’s Battle of Lepanto.
6: Doges Palace
Apart from the Basilica and the Campanile, Doges Palace is one of the most well-known structures in Venice. It is located on St. Mark’s Square but faces the Grand Canal. The front facade of this opulent palace is truly stunning, with a beautiful arched design constructed of white stone and a sequence of diamond patterns on the walls.
The palace is as magnificent on the inside, with a number of lavishly furnished chambers that feature unique decorations, furnishings, and artwork. There are tours of the palace available, and it is recommended that you spend some time looking at both the exterior and inside in detail to properly grasp a piece of Venice’s history.
7: San Marco Campanile
The campanile, Venice’s largest structure, is a huge 98.6m tall edifice. The current structure is a restoration of the original, which collapsed in 1902. The campanile was originally built as a lookout tower in the 9th century.
The tower has been destroyed by fire, earthquakes, and even lightning over the years. The main shaft is made of a plain red-brick construction, but the bell house and pinnacle have a variety of arches and brickwork, and the top has a gilded statue of the Angel Gabriel.
From the Piazza di San Marco, admire the tower, but also climb the elevator to the top for some of the best panoramic views of Venice.
8: Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute
The Basilica of Santa Maria della Salute, possibly Venice’s second most famous church, is located on the opposite side of the Grand Canal from St. Mark’s and stands out against the surrounding architecture.
This church, which has a Baroque design, was finished in 1687 and is a minor basilica of the Roman Catholic Church.
The outside is ornamented with four apostle statues, and the main dome stands over the skyline, taking centre stage on the Grand Canal. The hexagonal form allows light to flow in and gives the interior a feeling of spaciousness. Although not as ornately ornamented as other Italian cathedrals, this basilica has a lot of symmetry and is quite appealing to the eye.