Top Things to Do in the Venice | Must-See Attractions & Experiences

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Places To Visit In Venice

Ponte Dell'Accademia

The Ponte Dell’Accademia, or the Academia Bridge, is one of four bridges spanning the Grand Canal and connecting San Marco and Dorsoduro. The bridge is simplistic and has an elegant arch. This bridge offers some splendid sunrise and sunset views from the top. It’s not too crowded so you can enjoy its calm atmosphere and take some great photos as the colourful gondolas pass underneath it. The first bridge in this spot was made of steel and was designed by Alfred Neville in 1854. It was completely revamped by Eugenio Miozzi in 1933 and constructed from wood this time. The final iteration of the bridge, the one we see today, is just a rejuvenated replica of the 1933 design. It has a total of 50 steps up, and 50 steps down. The metal handrails of the bridge also have love padlocks attached by couples, despite this practice being illegal. Read More

Rialto Bridge is a bridge connecting the districts of San Marco and San Polo. Described as the true heart of Venice, this stone bridge spans the width of the Grand Canal. This is an excellent location for a photo shoot with colourful boats and gondolas traversing beneath it. Rialto Bridge is the oldest bridge in Venice; it was the only way to cross the Grand Canal when it was constructed in the 12th century as a pontoon bridge. It has a 24-foot arch and is supported by 12,000 wooden pilings built more than 400 years ago. The ideal time to visit and click photos here is early morning or after sunset, as it gets crowded in the middle of the day. The bridge is an access point for Venice’s famous Rialto Market. Read More

The Rialto Market is a fish, fruit and vegetable market in the San Polo district. The market offers a smorgasbord of fresh and colourful produce. There’s also a fish market inside, the Pesceria, which displays a variety of seafood alongside stalls selling spices, meat, clothing, and footwear. The market is famous and crowded at all times when it is open. Some stalls also sell spices, meat, clothing, and footwear. It is mainly frequented by the Venetians. Preparations start very early in the morning for the undoubtedly busy day ahead. Clementines, oranges, artichokes, peaches and cherries, cauliflower and local cabbages, aromatic herbs, leaf vegetables and red chicory; this list is just half of what is available here. The seafood includes soft-shelled crab, turbot, sardines, wild salmon, mantis, shrimps, swordfish, tuna, octopus, and sea bass. There are some bars here too where you can enjoy drinks and alcohol. You can also take a look at the sandals, slippers, clothing and local art displayed at some of the stalls. Read More

The Santa Maria Della Salute, commonly just called Salute, is a minor basilica at Punta Della Dogana in Venice. It’s octagonal in shape, has two magnificent domes and is a beautiful piece of architecture. It includes various paintings by Titian and Tintoretto, decorated Venetian painters. The ceilings and walls are covered in paintings by Titian, Luca Giordano and other Italian painters. The church has a sacristy with some excellent frescoes and artwork by Tintoretto. An annual feast is held in honour of the Virgin crossing a temporary bridge over the Grand Canal, symbolising Venice's deliverance from the plague. It can be reached by Vaporetto and is situated on the bank of the Grand Canal. An annual feast takes place here on 21st November; it is called the ‘Festa Della Madonna Della Salute’ and is one of the most popular festivals in Venice. Read More

The Santa Maria Gloriosa Dei Frari, commonly just called Frari, is a basilica in the San Polo district. The basilica showcases the work of an Italian painter Titian - Assumption of the Virgin and Madonna di Ca’Pesaro. The first one is located on the high altar and the latter on top of a stepped platform. Other than Titian’s artwork, the Frari also houses some spectacular paintings by the likes of Bellini and Vivarini. You will also find the impressively massive tomb of Antonio Canova, an Italian sculptor built by his students. The church was consecrated in 1492 and is made in Franciscan-Gothic style. In contrast to the colourful painting-filled interior, the church’s exterior is very plain. The Frari has a 70m tall bell tower, the second-largest in Venice and offers a great view. Read More

