18/10/2020
venice contents
Considered by many to be the most beautiful palace on the Grand Canal, the Ca’ d’Oro was built by expert stonemasons in the 15th century, mostly nameless artisans under the direction of the great architect Bartolomeo Bon.
[...]
venice
History
Traditions
ca' d'oro
venetian gothic architecture
ca' farsetti
veneto-byzantine architecture
Doge
venice's town hall
palazzo grimani
ruskin
grand canal
Self Guided Tours
16/10/2020
venice contents
The Fondaco dei Turchi, built in the 1400’s, became in 1621 the workplace and residence allotted to merchants of the Ottoman empire.
[...]
venice
History
Traditions
Fondaco dei Turchi
Natural History Museum
Ca' Pesaro
Palazzo Pesaro
Museum of Oriental Art
Self Guided Tours
15/10/2020
venice contents
Campo San Fantin is a quaint little square from where you’ll see the entrance to Fenice Theatre.
[...]
venice
History
Traditions
la fenice theatre
giuseppe verdi
san moisè
baroque style
san marco
ruskin
Self Guided Tours
14/10/2020
venice contents
Here is the Church of San Maurizio, and in this square antiques markets are often held.
[...]
venice
History
Traditions
san maurizio
Church of San Maurizio
Church of Santo Stefano
St. Mark's Bell Tower
santa maria del giglio
Self Guided Tours
13/10/2020
venice contents
This is Campo Santo Stefano. The huge Palazzo Pisani was historically property of one of the wealthiest families in Venice, and today it is the prestigious Music Conservatory, or “conservatorio”, a word which was coined by Venetians in the 16th century.
[...]
venice
History
Traditions
santo stefano
Church of Santo Stefano
sant'angelo
Church of Sant'Angelo degli Zoppi
campo manin
scala del bovolo
Self Guided Tours
12/10/2020
venice contents
Since the 13th century Venice was famously divided between two rival factions: the Castellani, who wore a red hat and scarf, representing Eastern Venice and the Nicolotti, with a black hat and scarf, representing the Western part of the city.
[...]
venice
History
Traditions
ponte dei pugni
castellani
nicolotti
san barnaba
byron
giuseppe verdi
casin dei nobili
san trovaso
Self Guided Tours
12/10/2020
venice contents
The Squero of San Trovaso, the gondolas' shipyard, is one of the few surviving historical squeri in Venice and surely the most visible and visited. The building looks more like a mountain hut, and for good reason.
[...]
venice
History
Traditions
squero san trovaso
zattere
gesuati
Gondola
magazzini del sale
Church of the Gesuati
giudecca canal
Redentore Church
Self Guided Tours
12/10/2020
venice contents
This empty space giving onto the Grand Canal is the Erbaria, which is Venetian for Herbs Store.
[...]
venice
History
Traditions
erbaria
rialto
rialto market
pescheria
grand canal
Self Guided Tours
Antonio Vivaldi was born in Venice on 4 March 1678 from a humble family who comes from Brescia. He is one of the best Italian composer and violinist of the Venetian baroque music who has influenced all Europe with its music.
He brought many innovations in the fields of violins, concerts, choral works and operas. In the 1703 he became a priest and, cause of his red hair, he got the nickname “The Red Priest”.
[...]
venice
History
vivaldi
violins
Classical music concerts
concerts in venice
11/10/2020
venice contents
Here we are in Campo San Pantalon, with the church dedicated to Saint Pantaleon, a priest who was martyred in the 3rd century.
[...]
venice
History
Traditions
rialto
san pantalon
santa margherita
calle del fontego
calle del caffettier
calle delle carrozze
calle dei caldereri
calle del pistor
calle del forno
scuola dei varoteri
Self Guided Tours
11/10/2020
venice contents
You are now on the Ponte dei Bareteri, the hatmakers’ bridge, which is halfway along the Mercerie.
[...]
venice
History
Traditions
ponte dei bareteri
Piazza San Marco
san salvador
Church of San Salvador
san bartolomeo
san bortolo
carlo goldoni
rialto
Rialto bridge
Self Guided Tours
Venice has had a fundamental role in the history of music, in particular for the Classical and Baroque music. The Venetian Liuteria (art of realization of string instruments as violins) is another artisan excellence that has characterized the history of Venice during the centuries.
[...]
venice
History
Serenissima
Venetian Liuteria
Venetian violins
Fontego dei Tedeschi
Classical music concerts
concerts in venice
10/10/2020
venice contents
Entering Campo sant’Aponal, at the centre we see a typical Venetian well in Istrian stone.
