St Marks and other Venice, Italy Things to Do Tips

The third church to stand on this site, this version is amazingly by an unknown architect. It is perhaps one of the most famous structures in the world, although much has been added in the preceded centuries of the original 11th century building. Also amazingly, until it succeeded San Pietro as the cathedral of Venice, it was the Doge's private chapel for State ceremonies.

The superb exterior of the central doorway and dome. It's a real hotch-potch of additions - the lower dome being 13th century, the statues 15th century and the mosaics 17th century.

Stunning Byzantine style interior, but which in reality is a real blend of eastern and western style influences. There's no one particular dominant period - the interior was in a constant state of flux over centuries of additions and changes - but the respect to the Byzantine 'feel' of gold-leaf and mosaics are obviously very dominant.

Above the main entrance is this relief (4th image) - an image of the original Byzantine Church

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One of the most picturesque and photographed thoroughfares in the world - the Canalazzo or Grand Canal. It follows the route of an ancient river bed and its a roll-call of the Venetian Republic - stunning palazzos line the route bearing the names of the great families linked to the history of the city. It's the main thoroughfare of modern Venice, although surprisingly it is spanned by only three bridges.

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A huge edifice founded in the 13th century by the Franciscans (the name Frari is a corruption of the word Frati or brothers), the present building is 15th century. It is enormous, with the Campanile the 2nd largest in Venice (after St Marks). In addition to its sheer size, the Frari (as it is more simply known) is known for the quality of its art - including Titian, Bellini & Donatello - as well as any number of imposing monuments to famed Venetians.

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Address: Campo dei Frari
Directions: San Polo district of the city

Opposite Ca'D'Oro on the Grand Canal is the Rialto markets, a collective name for Pescheria (a busy fish market that has been here for more than 600 years) and Erberia (fruit & veg). The fish market itself now takes place in the 1907 neo-Gothic hall, but the surrounding streets are a confusion of vegetable stalls and noise. Or at least until around noon - the vendors start to pack up around then.

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Directions: Santa Croce area, a little furtehr along the Grand Canal from the Rialto Bridge.

Designed by Palladio, built between 1559-80, San Giorgio Maggiore is a prominent part of Venice even though many people do not visit it. This is because it is to be found on its own small island facing the Doge's Palace across the Bacino di San Marco and visits are by appointment only.

Its certainly split opinions - Ruskin described it, among others as ' a design more gross, more barbarous, more childish in conception..', while Goethe thanked Palladio for purging his mind of medieval clutter! It has a checkered history - a Benedictine monastery, rebuilt in the 13th century following an earthquake. It fell into disrepair on the demise of the Venetian Republic, became a Free Port in 1829 and then, in 1851, the HQ of the artillery. It was privately bought in 1951 and reverted back to a centre of learning.

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Parked along the Riva degli Schiavoni outside the Doge's Palace - any number of gondolas and the perfect photo opportunity. or pick up the Operatic Gondola, where you will be serenaded... As long s your budget stretches this far, of course... :)

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One of the most imposing of all the buildings in Venice - as much to do with its location at the mouth of the Grand Canal on the opposite bank from the Doge's Palace. Built in 1630 in celebration of the delivery of the city from the Plague, from the outside this Baroque edifice is all scrolls, buttresses, domes and statues. The interior is, meanwhile, remarkably restrained.

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Tallest building in Venice and it provides fantastic views across the city and lagoon. The current building was built in 1912, replacing the original that collapsed in 1902 (amazingly only the custodian's cat was the only casualty of the sudden collapse). Thankfully, a lift was installed in the 1960s. Galileo demonstrated his telescope to the Doge im 1609 in the original Campanile.

You can, on a clear day, see as far as the peaks of the Italian Alps from the top. Get there early - the lift holds 14 people. Its a slow process to the top if you time it wrong. (Sunday morning is a good time).

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Palazzo Venier dei Leoni, known as Il Palazzo Nonfinito as the planned 4 storey palazzo never went beyond the ground floor level, was purchased by Peggy Guggenheim in 1949. It is a superb celebration of 20th century art and something of a welcome change from the stunning Renaissance art to be found in the rest of the city! :) You name him/her from the last 100 years of the world of art, and chances are that they'll be represented here. Picasso, Pollack, Ernst, Chirico, Magritte etc etc etc.. And if that's not enough, there's the wonderful terrace of sculpture (including the controversial 'Angelo dell Citta' by Marino Marini) and the stunning views of the Grand Canal to be had.

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The powerhouse of the Venetian Republic, sitting aside San Marco and across at the opening of the Grand Canal. It's been here since the 9th century, but what was a fortified castle is now a stunning 14th/15th century palazzo, its facade surfaced in the pink marble of Verona.

The facade is relatively 'plain' (stress on relatively...), but once inside any semblance of restraint goes out the window. It's an extrordinary place of excess, and totally confusing when walking round.

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