This is a world-famous ancient city in the northern Italian province of Veneto. You’ve more than likely heard or read about the Merchant of Venice, well, here is your insider’s look. It has a population of about 280,000 and built on a group of 118 islands. Being a world-famous historic city, Venice definitely has so much to offer. Here is a list of the things you should see when you visit one of our top destinations.
Saint Mark’s Basilica (Basilica di San Marco)
This is the Cathedral Catholic church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Venice in Northern Italy. Featuring the Italo-Byzantine architecture, this is the most famous of the churches in Venice. This edifice was constructed in the year 1092 to house and honor the remains of St. Mark that had been brought in from Alexandria. St. Mark thus replaced St. Theodore as the patron saint of Venice. Over the years, the church has undergone modification. The interior is decorated with mosaics on a gold background. Marble statues by Venetian sculptors Jacobello and Pier Paolo Dalle Masegne also dorn the church.
Grand Canal
Grand Canal may be the most famous feature of the city of Venice. Other cities have a main street, Venice has the Grand Canal. The canal is 2 miles long and is one of the most photographed Venetian attractions. Gondoliers – a type of long narrow canoe – run through the canal all the time and you have a ride on one of them.
The Rialto Bridge
At some point in history, the Rialto Bridge was the only way to cross the Grand Canal. This famous old bridge is now only one of the four bridges across the Grand Canal, but it remains the most popular and the most famous and the most iconic. Antonio da Ponte beat the legendary sculptor Michelangelo to the job – no wonder he’s named Antonio da Ponte which translates to Antonio of the Bridges. Antonio built the bridge from Istrian stones. The bridge is most enjoyed either early in the day or at sunset.
Teatro La Fenice
The Teatro La Fenice or Theatre of Venice is an opera house and a landmark of Italian theatre. Even after suffering three big fires, the imposing landmark still stands the harsh consequences of time like a phoenix. The magnificent architecture of the structure has taken many visitors. Tours offer an audio guide that provides lots of information about the history of this edifice. It is a 5-minute walk away from Piazza San Marco.
St. Mark’s Square (Piazza San Marco)
This is the heart of the city of Venice. It is also the largest square in Venice. It is the only piazza in the city. The square is lined by numerous historical buildings such as the St. Marks Basilica, St. Mark’s Campanile, and Doge’s Palace.
Basilica di Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari
It’s locally referred to as Frari. This is a gothic style church that was built in the 14th century. Its styling is pretty minimalistic in comparison to the large St. Mark’s Basilica. It is located in San Polo, a 25-minute walk from St. Mark’s Square.
