Venice Things to Do Tips by MM212

Palazzo Barbarigo Canal Grande Review

Famous for the Murano glass mosaics covering its Grand Canal façade, Palazzo Barbarigo is one of the most unique in Venice. It was built in the 16th century, but its façade was not covered in mosaics until the 19th century. The owners of Palazzo Barbarigo had the mosaics custom made at their family's very own glass factory on Murano Island.

NOTE: the Palazzo Barbarigo I describe is NOT the same as the hotel with the same name. For information about the hotel, go to their website at: www.palazzobarbarigo.it.

Address: Grand Canal - DORSODURO

Interior of the Doge's Palace Doge's Palace Review

Part of the Fondazione Musei Civici di Venezia, the Palazzo Ducale is a museum open to visitors. A tour of the Palazzo is essential for understanding the history of Venice, its art, and how the Republic functioned. The interior of the palazzo is made up of a spacious courtyard, il Cortile, surrounded by various wings of the palace, which contained the Doge's residence, the seat of the government, its courtrooms, and the infamous prisons, all of which were expanded and renovated over the centuries in various architectural styles. The most important items to be admired are: 1- il Cortile, the courtyard, its Renaissance east façade, and its 17th century white marble north façade (see photo); 2- la Scala dei Giganti, the majestic 15th century staircase, designed by Antonio Rizzo and topped by two giant statues of Mars and Neptune by Jacopo Sansovino (see attached photo); 3- la Scala d'Oro, the "stairway of gold" and its incredibly ornate ceiling (see photo); 4- The chambers of the Palazzo, in particular, la Sala del Maggior Consiglio, which contains the world's largest painting, "Paradise" by Tintoretto. Note that photography within the palazzo is strictly forbidden, so I do not have any photos of the actual interior to share.

Address: Piazza San Marco

Palazzo Ducale Doge's Palace Review

The seat of the government and the Doge's residence during the history of the Republic of Venice, il Palazzo Ducale is a masterpiece of Venetian Gothic architecture. The existing structure was begun in the 12th century, built as a replacement to a 9th century castle that was destroyed in a fire, but it took centuries of expansions and renovations to achieve this unique style that is definitively Venetian, yet somehow, with its geometric patterns, echoes Oriental/Islamic influences. The façade, made from pink marble and white Istrian stone, resting on the length of the gotico fiorito veranda and arcaded portico, seems almost upside down. Over the years, each of Venice's most talented artist and architects has worked on decorating or enlarging the palazzo, which was intended both to impress and intimidate visitors. Nowadays, the Doge's Palace is open as a museum, which not only boasts some of the world's most impressive ceiling and wall paintings, but also takes the visitor across the Bridge of Sighs and into the ruthless underworld of Venetian prisons.

For more photos of this architectural fantasy, check out the travelogue: "il Palazzo Ducale.

Address: Piazza San Marco - SAN MARCO

Basilica di San Marco Basilica di San Marco Review

Venice's most magnificent edifice, la Basilica di San Marco is a fairy-tale like monument. Its unique architectural style, exhibiting undeniable Eastern influences, is a testament to the strong relationship between Venice and both the Eastern Roman (Byzantine) Empire and the Near East alike. The cathedral church of Venice traces its roots to the 9th century when an earlier small chapel was built to house the relics of San Marco (Saint Mark). According to legend, Venetian merchants had "rescued" (i.e., stole) his relics from Saint Mark's Cathedral in Alexandria, Egypt in 828 AD, and wrapped them in pork to evade Moslem guards (the smuggling is recorded in a mosaic on the façade - see the travelogue for a photo). When his relics arrived in Venice, Saint Mark replaced Saint Theodore as the patron saint of the city and the Basilica was born. Construction of the existing structure commenced in the 11th century, but it took centuries of enrichments and expansions, tapping into the wealth of the Republic, to bring it to its current flamboyant form. Through trade, Crusader invasions and other contacts with the eastern Mediterranean, Venetian ships brought back both architectural ideas and ancient materials and treasures to embellish the Basilica. The treasures, often older than Venice itself were incorporated into the edifice. The result was this fantastic Basilica, with onion domes and mosaic decorations, reminiscent of Eastern/Byzantine churches, mixed with Venetian Gothic details, an architectural jewel unlike any cathedral in the Christian world. For more photos, please check out the travelogue Basilica di San Marco.