The Santi Giovanni E Paolo is a minor basilica in the Castello sestiere of Venice. There are 27 doges buried in this church, the largest church in the city. Right outside the church is the majestic Equestrian statue of Bartolomeo Colleoni by Verrocchio. Inside, you will be greeted by artwork painted by talented artists like Giovanni Bellini and Paolo Veronese. The Dominicans constructed the church in 1430, with an excellent Italian Gothic facade. It was consecrated in the names of John and Paul, two Christian brothers. They were asked by emperor Julian the Apostate to denounce their faith. They refused, so they were executed and buried in their own house, which stood in place of the church before. All doges since the 15th century were buried here. Their mausoleums are surrounded by beautiful paintings. The church is a short walk from the Rialto Bridge. Read More

The Scuola Grande di San Rocco is an art museum located in San Polo, Venice. A collection of the most decorated artworks from Tintoretto, a Renaissance painter, are preserved here. The ceilings and walls are covered in depictions of scenes from the bible, all masterpieces of Tintoretto. The Scuola was established in 1478 as a confraternity to further the teachings of San Rocco. His followers regarded him as a protector against the plague. Tintoretto produced some very fine paintings between 1564 and 1587, the Sala dell Albergo and the Sala Superiore being the most notable, which are on display here. These paintings are astonishing to look at, even if you aren’t much interested in history. The building is two-storied, but only three halls are accessible to the general public. Read More

St. Mark's Basilica

St. Mark's Basilica is a cathedral church located in Piazza San Marco in Venice. It is also known as 'the Golden Church' due to the dazzling golden mosaics on the inside of its dome-shaped ceiling. It is an architectural and artistic wonder and has a notable place in Venice's cultural heritage. It is also called Basilica di San Marco. Saint Mark's sarcophagus and other sacred relics are housed in the basilica. The interior is covered with mosaics that cover over 8000 square metres. It was built in an Italian-Byzantine and Gothic style in the 11th century. There's also a bell tower here, the campanile, standing at 99 meters. The Pala d'Oro, a Byzantine altar screen, is studded with 1,300 pearls, 300 emeralds, 300 sapphires, 400 garnets, 100 amethysts, rubies, and topazes and is in close proximity to the basilica. Most of the relics, including the four bronze horses at the entrance, here were stolen during the Fourth Crusade in 1204 and the conquest of Constantinople. Private and group tours are available, and you can also roam around on your own. Source:https://www.flickr.com/photos/9766401@N03/50038527036 Read More

The Teatro La Fenice is an opera house in Campo San Fantin, Venice. The interior gives a timeless feel with paintings of angels on the ceiling and the candle-like glow of the lights and chandeliers. Music lovers can attend live operas and other melodic performances with world-class acoustics. The Teatro La Fenice means “the Phoenix”. The name is a nod to how the opera house has been burned down thrice, most recently in 1996, and then “risen from the ashes”. The theatre has 1,000 seats and five levels of balconies consisting of box-shaped sitting areas. There are specific dress codes for the performances here. A black-tie (tuxedo) is to be worn on the Opening Night of the Season, and formal dresses and suits on the other premiere nights. Button-up shirts and jeans are allowed on other evenings. Guided tours are also available if you are more inclined toward history. During the daytime, audio-guided tours are available. Read More

Torcello island is located in Venice’s Lagoon and near Burano Island. Although rural and largely deserted, it is not without its charms. The island is known for its greenery, mosaics and attractions like Basilica di Santa Maria Assunta and Chiesa di Santa Fosca. Given the sparse population, you will find clusters of trees and greenery everywhere. The Basilica di Santa Maria Assunta and the Chiesa di Santa Fosca are the most-visited here for their simplistic, ancient, wooden look, which fits in with the rest of the island and the beautiful Byzantine mosaics. The museums here are also worth visiting. Found in the 5th century, the island was very populous back then. It was the centre for trade with the Byzantine Roman Empire. However, much of the population was wiped out due to a malaria outbreak. Today, it only has 30 or so inhabitants. Another attraction here, apart from the churches, is the stone throne of King Atilla. Some Medieval period artefacts are on display in the museums. There’s also a small bridge on the island, famously called the “Devil’s Bridge”. Be careful while crossing as it doesn’t have any railings. Read More