{"id":59096,"date":"2022-03-15T09:01:00","date_gmt":"2022-03-15T13:01:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.worldcatholicnews.com\/22-of-the-best-things-to-do-in-venice-italy\/"},"modified":"2022-03-15T09:01:00","modified_gmt":"2022-03-15T13:01:00","slug":"22-of-the-best-things-to-do-in-venice-italy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.worldcatholicnews.com\/22-of-the-best-things-to-do-in-venice-italy\/","title":{"rendered":"22 of The Best Things to do in Venice, Italy"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/p>\n Venice is one of the most beautiful cities in the world and no trip to Italy would be complete without visiting the city of love. It is unspoiled by modern life and has been a hub for artists, sculptors, musicians, and poets for centuries. Stomping grounds of writer and lover\u00a0Casanova, Venice delights all lovers of beauty filled with art museums, beautiful architecture, and picturesque squares. <\/p>\n We\u2019ve put together a comprehensive guide to the best things to do in Venice with the help of frequent Venice visitor Karen Worral plus our own experiences in the \u201cCity of Water.\u201d We have fallen in love with this city and Karen shares the very best things to do in Venice with her first-hand knowledge from many visits and our own travels to Venice. So get ready because this extensive Venice guide will give you\u00a0molto informazione<\/em>. (a lot of information).<\/p>\n Famous for its intricate and extensive canal system, Venice itself is was built over 2000 years ago at the edge of the Adriatic Sea. What we love about the city is that is compact enough that you can see a lot in a few days. Whether you want to fulfill your dream of admiring the city by Gondola or you prefer to stroll the pedestrian-only streets, Venice, Italy is a place that will make your dreams come alive. Most people spend about 3 Days in Venice and these are all the best things to do in this magical city.<\/p>\n To feel the essence of Venice, St. Mark\u2019s Square is the place to visit first. While the beating heart of Rome may be the sand of the Colosseum, the beating heart of Venice is its most illustrious piazza, St. Mark\u2019s Square <\/strong>(which is called Piazza San Marco). The large impressive square is flanked on all four sides by ornate buildings, archways, and porticos that host cafes and high-end shops. With the Campanile (clock tower) on one side and the Torre dell Orologio (tower of the clock) on the other and other famous Venetian landmarks such as St. Mark\u2019s Basilica, Doge\u2019s Palace and Torre dell\u2019Orologio, it is one of the most iconic squares in Europe. <\/p>\n Dive into Venice\u2019s history with this 2-hour guided walking tour of Saint Mark\u2019s Square. Including skip-the-line tickets to Doge\u2019s Palace. Find out more and book your ticket here\u00a0\u2013 Free cancellation with refund up to 24 hours before the tour starts. Some of Venice\u2019s most important buildings are located in or around the Piazza San Marco so you will be spending a lot of time here. <\/p>\n Located on the Grand Canal, Doges Palace is one of the best places to visit in Venice. The Palazzo Ducale or the Doge\u2019s Palace is the most important building in Venetian history. The Doge was the head of state and religion in Venice for centuries. He was like Venice\u2019s Pope, Regent, President or Prime Minister all at the same time.<\/p>\n The Doge\u2019s Palace is tucked in the corner with the statues of Saint Marco himself and the winged lion of Venice towards the water. The architecture inside and out of Doge\u2019s palace is impressive and I\u2019d recommend at least 90 minutes to see it all properly. <\/p>\n This Doge\u2019s Palace and St. Marks\u2019 Square Tour offers\u00a0skip the line tickets to Doge\u2019s Palace and a locally-led guided tour. They have various special exhibits throughout the year that are included with your ticket. The ticket also allows you entry to Museo Correr, Museo Archeologico Nazionale, and Biblioteca Nazionale.<\/p>\n St Mark\u2019s Basilica (Basilica di San Marco) holds the prime spot over one whole side of the square. The stunning fa\u00e7ade is covered in gold leaf mosaics, grand domes, and elegant equestrian statues. Going inside the Basilica San Marco to see the beautiful multitude of recently renovated mosaics is a Venice must-do. Inside the church, you can also see the Treasury that holds the church\u2019s relics and the Pala D\u2019oro \u2013 Byzantine golden cloth.<\/p>\n Take the steps up to St Mark\u2019s Museum, a small museum about the basilica and Venice history, and for an unrivaled view of St Mark\u2019s Square from the terrace by the horse statues.<\/p>\n The 12th-century tower of St Mark\u2019s Campanile (rebuilt in the 16th century) stands at 323ft tall and gives a commanding view of the famous square from the loggia belfry. Its spire used to be a lighthouse for shipping and it was the prototype for the lagoon area Campaniles.<\/p>\n It still has one of its five original bells as the others were destroyed when the tower collapsed in 1902. The other bells have been replaced, and are still rung. A golden statue of the archangel Gabriel holds court on top of the tower. Go up to the top for a great view of Venice. <\/p>\n Tour Saint Mark\u2019s with\u00a0your skip the line tickets.