%cb%fa%s5The Rialto Bridge%c*%f*%s* and other Venice, Italy Things to Do Tips

The Rialto Bridge

In these must see activities, I want to give you a quick overview what Venice has to offer. Hmmm... not claiming though that you should limit your visit to only these points. My favourite part was just getting lost in Venice, and take in the atmosphere of the town. It is hard to describe that feeling in one overview tip, so I am not adding that in this section. But when you have read my 'general tips' you probably get a feel of what I mean.

The first 'must see activity should be the Ponte di Rialto (Rialto Bridge)

You can't go to Venice, without seeing the Rialto Bridge. Hahaha, that was the case for me anyway. Somehow I always ended up somewhere close to the Rialto Bridge. It is a very busy tourist area, for me not the best part of Venice, but still great though to see this world famous bridge.

The bridge was built in just three years, between 1588 and 1591, as a permanent replacement for the boat bridge and three wooden bridges that had spanned the Grand Canal at various times since the 12th Century. It remained the only way to cross the Grand Canal on foot until the Accademia Bridge was built in 1854.
The Rialto Bridge's 24-foot arch was designed to allow passage of galleys, and the massive structure was built on some 12,000 wooden pilings that still support the bridge more than 400 years later.
The bridge has three walkways: two along the outer balustrades, and a wider central walkway leading between two rows of small shops. The picture of the walkway is in 'my general tips'

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San Marco and Piazza: The Piazza San Marco

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Updated by sim1

on Oct 10, 2002

The Piazza San Marco, or St. Mark's Square, is undoubtedly the most popular tourist destination in Venice. And it is beautiful!!! We were here in November, and I don't think it is a bad time to travel to Venice. The weather may not be so good (it wasn't so very warm), but we did have sunshine once in a while. But the big advantage is that there are not a lot of tourists around, and we had the square almost to ourselves. It was great to walk around here and take in the sights. In my cultural tips I want to show you much more of this famous square, and of course of the Basilica di San Marco.

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Bridges: Bridge of Sighs

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Updated by sim1

on Feb 17, 2008

The bridge Ponte dei Sospiri /

Bridge of Sighs

The bridge that speaks to the imagination..... The name 'Bridge of Sighs' was invented in the 19th Century, when Lord Byron helped to popularize the belief that the bridge's name was inspired by the sighs of condemned prisoners as they were led through it to the executioner. (In reality, the days of inquisitions and summary executions were over by the time the bridge was built, and the cells under the palace roof were occupied mostly by small-time criminals.)

Photo: The bridge Ponte dei Sospiri (Bridge of Sighs) from Ponte della Paglia.

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Canal Grande: Ca' d'Oro

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Updated by sim1

on Oct 10, 2002

Ca' d'Oro

The Ca' d'Oro is one of the most beautiful private houses on the Canale Grande. You will find it near the Santa Sofia ferry point and it can only be viewed from the water.

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Canal Grande: Ornate Palace

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Updated by sim1

on Jan 11, 2004

Ornate Palace

Another of those beautiful houses on the Canal Grande : Ornate Palace. The decorations are amazing to see. And maybe the most amazing thing is that these are just a few of the beautiful buildings I saw at the Canal Grande, there are many more of these treasures to be seen.

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Gondolas: The gondola

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Updated by sim1

on Oct 10, 2002

Gondola

The gondola.... mmmmm, what is Venice without it! Yes it is a must see, but I am not sure if you should take one. But it is hard for me to judge on that, because I didn't go on a gondola ride. It feels to me as a tourist trap... hahaha, and that is why you can see much more gondola photos on my 'tourist trap' section.

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Canal Grande: The Canal Grande

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Updated by sim1

on Jan 11, 2004

View over the Canal Grande from the

Rialto Bridge

by sim1 , 1 more photos

The Canal Grande... I already mentioned this in my general tips. It is the main waterway through the centre of Venice. The place where you can see the most beautiful palazzo's on either side of the water. And absolute must see! A good way to do that is by taking vaporetto number 1. Try also to go with this vaporetto at night, when the lights are on inside the houses. Sometimes you can have a peak inside and see the amazing interior.

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Islands of the Lagoon: Burano.... my favourite place

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Updated by sim1

on Jan 11, 2004

Burano

by sim1 , 3 more photos

Burano..... my favourite place of Venice!!! So beautiful! And the colours are just amazing! Burano is a little island in the Venice archipelago. It is a lazy fishing village. And when you go there on a sunny day as I did.... wow, you won't believe your eyes! I loved it here! You can take a look at my off the beaten path section to see much more photos of Burano.

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Canal Grande: Venice by night

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Updated by sim1

on Jan 11, 2004

Venice by night, S Giorgio Maggiore