Address: Piazza San Marco - SAN MARCO

Palazzo Venier dei Leoni / Guggenheim Collection Peggy Guggenheim Museum Review

One of the oddest looking of the Grand Canal's palaces, il Palazzo Venier dei Leoni was in fact never completed. It was commissioned in 1749 by Nicolò Venier and designed by Lorenzo Boschetti, who also worked on la Chiesa di San Bárnaba, but financial troubles led Venier to halt the construction. As a result, we were left with a truncated single-floor palazzo, which would have been a grand Neoclassical building had the project been completed. In 1949, Peggy Guggenheim acquired the partial palazzo for her personal use and soon placed here collection of modern art in it for public viewing. Before she died in 1979, she donated the palazzo and her collection to the Solomon Guggenheim Foundation which has since continued to run it as a museum. In April 2009, I visited the museum and the peaceful gardens. While the collection was beautiful and included important names, it was not as extraordinary nor as large as I had imagined. Though I do not regret visiting, I found the Peggy Guggenheim Collection somewhat ordinary, so if you are short on time or have to choose, I would suggest skipping this museum.

Note: Photography is strictly forbidden inside the museum, so I have no photos to share.

Address: Grand Canal - DORSODURO 701

Website: http://www.guggenheim-venice.it

Ca' Vendramin Calergi Canal Grande Review

Considered one of the most beautiful Renaissance-style palazzi in Venice, Ca' Vendramin Calergi was designed by the architect Mauro Codussi and completed in 1509. It was commissioned by the Loredan family, but was sold and changed hands numerous times in the following centuries. Among them are the Vendramin-Calergi families whose names remained attached to the palazzo. Nowadays it serves as il Casinó municipale di Venezia. It is overlooking the Grand Canal in the Cannaregio sestiere.

Address: Grand Canal, Cannaregio 2079

Website: http://www.vendramincalergi.com

Ca' Da Mosto Canal Grande Review

One of Venice's oldest surviving palazzi, Ca' Da Mosto was built in the 13th century by the Da Mosto family. Originally, the palazzo was composed of two floors, the canal level and the piano nobile, both of which have conserved the Veneto-Byzantine arches which were typical for that period. During a later-period restoration, the two top floors were added, and between the 16th and 18th centuries, the building was converted into what became Venice's most famous hotel, l'Albergo Leon Bianco. The palace is currently empty awaiting restoration.

Address: Grand Canal

Palazzo dei Camerlenghi Canal Grande Review

This unique Renaissance style palace, Palazzo dei Camerlenghi, lies adjacent to Ponte di Rialto, right on the Grand Canal. It was built in 1528 by the architect Giuglielmo dei Grigi as the seat of the Camerlenghi, the magistrates running the Venetian Treasury. Unusual for Venice, the edifice is detached from other buildings and follows an octagonal plan with not a single façade, but a decorated exterior that follows the length of the building. At the time of its construction, the palazzo was covered in coloured decorations, much of which has faded over time. The interior of the palace once possessed some of Venice's richest collection of artwork, which was removed during the Napoleonic occupation. Only some of this artwork was returned to Venice, though placed in buildings and museums other than its original home. Nowadays, il Palazzo dei Camerlenghi serves as a government building.

Address: Grand Canal - SAN POLO

la Chiesa di San Gregorio Churches Review

First built in the 9th century AD, la Chiesa di San Gregorio became a Benedictine abbey in the 12th century. The church was rebuilt in the 15th century in the elegant Venetian-Gothic form we see today, as designed by the architect, Antonio da Cremona. Following the Napoleonic suppression, the church was deconsecrated and later served as workshop for art restoration. Nowadays, the church remains closed and unused. It is located in Dorsoduro with its apse facing the Baroque church of Santa Maria della Salute.

Address: DORSODURO

Directions: Next to Santa Maria della Salute

Palazzo Falier Canossa Canal Grande Review

Overlooking the Grand Canal, this somewhat modest palazzo was built in the 14th century. Its distinctive features are the two side wings extending from the main palazzo to the Canal, which are original, despite an early 20th century restoration. The piano nobile (main floor) of the palazzo contains a loggia made of a row of Venetian Gothic arches over Corinthian columns. Palazzo Falier Canossa is still a private residence to this day.

Address: Grand Canal - SAN MARCO 2914