<\/p>\n The Rialto Bridge (also known as Ponte di Rialto) is the oldest bridge in Venice, dating back to the sixteenth century. It is the most famous bridge in the city and one of the most famous landmarks in the world. It is the first of only four bridges that span the Grand Canal today connecting the districts of San Marco and San Polo. The other bridges that span the Grand Canal are Ponte di Calatrava a Venezia, Ponte dell\u2019Accademia and Ponte degli Scalzi\u00a0<\/p>\n Today the Rialto Bridge is full of shops making it one of the most unique bridges in the world. If you are doing a gondola ride you will definitely be starting, ending, or passing by the Rialto Bridge. This Gondola Tour comes complete with a serenade through the canals of Venice and some of its most secluded waterways. <\/p>\n The Rialto Market \u2013 Mercato di Rialto is located close to the Rialto Bridge and on the other side of Piazza San Marco is a great place for shopping. It started in the eleventh century as the principal food market of Venice.<\/p>\n Rialto Market has two parts.<\/strong> The principal outdoor food market is where fruit, vegetables, fresh fish, and produce are sold. And the souvenir market.\u00a0 It is also a good spot for street food. My favorite thing to do here is to buy a mini bottle of Bellini and sit by the bridge on the San Polo side sipping it while doing some people watching. <\/p>\n When you think of Venice, it is difficult to think about the city and not picture the waterways and gondolas that traverse them. Gondolas are the small boats that are paddled by a trained gondolier who knows the waterways like the back of their hand. Gondola rides can be very romantic and is a great way to snuggle up to your loved one, especially at sunset. They can also be very expensive. Expect to pay upwards of \u20ac100 off-season for a trip.<\/p>\n If you\u2019d like to have the experience but aren\u2019t too bothered about it being private, then you can go on group trips with other tourists and lower the cost. Not all gondoliers are the same, and some have fancier boats and clothes, and some sing and some don\u2019t. So check what is included before hopping on, but remember the price will reflect what is included too.<\/p>\n No visit to Venice would be complete without a ride on the Grand Canal. While taking a gondola ride is a quintessential Venetian tourist thing to do, but if you would rather spend your euros elsewhere, you can tour the Grand Canal for much cheaper by simply taking a water taxi \u2013 or Vaporetto ride.<\/p>\n Vaporettos like a sort of water bus, or water taxi and are the most common way to travel around Venice if you\u2019re not walking. Hop on the Vaporetto at St Mark\u2019s Square at the San Marco Gardinetti stop taking it all the way to Piazzale Roma.\u00a0 Et voila! Perfect Grand Canal tour for only \u20ac7.50!<\/p>\n We loved taking a private Vaporetto tour with our own private guide and boat. It is a splurge, but we visited all of the top attractions in Venice in luxury and comfort. This private Waporetto tour taxi water taxi tour takes you around not only around the Grand Canal, but also, Murano, Burano and quieter waterways. <\/p>\n The Bridge of Sighs is located between the Doge\u2019s Palace, the Palazzo Ducale, and Venice\u2019s jail. It is a small bridge that can be seen from the waterside by St Mark\u2019s Square, very near the San Zaccaria Vaporetto stop. Many gondolas paddle underneath the bridge of Sighs making it a great vantage point to capture that iconic Venice scene. <\/p>\n Legend has it that the Bridge of Sighs got its name because on one side of the bridge is the courtroom of the Palazzo Ducale where people accused of crimes were tried. If convicted, the soon-to-be prisoner would then be walked across the bridge to jail. The last view they would have would be looking out of the small intricate windows of the bridge. And here they would \u201csigh\u201d at their last glimpse of freedom.<\/em> (Hence the name Bridge of Sighs)<\/p>\n Standing proud on the Grand Canal is one of the most renowned churches in Venice, the Basilica di Santa Maria. If you take a Grand Canal tour you can\u2019t miss it. The Basilica di Santa Maria was built to stop the plague that was ripping through the city in the 1600s. The officials promised a church built to honor the Madonna in exchange for her help in stopping the plague. Visiting The Basiclica di Santa Maria is one of the best free things to do in Venice with art and frescoes on display. <\/p>\n The largest collection of Venetian art is housed at the Galleria L\u2019Accademia and no art lover\u2019s trip to Venice would be complete without a visit to one of the most famous art museums in Venice. There is a multitude of permanent exhibitions with art by artists including Bellini, Tiziano, Canaletto, Carpaccio, and Veronese. The main theme is traditional Venetian art with subjects mainly including religion, Venetian life, and portraits of important residents.<\/p>\n Murano is one of the beautiful islands in Venice full of colorful houses and small restaurants lining the waterfront. Although tiny, Murano has gained worldwide fame, as this is the authentic home where Murano glass is made. Murano Glass is one of Venice\u2019s most popular souvenirs, and to be sure you\u2019re buying the real deal, you can get at\u00a0The Museo del Vetro \u2013 Museum of Glass. The museum shows tourists how the process is done and afterward, you can purchase some of the goods if you like. There are even glass blowing classes available if you\u2019d like to learn a bit of the art yourself.