The Campanile and other Venice, Italy General Tips

Favorite Thing: Good news, there is an elevator to the top of the Campanile. The views of Venice from there are awesome and on a clear day you can see the Alps. The first tower was completed in 1173 and was built as a lighthouse. In the Middle Ages it was used as a prison and some prisoners were left to die hanging in a cage from the Tower.
In 1902 it's foundations gave way and the tower collapsed. The new tower was built from donations and was opened on April 25, 1912 on the Feast of St. Mark's day.


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Favorite Thing: Rialto Bridge is in the commercial and one of the oldest and busiest areas of Venice. The bridge was completed in 1588 and became the only way of crossing the Grand Canal until the Academia Bridge was built in 1854. The three-lane bridge has shops in the center lane where you can buy linens, Murano glass and other tourist items. You actually use up and down stairs to traverse the bridge. It’s a great spot to take your photos of the Grand Canal and at night it’s a great spot to see the twinkling lights of the city.


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Favorite Thing: At the beginning of the 9th century, the Venetians built their Ducal castle and later their Basilica, the piazza was much smaller, squeezed between the facade of the church and a canal, At the end of the 12th century, the church of St. Mark’s was enlarged, the Ducal Palace was turned into a "palacio".


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Favorite Thing: There many islands to explore, not just the main island that most people visit.

Fondest Memory: The boat ride to Murano to see the glass factory. I visited the factory there on my first trip, but now the factory has moved to the main island of Venice due to the rising water.

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Favorite Thing: This magnificent piece of architecture dates back to 1420. It ws built by a wealthy patrician who hoped it would be the most outstanding palace of Venice. This gothic structure was adorned with gold leaf, vermillion and ultramarine. At one time it was left derelict, but was rescued Franchetti a patron of the arts and it was he who filled this palace with the beautiful art you can see today.


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Favorite Thing: Burano is another island to explore.

Fondest Memory: Burano is one of my favorite islands, I love the colorful houses and miniture canals and bridges. You can read and see more about Burano on my Burano page.

Look for the sign in the picture near St. Mark's Square - these are the boats that go to Burano.

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Favorite Thing: The Ducal Palace was built in the 9th century and was the residence of the Doge (chief magistrates) until the fall of the Venetian Republic in I797. It was a public palace and the seat of the administration of justice - the highest and richest symbol of Venetian civilization. The 15th century staircase of this pink Veronese marble palace is crowned with statues of Mars and Neptune, symbols of Venice's power. I thought the most impressive work of art was the vast meeting hall with Tintoretto's huge Paradise that fills the end wall. The ceiling is also a work of art.

You should visit the torture chamber that is open to the public and connects to the Bridge of Sighs.


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Favorite Thing: This floating apparition is actually a small island where you will find an church and monastery completed in 1580 and considered one of Andrea Palladio's greatest architectural achievements. There are two fine paintings there, "The Last Supper" and "The Gathering of the Manna". The monastery is now a cultural center dedicated to international exhibitions.
There is a great view from the campanile of the city and lagoon.


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Favorite Thing: The way to really see the treasures of the Grand Canal is by a Vaporetta (water bus). The main Actv lines are: no. 1, which sails from Piazzale Roma to Lido with lots of stops on the way; it is very slow (it takes half an hour from start to finish).

There are two circular routes, nos. 41(anticlockwise) and 42 (clockwise) which travel around the whole of the city from San Zaccaria to Piazzale Roma via Giudecca, Cimitero and Murano. There are also nos. 51 and 52: they travel as far as Lido with fewer stops; the 82 also leaves from Lido to Rialto and finally arrives at San Zaccaria stopping at Giudecca, Piazzale Roma, Tronchetto and Ferrovia.

I'm sure those directions are quite confusing, I will try to find a map which shows the routes, that would be much easier to follow.


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Favorite Thing: Condemned prisoners crossed this bridge to and from the Palazzo Ducal, because they never knew if they would see Venice again.


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