Why We Keep Going Back To Venice?
Venice is home to many beautiful palaces, old churches and unique shops. Turn off your GPS and put your navigation skills to the test in the maze of small alleyways. Sit next to the Grand Canal and watch the variety of boats float by. Venice is one of our favourite places we have travelled to because there is so much history. This is how we recommend you spend your days here.
Watch the boats of the Grand Canal
Explore Rialto Bridge & Markets
Watch The Sunset From The Best Free View Of Venice
View From Scala Contarini del Bovolo
Libreria Acqua Alta
Teatro la Fenice
Tour Of The Doges Palace
Look Up At The Golden Mosaics Inside St Mark's Basilica
Watch The Boats Of The Grand Canal
The Grand Canal is fascinating to watch. In the early morning, there are slow moving boats carrying food to the markets. Occasionally there were ambulances, fire brigade and police boats speeding along the grand canal.
Explore Rialto Bridge & Markets
The market has a large variety of seafood, fruit, vegetables and flowers. The Rialto Markets are open in the mornings except for Sundays and there is no seafood on Monday.
Nearby is the Rialto Bridge, the oldest of the four bridges that cross the Grand Canal. It has three walkways and two rows of shops. It is a major tourist attraction with many souvenirs being sold.
Watch The Sunset From The Best Free View Of Venice
Our favourite view of Venice was from the terrace rooftop at T Fondaco del Tedeschi shopping centre. It is located next to the Rialto Bridge
Visitors are only given 15 minutes on the rooftop. I recommend going at sunset.
Click here to make a free reservation and avoid waiting in line.
View From Scala Contarini del Bovolo
A 28-metre high cylindrical tower with a multi-arch spiral staircase. From the top, you have great views of the city and St Mark's Campanile/Basilica.
When: 10am to 6pm
Price: €7, €6 students
Libreria Acqua Alta
Self-proclaimed 'most beautiful bookshop in the world'. It is prone to flooding so it keeps some of the books in bathtubs and boats. There is even a full-size gondola in the middle of the store.
It appears as though they have an oversupply of books. An outdoor area has a staircase made from books. You can climb this staircase to get a view over the wall and down a narrow canal.
When: 9am-7.45pm
Teatro la Fenice
This opera house is one of the most famous and renowned landmarks in the history of opera. It has been destroyed several times by fire and it has risen from the ashes better than before like the Pheonix (mythical bird).
The stage and ground seating area is surrounded by vertical boxes with seats. Gold dominates the room. On the ceiling, there is a painting of the sky with angels which give the never-ending illusion. The building is home to many magnificent chandeliers.
When we were there in the late afternoon, there was an orchestra rehearsing.
When: 9am-6pm dependent on Opera Performances
Price: €10 euro, €7 student
Tour Of The Doges Palace
The Doges Palace is also known as Palazzo Ducale of Venice and is located next to St Mark’s Square.
I suggest getting an audio tour or guide to understand the history of the palace.
The Doges Palace was where democracy originated. The Doge was the leader. During the Venetian Republic, 120 Doges ruled. In the largest room of the palace (53 x 25 metres), Hall of the Great Council, the Doges are painted around the room. The painting of the 55th Doge is blacked out with the Latin phrase, 'This is the space for Marino Faliero, beheaded for crimes.'
Every detail of the palace was designed to impress with ornate furnishings, Venetian art pieces and lavish rooms.
The palace consists of administrative offices, judicial chambers, the Doge’s private apartments, ballrooms, courtyards, grand stairways and prisons.
In the armoury room, you can see a variety of arms and ammunition. Game of Thrones fans will love this section as the swords and crossbows look similar to those in the show.
The Bridge of Sighs was used to transfer criminals from the interrogation rooms to the prison. When walking through this bridge, prisoners would have the last view of beautiful Venice and sigh. This is where the bridge name is said to have originated from. The best place to view the bridge is from outside the palace.
When: From April to October, Sundays to Thursdays 8.30 am – 9 pm (last admission 8 pm). Fridays and Saturdays 8.30 am – 11 pm. From November to March 8.30 am – 5.30 pm
Price: €20, €13 students. €5 audio guides
Look Up At The Golden Mosaics Inside St Mark's Basilica
Arguably the most beautiful church in Italy and best-known examples of Italo-Byzantine architecture. The basic structure of the church dates back to the 9th century.
The inside is more breathtaking than the exterior with golden mosaics covering the ceilings and walls. It is home to one of the most priceless pieces of jewellery in the world, the Pala D’Oro (a golden altarpiece). Get there when it opens at 9.30 to avoid the long lines.
When: 9.30am to 5pm. 2pm to 4.30pm on Sundays and holidays
Price: entrance to Basilica is free. Museum €5 euros. Pala d'oro costs €2. Treasury costs €3
