Basilica di San Marco
This elaborate church was built to house the body of
St Mark. It was built in the 11th century in Byzantine
style and was richly decorated with mosaics. Chiesa del Redontore
This church of the Redeemer on Guidecca Island is
where the Festa del Redentore is held. See our
festivals
page for more details. It was built in the
16th century.
PIAZZAS
Piazza di San Marco
The Piazza San Marco is one of the worlds most famous
squares. Come and feed the pigeons, listen to the
classical music at night, hang out in the caffes and
enjoy the atmosphere. This is the hub of Carnevale
during Feb-March. Inside the square is the Basilica di
San Marco, the old Law Courts and the Libreria
Vecchia. It's free to enter the Basilica, to climb the
bell tower has a small cost.
OTHER SIGHTS
The Lido
This fashionable beach resort is really just a thin
strip of land. It becomes very crowded in summer. Take
Vaporetto No. 1, 6, 14 or 82. Burano
This colourful sleeping village is renowned for its
lace making. It's also a good place to visit during
Carnevale. Take Vaporetto No. 12 from the Fondamenta
Nuove. Murano
This island is home of Venetian Glass. The Glassworks
Museum explains the evolution of the famous glassware.
Wander the shops and you may catch some of the
shopkeepers at work. Some of the larger factories will
let you wander in, although most visitors come on
guided tours. Take Vaporetto No. 12 from the
Fondamenta Nuove. Torcello
Torcello is smaller and less populated than the other
islands. Its cathedral has Byzantine mosaics. Take
Vaporetto No. 12 from Fondamenta Nuove.
GALLERIAS
Galleria dell'Accademia
Venetian art including Tintoretto, Titian and
Veronese. Open weekdays 9am-7pm. Cost? Palazzo Ducale
This was the offical residence of the doges and the
seat of the republic's government. Open daily from 9am
to 7pm. Cost? Peggy Guggenheim collection
Contains her collection of modern art (American
heiress). Open Wednesday to Monday from 11am-6pm.
Cost?.
MARKETS
Mega 1, Campo Santa Margherita.
OTHER
Padua (Padova)
This is a good place to stay if Venice is
booked out. Padova is a university city
and is one of the most popular places for
travellers to study Italian. It is only
30 minutes by train from Venice
Tourist Office: in the train station, tel: (049) 875
2077.
Coming & Going: Frequent trains connect Padova with
Venice, Milan and Bologna. Buses, which depart from
Via Trieste 42, go to Venice and other regional cities
as well as further afield to Trieste and Milan. Vicenza
The work of Palladio (Andrea di Petro della Gondola)
attracts architecture buffs from around the world. The
famous architect lived in Vicenza and examples of his
work can be seen all over the city. Pick up a walking
tour brochure from the tourist office which covers the
most famous examples of Palladian architecture.
Tourist Office: Piazza Matteotti 12, tel: (0445) 320
854.
Coming & Going: Vicenza is well connected by train to
most major cities in Northern Italy, especially
Venice, Padova, Milan and Verona. Buses are good for
getting to other towns nearby and offer an alternative
to the train if you're heading to Verona. Buses depart
from the bus terminal on Viale Milano near the train
station. Verona
Verona is famed for its arena and the setting of Shakespeare's Romeo and
Juliet. Tourist Office: Via Leoncino 61, tel: (045) 806 8680. Coming &
Going: Buses run between Verona and Mantua and Vicenza and the train goes
everywhere else. There are direct trains to Austria and Germany as well as
Milan, Venice, Florence and Rome.
