Top tourist attractions in Venice

San Marco Area

When visiting Venice, the first place you’re more likely to start your tour is the most iconic and famous sight: Piazza San Marco. This great square overlooking the sea is the heart of the city, as well as one of the most renowned squares in the world for its architectural majesty and integrity: in the past, Napoleon called it “Europe’s Drawing Room”. Day or night, summer or winter, all tourists usually agree that this square is literally enchanting. Buildings around its perimeter are equally important: opposite the sea, you will find the outstanding Basilica di San Marco. Dating back to 1063, it has been the palatine church for the Serenissima Republic of Venice until the decadence of this reign. The building is magnificent in structure, but the interior is just as incredible: they’re a triumph of refined decorations and golden mosaics, a perfect display of the Venetian Byzantine style. San Marco square also hosts its homonym bell tower, which measures almost 100m in height and is the ideal place to visit if you’re addicted to amazing views : a breathtaking panoramic view is guaranteed.

While you stroll through Piazza San Marco, take the time to also visit  the Doge’s Palace museums. At first sight, you will be impressed by the size of the building and the finesse of its architecture. This astonishing palace, iconic symbol of Venice, was built after 812 and it has collapsed more than once-.  This has also made it go through many restoration processes throughout the whole period of the Serenissima Republic, in line with its splendors and decline. From when Venice was annexed to the reign of Italy, it was converted to a museum, and  today hosts amazing artworks by Tintoretto – his Paradise is the largest oil painting in the world –, Veronese and many others that, together with the lavish interiors of the building, will leave you breathless. The Doge’s Palace is connected to the Prisons via the famous and iconic Ponte dei Sospiri (The Bridge of Sighs), that you can enjoy either externally or internally – the latter only with a private tour. The name comes from thelegend that prisoners, crossing this bridge to reach the prisons, literally sighed as it was their last time seeing the outside world.

Ponte di Rialto and Canal Grande

And talking about bridges, we’ve not forgotten the most famous and characteristic one, symbol of Venice par excellence: the Rialto Bridge. Together with three other bridges – Ponte dell’Accademia, Ponte degli Scalzi and Ponte della Costituzione – it crosses the Canal Grande and is the preferred spot by tourists for pictures. It was built in 1588, after the collapse of a previous wooden bridge that marked the spot of the island’s first settlement and allowed commercial trades to flourish. It is for this reason that over time it has been increasingly recognized as the symbol of the power, trading and richness of Venice. These same values are predominant all over the iconic canal it crosses, the Canal Grande: rows of majestic palaces still perch proudly on its banks; further proof of the power it represented. This Grand Canal, with its 3.8km in length,  literally cuts the island of Venice in two, in a characteristic “S” shape, and was (and still is) the address of choice of anyone who claimed any influence in Venice. The grand palaces are still well preserved today, and to best enjoy them, a trip down the Canal by vaporetto is recommended; even better, enjoy it at dusk with a romantic Gondola ride.

Other cultural attractions

In addition to the Doge’s Palace and museums of Piazza San Marco, Venice boasts other museums that make it an important hub for arts and culture. On the other side of Canal Grande, in the Dorsoduro district, there are three art museums definitely worth a visit. Just in front of the Ponte dell’Accademia, across the Canal Grande, there are the Gallerie dell’Accademia. The building is already a treasure in itself, and is home to the best collection of Venetian works of art including worldwide known artists like Tintoretto, Tiziano, Canaletto and Giorgione.  In a five minute walk from there it is possible to reach the Peggy Guggenheim Collection in Dorsoduro. This fabulous collection of modern art is shielded in the heiress’ former home alongside the Grand Canal, Palazzo Venier dei Leoni. Collections here concentrate on American and European Art from the first half of the 20th century. The permanent collection includes Cubist, Futurist, abstract Expressionist, Surrealist and avant-garde schools of painting and sculpture, which are a great alternative to enjoy Venice if you’re not into Renaissance and Venetian art. Last but not least, a visit to Punta della Dogana is highly recommended: a contemporary art museum with a permanent collection by Francois Pinault and unique temporary exhibitions, all accompanied by breathtaking views on the whole Laguna with Piazza San Marco, Isola della Giudecca and San Giorgio.