25 Amazing And Unique Places To Visit In Venice

You're the crown of the moon, Venice, city of lovers! Venetians sing of Venice in "Truffaldino of Bergamo. The city of love, the city of canals, the city of magic. There's no other name for it. The city is situated on two islands connected by four bridges, and partly on the mainland. The first settlements here appeared in the 5th century AD. Lots has changed since then.

Now Venice is filled with palaces with a lot of different facades. A lot of the city's museums feature the best masters and artists from Italy. There is still a cafe in the city called "Florian". A trip to Venice in any season offers a variety of things to see and do.

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➤ Grand Canal

Venice's Grand Canal is popularly called "the main street of the city." It runs almost four kilometers from the station to the customs building. This canal reaches a depth of five meters at its deepest point. It's almost 70 meters wide at its widest point.

Canals aren't artificial, they're natural. At first, it was a channel between two islands, on which Venice was built. You'll see the most beautiful buildings of the city when you walk along the canal. You can also see the canal from the height of the bridges, all of which were built.

• Working time: 24/7.
• Cost: it's free to walk the Grand Canal.
• How to get there: just walk to the Grand Canal from the city center.

➤ St. Mark's Square

The Grand Canal is the city's main artery, and Piazza San Marco is its heart. The square is 175 meters long and 82 meters wide now. It was once just a square in front of St. Mark's Cathedral, which had just been completed in the IX century.

There was a new tradition born in this square in the XII century – to hold Venice Carnival there. The tradition lives on to this day.

• Working time: 24/7.
• Cost: free.
• How to get there: you can walk from the train station or the city center. There's a vaporetto from the train station to the square every 10-15 minutes.

➤ St. Mark's Clock Tower

The St. Mark's Tower is close to the same-named square in the city center. In both its global forms and its details, it's an amazing example of Renaissance architecture.

The clock tower was built at the end of the 15th century, but has been reconstructed several times. In addition, the mechanism of the clock was modified during one of the reconstructions. St. Mark's Tower is now a part of the Venice Public Foundation of museums.

• Working time: 24/7.
• Cost: free.
• How to get there: you can walk or take the vaporetto from the station.

➤ Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute

The cathedral is impressive, so it can't help but draw attention. The tradition of celebrating the Festa della Salute in the cathedral still exists today. The holiday commemorates the end of the plague that nearly destroyed the city in the 17th century.

Fortunately, the disease was defeated, and as a result, the government of Venice built the cathedral of Santa Maria della Salute. The cathedral took more than 50 years to build. It's one of the most beautiful and majestic buildings in town now. Walls and ceiling are covered in frescoes.

• Working time: 24/7.
• Cost: free.
• How to get there: take a vaporetto to the cathedral, or walk from the city center; the cathedral is near the Doge's Palace.

➤ Basilica S.Maria Gloriosa dei Frari

Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari Cathedral was built by Franciscan monks in the late 14th century. A monk donated the land where the cathedral now stands to the Doge of Venice. Several decorative elements and white statues decorate the building. The cathedral is divided into three parts by columns.

Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari is considered the most majestic cathedral in Venice. The church is always packed with photographers who take high-quality pictures of tourists in front of the cathedral for a small fee.

• Working time: Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sunday 1 pm.
• Cost: 2,5€ for a ticket.
• How to get there: vaporetto is the best way to get to the cathedral.

➤ San Giorgio Maggiore

A relatively small island served as home to the Roman Empire's residents. There were several houses and acres of grapes and cypresses there. That's why San Giorgio Maggiore was called the "cypress island" in ancient records.

In the X century, the Benedictine monastery was built on these lands, which survived many upheavals, including the biggest earthquake ever. Most of the buildings are still standing today. Some have been partially rebuilt. The island is now open to tourists.

• Working time: 24/7.
• Cost: before visiting, you should check the price of the excursion.
• How to get there: take the vaporetto along the Giudecca Canal to the island.

➤ Doge's Palace

Venice's most famous attraction is right in the heart of the city. It's in Gothic style. It's a reconstruction, unfortunately, the original building was damaged in fires. As a result, the palace architecture spanned several eras.

Currently, the Doge's Palace is home to an art museum containing paintings by a variety of authors, mostly of Italian descent. In the past, the building was used as a meeting place for the Venetian government. In addition, it housed the private apartments of the Doge, the ruler of the city.

• Working time: Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., some days from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Cost: tickets are at least 13€.
• How to get there: you can walk there from St. Mark's Square.