<\/p>\n Getting There:<\/strong><\/p>\n The art of glass blowing is one of Venice\u2019s signature crafts. It has been practiced in Venice since the thirteenth century, and in Murano in particular.<\/p>\n Like champagne in France, Murano glass should technically only be sold if it was created in a factory in Murano. There are many, many \u201cfake\u201d Murano pieces available around the world, and even in Venice itself to buy. Shops selling certified Murano glass will have certifications to proudly show you this.<\/p>\n A great day trip in Venice is to visit Burano and Murano together. Burano is known for its brightly colored houses belonging to local fishermen. Make sure to visit the Church of Saint Martin \u2013 Chiesa de San Martino \u2013 Beautiful churches to visit and there\u2019s a leaning bell tower from the 1600s.<\/p>\n For something different on your visit to Venice, a trip to Burano is the lesser-known sister island to Murano. It is a stunning island to stroll around, admiring the facades of the building in one of the top ten most colorful towns in the world. The Burano specialty of Burano is lace making and no visit to Burano would be complete without visiting the Museo del Merletto which showcases lace-making in the area with exhibitions on how it has been made there for centuries.<\/p>\n If you\u2019ve been to Venice before and want to visit somewhere a little different than the usual tourist haunts, you can check out the Isola di San Michele \u2013 the cemetery island of Venice. This is located in the lagoon and has served as the cemetery since the early 1800s. It used to be two islands, which are now joined together. The island is occupied entirely by churches.<\/p>\n Isola di San Michele is dedicated to the dead with their remains interred in high tombs above ground. There are many famous people buried in San Michele such as Russian composer Igor Stravinsky, American Poet Ezra Pound and Austrian physicist Christian Doppler who invented his principle the Doppler effect. Please remember this is a cemetery that is used frequently by locals. Be quiet and respectful as there could be families there grieving and visiting their recently departed loved ones. <\/p>\n On our most recent trip to Italy, we took a private taxi water tour of Venice with Walks of Itay and it was an amazing way to see Venice. After leaving the Grand Canal, our tour ended with a stop at the island of San Giorgio Maggiore where we took an elevator to the top of the bell tower of the church of San Giorgio Maggiore. <\/p>\n Make sure to go here for the most jaw-dropping view of Venice. It\u2019s the spot where postcards are made and as the bells rang, we looked out and admired our 360-degree view of all the islands surrounding the city.<\/p>\n Venice has always been a hub for the arts and still is wonderful place to experience live classical music concerts. The settings for the concerts can often be almost as impressive as the performance as concerts are held in some of Venice\u2019s stunning theatres, old grand palazzos, music school halls, and churches.<\/p>\n Booking online before you go for the Palazzo and Scuola venues is wise as concerts often sell out, especially in summer. However, quite a few of the smaller churches around Venice that don\u2019t have websites do have performances on regularly, so it\u2019s worth keeping an eye out for these as you walk around. You can often find some gems of small authentic performances, which are usually also much lower prices. Or better yet, wander the streets of Venice and get lost while following the sound of music. <\/p>\n La Fenice Opera House is a grand opera house where you can catch a performance but even if you don\u2019t have the time to watch a performance you should make sure to add Teator La Fenice to your Venice Itinerary. The famous Venice opera house has been rebuilt after burning to the ground in 1996. <\/p>\n This skip-the-line ticket lets you admire its sensational avant-garde design while avoiding the crowds. Choose an audio guide in 7 different languages, and explore the secrets of the memorable Teatro La Fenice theatre. Discover the history of the building from its origins to the present day. The most important premiers of international opera take place at the La Fenice, staging more than one hundred opera performances per year.<\/p>\n The Grand Canal is the largest canal that weaves through the main island of Venice. Many of Venice\u2019s most prestigious hotels are located along its banks. There is a glut of restaurants all along the canal, many with price tags higher than the quality of food should allow.<\/p>\n However, right by the Rialto Bridge on the St Mark\u2019s Square side, there are a handful of restaurants with very nice seafood, and reasonably price fixed price \u201ctourist\u201d menus, that actually have good food.<\/p>\n Another way to enjoy the Grand Canal is to simply sit with a coffee by day, or my favorite is to have an Aperol Spritz at the golden hour. This is a great place to watch the sunset as Venice changes from day to night.<\/p>\n The Venice Carnevale has been held for centuries, with it being the most popular carnival in the world in the eighteenth century. The Carnevale takes place in February every year for almost three weeks.<\/p>\n Throughout the festival, there are many grand balls, parties, and gatherings. Many locals spend all year preparing their costumes for it, carefully tending to centuries-old costumes passed down the generations.