A dark church. and other Venice, Italy Things to Do Tips

Having been to all the magnificent churches in Rome a month before we were disappointed in the inside of St Marks Basilica.

The inside is small, dark and to see anything extra inside you have to pay extra, ie the Pala doro which is the 10th century gold altar piece.

You are not allowed to take bags inside and have to deposit them in a cloakroom in nearby street to left of entrance. ( this is free )
You also cannot take photographs inside the church, but yet you can in all the Roman churches, seems strange inconsistancy.

The outside is much more impressive with the 17th century mosaics.

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Address: San Marco
Directions: No directions needed signs all over Venice to San marco.

The Secret Itinerary at the Doges palace was for me the highlight of the visit to the Palace.

This is the tour that takes you into the parts of the palace that normal visitors fo not see.
It is conducted with a tour guide, ours was a very knowledgeable young lady.

You basically access all the secret parts where the records where kept and the parts of the palace where secret prisoners were kept. This included Casanova and the guide tells an interesting story as to how Casanova escaped.

Sadly no photos were allowed to be taken in this part of the palace.

Once you finish this tour you are then free to see the rest of the Palace as all other visitors do, and at no extra cost.
So at 15 Euros including on line booking fee this is great value.

I would suggest that you book on line prior to your visit especially if its main tourist time.
Only do this durin Itlaian working hours for the payment part of the booking to work properly which means you get your confirmation email.

The tours take a maximum 25 persons and are as below -

Italian 9.30; 11.10
English: 9.55 10.45; 11.35
French 10.20; 12.00; 12.25

The website I used is below.

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Address: Doges Palace., you cant miss it.
Directions: Next to St Marks square.
Website: http://www.museiciviciveneziani.it/frame.asp?sezione=biglietti

Having done the secret itinerary ( see other tip) we continued with the rest of the palace.

The current palace is of 14th and 15th century build. The tour will take you through the courtyard up the Scala doro which is a staircase built between 1554 and 1558 with embellished stucco guilded ceiling.

The highlights include the state apartments and the great council rooms, one of which is the Sala del Maggior Consiglio, the hall of the Great Council.
I believe this room is one of the largest rooms in Europe and is magnificent.
Take a rest around the edge seats ans take a few moments to take it all in.

You then continue onto the bridge of sighs and the prisons this links.

All in all a very worthwhile and interesting visit.

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The bridge of sighs links the Doges palace with the prisons and was built in 1600 and takes its name by tradition from the lamentations of the prisoners as they were led off to the cells.

Access to the bridge internally is by the Doges Palace tour, but externally its viewed from the Ponte della Paglia located on the promenade of Riva degli Schiavoni.

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Directions: From the San zaccaria Vaporetto stop its to your left, you wont miss it. Theres always crowds taking pics.

Part of the Doges palace entrance will give you acces to the prison area across the bridge of sighs.

See my secret itinerary tip to see the more plush cells as used by prisoners such as cassonova.

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Address: Doges palace

If you have time go up the Campanile tower which is just off St marks square.

Its open Oct-easter 9.30am - 3.45pm daily and Easter-Sept 9am-7pm daily.
It cost us 6 Euros each and you go up by lift which holds upto 14 persons.

If you get to the top on the hour be aware of the ringing of the bells in the tower.

The views are fantastic and I have attached a few.

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Directions: St marks Square.

I could travel up and down the Grand canal all day.

Just buy a tourist pass for the Vaporrettos and you can experience the pleasure of cruising past all the canal side palaces as many times as you like.

For a slower journey use the Number 1 waterbus route.

Details on my transport section.

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The Rialto bridge in its current stone form was built between 1588 and 1591 an remained until 1854 the only means of crossing the Grand Canal by foot.

The bridge today is lined on both sides by little shops selling souvenirs, Murano glass and jewellery.

On the San Polo side of the bridge the walkway continues with side shops continuing this theme.

Its definatelt an icon of Venice and must be seen. The Rialto waterbus stop is right next to it and to walk from St marks square would take about 5 minutes (plus of course shopping time !)

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San Giorgio Maggiore is located on the island across the canal from San Marco square.

Built between 1559 and 1580 by architect Andrea Palladio.

I would reccommend a visit in order to get a different aspect on the rest of Venice and to see the ornately carved choir stalls.

The church contains two works of art by Tintoretto - The gathering of Manna and The last supper.

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Directions: take the 82 Vaporetto from Zaccaria.

Opening times - 9.30am - 12.30pm
2.30pm - 5pm.

This to me is the most impressive sight in venice. Travelling down Grand Canal towards the Santa Maria della Salute.

This church is located in the Dorsoduro area at the mouth of the Grand canal.

It was built for thanksgiving for the cities deliverance from the plague in 1630.

On the 21st of November each year the Festa della salute takes place where locals light candles and cross an erected pontoon bridge across the canal to give thanks for a years goods health.

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Address: Tip of Dorsoduro district
Directions: Vaporetto 1 stops in front of the church at stop salute.