➤ Ca' Rezzonico

Ca' Rezzonico has art created by 18th century masters. Here you can see a lot of different types of exhibits: from paintings to porcelain vases, from clothing to furniture. The Rezzonico family, one of the most powerful families in Venice, built the museum.

Clement XIII was even elected pope by one of the family's representatives. The museum is in one of the Rezzonico family's palaces in Venice.

• Working time: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Cost: before you visit the museum, check the entrance fees on the museum's website.
• How to get there: it's a short walk from the city center.

➤ Palazzo Santa Sofia

The Golden House is another name for the Santa Sofia Palace. It faces the Grand Canal and is a marvel of Gothic architecture. The decorations are really cool too.

Marble tiles of different colors line the facade, and gold leaf elements decorate it. The gilding on the façade has faded over the years, so it looks somewhat different now. The palazzo is still majestic and impressive, though.

• Working time: 24/7.
• Cost: free.
• How to get there: you can take a boat on the Grand Canal to get to the Valazzo.

➤ Peggy Guggenheim Collection

Palazzo Venier dei Leon is where the Peggy Guggenheim collection is. You can see both permanent and temporary exhibitions there. There are exhibits of artists and sculptors in the styles of Futurism, Expressionism, Surrealism, Cubism, etc. More than 300 paintings by different authors are on display here.

• Working time: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday through Monday.
• Cost: it's a good idea to ask about the cost before going.
• How to get there: take a vaporetto along the Grand Canal to the palace where the collection is.

➤ Teatro La Fenice

In Russian, La Fenice means Phoenix. San Benedetto, one of Florence's finest theaters, was destroyed by fire in the 18th century, and the building was built to replace it. Milan's La Scala Theater inspired the interior of La Fenice. It has columns and statues outside.

La Fenice's official symbol is a golden bird depicted on a blue background, which stands out particularly. There was a fire at La Fenice as well, but it was rebuilt by locals. In the first decade of the 21st century, the Phoenix was resurrected and reopened.

• Working time: from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Cost: theater tickets vary depending on the venue and the show, sightseeing tickets are 10€.
• How to get there: vaporettos on the orange and blue lines make it easy to reach the theater building.

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➤ Bridge of Sighs

Bridge of Sighs is a great example of Baroque architecture. Thanks to its harmonious shape and a lot of decorations, the carved construction seems lightweight. White highlights the green of the water and the blue of the sky, which adds even more airiness to the bridge.

At the beginning of the 17th century, the Bridge of Sighs appeared. It's almost 11 meters long. It's between two buildings: the Doge's Palace and the New Prison Building. There's a reason the bridge's name is "sighs". Sighs were prisoners who were taken across the bridge from the courthouse to the prison.

• Working time: 24/7.
• Cost: free.
• How to get there: it's easy to get to by foot from St. Mark's Square in the city center.

➤ Museo Correr

The Correr is one of the biggest art museums in town. Much of the exhibition is dedicated to the history of Venice and the Venetian Republic.

Theodore Correr, after whom the museum is named, amassed the museum's first collection in the 19th century. The original museum was in the palace with the same name, but the growing collection made it necessary to move to the new one.

• Working time: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., sometimes 5 p.m.
• Cost: check out the price of the sightseeing tickets before you go.
• How to get there: from St. Mark's Square, which is in the center of town, you can walk.

➤ Gallerie dell'Accademia

With a huge collection of Venetian paintings from the thirteenth to eighteenth centuries, the Accademia Gallery has something for everyone. There are works by Bellini, Veronese, and Titian. You can combine your visit with a ride on the vaporetto and admire the beautiful Venetian houses.

• Working time: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., 2 p.m. on Sundays.
• Cost: tickets start at 6€.
• How to get there: the Academy is accessible by vaporetto.

➤ Rialto Bridge

Rialto Bridge was the first bridge connecting the two banks of the Grand Canal. Located in the narrowest part of the canal, it has more than 10,000 piles. The bridge was badly damaged by fires like a lot of buildings in Venice.

It burned down completely in the 14th century but was rebuilt. It is one of the most popular tourist destinations. By 2020, you'll find more than 20 different souvenir shops near the bridge, where you can find gifts for everyone.

• Working time: 24/7.
• Cost: free.
• How to get there: walk across the Grand Canal.

➤ Rialto Market

Locals and tourists love Rialto Market, right next to the Rialto Bridge, the oldest bridge over the Grand Canal. The market is split into two parts: one selling seafood and one selling fruits and veggies.