<\/p>\n Visitors can join in the revelry and can rent or wear locally bought outfits. Beware! jeans will be snorted at! If you\u2019re in Venice while it is on, look up events, dress up and join in! You\u2019ll feel like you\u2019re back in the days of Casanova and the great Palazzos.<\/p>\n Venetian masks were invented in the city and have been used for centuries. Their principal purpose was to protect the wearer\u2019s identity during promiscuous or decadent activities. They re-emerged as the emblem of the Venetian Carnevale.<\/p>\n At a masked ball, servants could be mistaken for lords and vice versa, and people could say their opinions on any topic without fear of retribution.<\/p>\n Commedia dell Arte, and Carnivale masks \u2013\u00a0The Art of Comedy masks represent trades, characters and ethnic traditions from around Italy dating back to the sixteenth century.<\/p>\n Prices vary dramatically depending on quality with plastic factory-made ones starting at about \u20ac6, going up to hundreds of Euros for fancier pieces with more ornate designs and decoration. This would be my top pick of a Venetian souvenir to get.<\/p>\n Venice, like all cities in Italy, is full of beautiful churches. As you stroll around the city, you\u2019ll come across many of them. My advice is to go into any you see that are open and explore.<\/p>\n The strong influence of Roman Catholicism in Italy is prevalent within their walls seeing the sumptuous d\u00e9cor, windows, domes, and art around them. Even the smallest, most modest looking church is intricate and enchanting.<\/p>\n Some of the prettiest lesser-known churches in Venice to look out for are; <\/p>\n If you have several days in Venice, browsing the art museums is a wonderful way to pass some time or avoid crowds when the cruise ships are in. One of the most to-miss art museums in Venice is The\u00a0Peggy Guggenheim Collection. It showcases \u00a0<\/strong>European and American artists of the 20th century are the main show here, and The Peggy Guggenheim Collection is Venice\u2019s most important modern art gallery.\u00a0Opening hours: 10am-6pm daily except closed on Tuesdays.<\/em> <\/p>\n Venice if famous for the Grand Canal and smaller back canals, but the streets are just as impressive. The entire city is a walking city as no cars are allowed. Get lost in the streets while searching for shops and cathedrals. Search for street performers and Venetian Masks. Part of the fun of a visit to Venice is going off the beaten path. <\/p>\n While cruise ships and day tourists will stick near the Grand Canal, you can stay away from the crowds as you walk through the cobblestone streets. <\/p>\n So there are my top things to do in Venice! I hope you enjoyed them and that this helps you find a few more places and experiences to enjoy in the stunning city.<\/p>\n Venice is beguiling and beautiful. It\u2019s light has charmed artists for centuries and I\u2019m sure it will charm you too. To me, this quote about Venice by British poet and critic Arthur Symons sums it up perfectly:<\/p>\n \u201cA realist, in Venice, would become a romantic by mere faithfulness to what he saw before him.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\nTop Things to do in Venice, Italy<\/h2>\n
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1. St. Mark\u2019s Square <\/h2>\n
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2. Doge\u2019s Palace<\/h2>\n
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3.\u00a0St Mark\u2019s Basilica <\/h2>\n
Tips for visiting St Mark\u2019s\u00a0Basilica<\/h3>\n
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4. Campanile di San Marco<\/h2>\n
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5. The Rialto Bridge (Ponte di Rialto)<\/h2>\n
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6. Mercato di Rialto (Rialto Market)<\/h2>\n
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7. Take a Gondola Ride<\/h2>\n
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8. Tour the Grand Canal by Vaporetto<\/h2>\n
Private Vaporetto tour<\/h3>\n
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9. The Bridge of Sighs<\/h2>\n
10. basilica di santa maria<\/h2>\n
11. Galleria L\u2019Accademia<\/h2>\n
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12. Murano<\/h2>\n
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Murano Glass<\/h3>\n
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13. Burano<\/h2>\n
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14. Isola di San Michele \u2013 The Cemetery Island<\/h2>\n
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Other Venice Churches to visit:<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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15. San Giorgio Maggiore<\/h2>\n
16. Classical Concerts<\/h2>\n
Teatro La Fenice<\/h2>\n
17. Wine or dine along Grand Canal<\/h2>\n
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18. Venetian Carnivale<\/h2>\n
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19. Venetian Masks<\/h2>\n
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20. Venice Churches<\/h2>\n
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21. Venice Italy Art Museums<\/h2>\n
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22. Get Lost in the Streets<\/h2>\n
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