Venice in a Day... and other Venice, Italy Things to Do Tips

Grand Canal from Vaporetto #1

Well, I�m sorry you only have one day, but that�s better than none. Good news is you can easily do you're own, inexpensive tour of the city, including a boat ride along the Grand Canal.

You're probably arriving at the train station (or nearby Piazzale Roma), so hop on the public boat system (Vaporetto), stop Ferovia, which is directly in front of the Station. Take it all the way up the Grand Canal and get off at San Marco. Buy your ticket right at the stop. Take the local Line going the slowest making all the stops, so you can see everything; 6 Euro for 60 minutes, you can get on and off if you like. This trip is about 45 minutes. Depending on the type of boat, sit/stand in the outside area in the back or sides, for the best views. The photo is from this Boat.

Off of the boat now, the major sites you don't want to miss are around San Marco, (the Piazza, Basilica, Doge's palace, bridge of sighs, Museum Correr are all right here) and Rialto bridge area/markets. From San Marco you can walk easily to Rialto, which is on the way back to the train station.

From Rialto, make your way back to the station continuing on foot: Either through S. Polo & S. Croce districts, stoping at Campo S. Polo and/or Frari Church. Or, make your way back through Cannaregio district & the Jewish Ghetto.

(Or do it in reverse.. i.e. walk from station, Rialto, San Marco, and take the boat back. I like the idea of taking the boat first because #1: it gives you a good feel for the layout of the city before you start the day and #2: if you are catching a train at the end of the day, better to be on foot and in control of your destiny then dependant on the water bus that may be full, behind schedule..)

*FYI, the water bus line 82 goes the same route but makes only a few stops and cuts the time in 1/2, about 20 minutes San Marco to the station.

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Piazza San Marco (and around): Piazza San Marco

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Written by rubbersoul75

on Aug 30, 2006

Piazza

by rubbersoul75 , 1 more photos

There is only one Piazza in Venice, San Marco. Any other open square in this city is not allowed this title, and is simply called a Campo. Piazza San Marco is perhaps the most dramatic and famous Piazza in the world. It has always been the focal gathering place for all Venetians, rich and poor alike. Now, thousands of tourists fill that role every day.

Easily a day could be spent in the Piazza and it�s immediate surroundings, which include:

- Venice�s Basilica San Marco, with rich and lavish art inside and out
- The world class Museo Correr
- Campanile Which towers over the square
- The beautiful and mechanically genius Torre del�Orologio (Clock Tower)
- The Doges Palace, a museum in itself
- The Bridge of Sighs
- The famous Caf� Florian

Any time of year, there will be follow tourists flooding in the piazza to see these sites. If you can visit early in the morning, you may have the Piazza to yourself (and a few pigeons), magic.

Cool video clip of the Piazza-

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Palazzo Ducale (visit inside): Doges Palace, Pallazo Ducale

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Updated by rubbersoul75

on Sep 5, 2006

pallazale Ducale

by rubbersoul75 , 1 more photos

From here, the vast Venetian republic was ruled. The grandeur of the building seems to express the former power and prosperity the Republic. The pink and white marble that make up the exterior, and the gothic/renaissance/Venetian architecture give the Palace a demanding presence over the piazza and water. Clearly impressive to those travelers, tradesmen, or diplomats seeing this as one of their first shots of the city when arriving by boat.

This is where the Doge, ruler of Venice, lived. Much more than that, the Doges Palace is where the republics laws and decisions where made, where �the great Council� met, where prisoners were judged, and much more.

A tour of the palace will get you inside which is a museum in itself, an exercise in excessive ornamentation, with numerous works of art by Venice�s top artists. The �Secret itinerary� tour takes you through hidden passageways and into the Doges secret apartments and torture chamber. (the tours are about 14 euro)

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Piazza San Marco & Campanile (and views): Campanile (bell tower) of San Marco

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Updated by rubbersoul75

on Sep 5, 2006

Venice Piazza San Marco & Campanile (and views)

the tower

by rubbersoul75 , 1 more photos

This massive bell tower is not to old, it was completed on 25 April 1912, exactly 1,000 after the original stone was placed to build the original tower. In 1902, that original tower collapsed (see the 2nd photo, no I did not take that one).

This one was built to the same specifications as the original, despite many Venetians who thought the piazza looked better without this monster Tower. Well, most of the funds to build it came from outside donations anyway so they don�t have much to complain about.

Needless to say, a trip to the top will give you amazing views of the city, and on a clear day, the alps to the north.

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Piazza San Marco (and around): Torre dell'Orologio

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Updated by rubbersoul75

on Sep 5, 2006

the clock tower

This tower and clock lead through to the Merceria, the main path leading into the Piazza. Begun in 1496, the architecture of the tower and mechanics of the clock are both amazing examples of art and craftsmanship of the time.

The clock, besides displaying the time, also shows the phases of the sun and moon and the movement of the sun through the signs of the zodiac.

The bell at the top is struck every hour by 2 bronze moors, cast in 1497. If you�re here on January 6th, you should see the 3 Kings appear from the doors on the side.

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Bridges: Ponte dei Sospiri (bridge of sighs): Bridge of Sighs (ponte dei Sospiri)

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Written by rubbersoul75

on Jun 16, 2006

Venice Bridges: Ponte dei Sospiri (bridge of sighs)

Probably the 2nd most popular bridge in Venice, behind the Rialto. You wouldn�t want to be walking this bridge a few hundred years ago- it links the Judges rooms of the Doges palace, to the Prison.

Condemned prisoners would cross the bridge and �sigh� as they took in their last views of Venice from the bridges windows. You can cross the bridge with the tour of Doges Palace.

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Directions: connect the Doges Palace and the Prison

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Bridges: Ponte dei Sospiri (bridge of sighs): Ponte della Paglia

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Written by rubbersoul75

on Jun 16, 2006

Doges palace on the left

This photo was taken from the Vapporetto. You can see the Ponte della Paglia, with the Bridge of Sighs behind it.

Originally built in 1360, the current one was constructed in the mid 1800�s.
From the Ponte della Paglia you�ve got a nice view of the bridge of Sighs on one side, and the waters of the lagoon & San Giorgio Maggiore on the other.

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Directions: on the main promenade at the waters in front of the Doges Palace

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Churches: Santa Maria Della Salute (La Salute)

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Updated by rubbersoul75

on Mar 19, 2007

from a gondola at san marco

by rubbersoul75 , 2 more photos

The church stands on and is supported by over 1 million timber piles. Started in 1630, to commemorate Venices deliverance from the Plague that ended that year, the church was not completed until 1687.
This building is one of the cities most prominent due to it's location at the entrance of the grand canal. Inside are a number of Titians early works, though some can not be seen as they are beyond the alter where visitors can not access.

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Address: (except St Marks)
Directions: Dorsoduro District

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Churches: San Giorgio Maggiore - A Palladio Creation

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Written by rubbersoul75

on Jun 2, 2006

from the cruise ship-

Begun in 1665, and commisioned by the Benedictines. Typical of Palladio, the design is classic and symetrical. Interior is very clean and spacious and holds 3 works by Tintoretto: The Last Supper, Gathering of the Manna and his final work, finished by his son, The Deposition.
Due to it's location across the Gradn canal from San Marco, the bell tower affords wonderful views of Venezia.

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Address: (except St Marks)
Directions: Island of San Giorgio Maggiore

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Bridges (excl. Rialto & Sospiri): Accademia Bridge

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Written by rubbersoul75

on Jun 16, 2006