The market is always crowded because it has the freshest products at reasonable prices. The area is also full of antique and souvenir shops. Shoppers will find something they'll like.

• Working time: 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.; the fish market closes at 2 p.m.
• Cost: free.
• How to get there: walk across the Grand Canal to the Rialto Bridge .

➤ Caffè Florian

The oldest café in Europe was opened in the early 18th century, and it's called Caffè Florian. In these walls have dined the most famous people of all time: Casanova, Rousseau, Lord Byron, and even Brodsky. The cafe prices are a little high, so in this sense Florian is more like a restaurant.

• Working time: 9 a.m. to midnight every day.
• Cost: check the prices before you go, you'll have to pay about 8€ for a kettle of tea.
• How to get there: the cafe is easy to reach on foot from the city center.

➤ Murano Island

Murano glass is famous all over the world. Some of the best masters of their craft have been nurtured here for centuries. Up until the XIII century, Venetian glass was made on the island of Murano, but eventually it moved out.

Safety measures dictated this. Venetian buildings are mostly wood, so fires often break out in the city starting from the glass workshops.

• Working time: 24/7.
• Cost: free.
• How to get there: you can get to the island by vaporetto.

➤ Burano Island

Images of Burano, an island full of color, are popular postcard subjects. The island of Murano is known for its master glassmakers, and Burano is known for its master lacemakers. The Venetian craftsmen mastered the most sophisticated lacemaking techniques and became famous around the world.

You're sure to be in a good mood after a walk around the island. Different colors paint the low houses: lemon yellow, rich brick red, deep blue. They look like toys against the blue sky.

• Working time: 24/7.
• Cost: free.
• How to get there: vaporetto to the island.

➤ Constitution Bridge

The Constitution Bridge is one of four bridges that span the Grand Canal. It was built last at the end of the 20th century. The design contrasts sharply with the city's oldest bridge, showing the difference in centuries.

Towards the middle, the curved arch of the bridge gets wider, reaching a mark of 9 meters. The length of the structure is about 80 meters. It's a favorite spot for tourists and locals alike.

• Working time: 24/7.
• Cost: free.
• How to get there: walk from Santa Lucia train station to the bridge.

➤ Venetian Arsenal

Venetian Arsenal is a whole complex of buildings with a forge, shipyard, armory, and various workshops. You'll learn about how ships were repaired in Venice, what each building is for, and what it's famous for.

There are two entrances to the Arsenal, one on the seaside and one on the landside. A key point where new and more advanced armaments were created and was Venice's center of power in times of war.

• Working time: from 9 to 5 p.m., the ticket office is open until 4:30 p.m.
• Cost: tickets start at 5€.
• How to get there: take the vaporetto to the Arsenal.

➤ Biblioteca Nazionale Marciana

Venice's largest library is the Biblioteca Marciana, or St. Mark's Library. The collection contains rare books from the dawn of printing.

There are more than 30,000 ancient manuscripts and books, including the rarest volumes on anatomy with illustrations. It's split into several departments, each with its own schedule.

• Working time: 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• Cost: free.
• How to get there: walk from St Mark's Square.

➤ Venice Carnival

Carnival is one of Venice's oldest traditions, making the city famous around the world. Vivid images, merriment, and a feeling of intoxicating festivity. There's a sense that the rest of the world doesn't exist during the festival days. It's important to see how the fairy tale is embodied in reality at least once in your life in the author's tour at the carnival.

• Working time: check the official website for dates.
• Cost: free.
• How to get there: the festival's in the heart of the city.

➤ San Simeone Piccolo

San Simeon-Piccolo sounds like the Church of St. Simon and Judas, but it's rarely referred to like that. The church was built in the early 18th century in a Neoclassical style. This building stands out because of its interesting proportions and huge upwardly extended dome. Venetian anecdotes often mention this.

• Working time: make sure you check the hours before you go.
• Cost: free.
• How to get there: take a vaporetto along the Grand Canal.

➤ St Mark's Campanile

On the site of an old clock tower, the Campanile was built in the 8th century AD. The castle was gradually rebuilt and modified until it was the way it is today by the 16th century. Currently, the bell tower is a reconstruction of a tower that collapsed in the 20th century.

Interestingly, this collapse was predicted because just a few days before it happened, a noticeable crack appeared on the building. So no one in the city was hurt, since everyone had time to prepare for the collapse.

• Working time: 24/7.
• Cost: free.
• How to get there: St. Mark's Square is right next to the bell tower.