Venice.
Gondolas, narrow lanes and square serenades: Venice is a labyrinth of water and stone.
Gondolas, narrow lanes and square serenades: Venice is a labyrinth of water and stone.
Beyond Rialto and St Mark’s, drifting through Cannaregio is worth it – less bustle, more everyday life.
Background
History.
The lagoon islands were settled from late antiquity; after Lombard and Byzantine influence the community traditionally elected its first doge in 697 and grew into a maritime republic.
In the High Middle Ages and early modern period Venice controlled trade routes into the eastern Mediterranean; the Fourth Crusade of 1204 ended with the sack of Constantinople under Venetian–French leadership.
In 1797 the republic surrendered to Napoleon (Treaty of Campo Formio); then Austrian rule, and from 1866 union with the Kingdom of Italy. The MOSE flood barriers at the lagoon inlets went into operation in 2020.
Must-sees
Top 10.
1. St Mark’s Basilica and Campanile (plan tickets and queues).
2. Doge’s Palace across the Bridge of Sighs to the prison.
3. Rialto Bridge and Mercato di Rialto in the morning.
4. Accademia Bridge: classic view of the Grand Canal.
5. Basilica Santa Maria della Salute (plague votive church, 1631–1687).
6. Ghetto Nuovo: Europe’s first documented Jewish residential quarter (1516).
7. Scuola Grande di San Rocco: Tintoretto cycles.
8. Biennale Gardens (Giardini) and Arsenale in art-biennale years.
9. Vaporetto line 1: the whole Grand Canal as a ride.
10. Murano (glass) and Burano (lace, colour) by waterbus.
Gallery
Impressions.
Stay
Hotels in Venice.
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