[...]
venice
History
Traditions
sant'aponal
ponte delle tette
carampane
houses of tolerance
venetian state
Self Guided Tours
10/10/2020
venice contents
You are now on the Ponte della Paglia, the Bridge of Hay, where boats would drop off stacks of hay for the horses’ stables inside the Palazzo Ducale on the ground floor.
[...]
venice
History
Traditions
Piazza San Marco
Bridge of sighs
doge's palace
Prisons' palace
venice lagoon
Clock Tower
mercerie
Self Guided Tours
Vivaldi innovated deeply the music between the 1600 and 1700 changing completely the Italian baroque music. He revitalized the formal and rhythmic structure of the concerto adding many harmonic contrasts and unusual melodies. His style was considered exuberant and was appreciated by both the public and the expert musicians.
[...]
History
vivaldi
concerts for violin
Classical music concerts
concerts in venice
09/10/2020
venice contents
In Campo San Tomà we find the usual Venetian well-head where, until not so long ago, locals would come to collect clean water.
[...]
venice
History
Traditions
wells
Casanova
Rialto bridge
Piazza San Marco
san tomà
goldoni's house
campo san bartolomio
san polo
Self Guided Tours
09/10/2020
venice contents
The Doge’s Palace, the centre of Venetian power, residence of the Doge and home to the judiciary, this is where the governance of the city took place.
[...]
venice
History
Traditions
Piazza San Marco
doge's palace
Palazzo Ducale
columns of the lion and Saint Theodore
columns of St. Mark's Square
venetian republic
st. mark's basin
Self Guided Tours
08/10/2020
venice contents
Campo San Nicola da Tolentino, usually known as the Tolentini, is a popular spot for university students and workers who wish to relax after a long day with a prosecco.
The inside of the Church is one of the most lavishly and richly decorated in Venice.
[...]
venice
History
Traditions
san nicola da tolentino
frari
venetian republic
Serenissima
Self Guided Tours
08/10/2020
venice contents
You are now entering Piazza San Marco. This is the true heart of Venice, which Napoleon called “the most elegant drawing-room in Europe”.
[...]
venice
History
Traditions
Piazza San Marco
Cafè Florian
St. Mark's Bell Tower
Campanile di San Marco
loggetta base
Basilica of San Marco
Byzantine golden mosaics
Pala d'Oro
Self Guided Tours
Venice has only one square or piazza: St.Mark’s Square, a 170 meter-long trapezoid which differs from all other squares that are called "campi" (fields).
[...]
St. Mark's Square
History
venice
Clock Tower
columns of St. Mark's Square
golden basilica
Byzantine Venice
St. Mark's area tours
In a city where there seems to be a mask shop on every corner, it may be surprising to learn that the ancient Venetian craft of mask making was only revived about forty years ago.
[...]
History
Carnival Activity
Handmade mask
Artisan experiences in Venice
St. Mark's Square
Carnival Mask
Venice Carnival
04/10/2020
venice contents
Campo delle Beccarie, this is one of the many parts of the Rialto market, the economic force of the Venetian Republic.
[...]
venice
History
Traditions
campo delle beccarie
rialto
rialto market
san giovanni elemosinario
san giacometto
foundation of Venice
shakespeare
merchant of venice
gobbo di rialto
Piazza San Marco
Self Guided Tours
04/10/2020
venice contents
Entering the peaceful Campo San Giovanni in Bragora, we see the simple gothic Church where Antonio Vivaldi was baptised.
[...]
venice
History
Traditions
san giovanni in bragora
vivaldi
rialto
Rialto bridge
Arsenale di Venezia
Self Guided Tours
On Sunday, September 2nd, you will experience a colourful, picturesque and stunning marine show which will enliven Venice’s waters; the most amazing fact is that you will admire it from your gondola!
[...]
History
venice
venice historical regatta
Gondola
gondola tours
03/10/2020
venice contents
Here we are in Campo San Giovanni Decollato, and this is as secret as Venice gets.
[...]
venice
History
Traditions
campo san zan degolà
calle dei boteri
doge's palace
Self Guided Tours
03/10/2020
venice contents
You are walking along the Riva degli Schiavoni, the Embankment of the Slaves, which refers to the Slavic merchants from the Balcan countries who worked here when Venice was at its peak.
[...]
venice
History
Traditions
riva degli schiavoni
winged lion
chiesa della pietà
vivaldi
Self Guided Tours
Venice Carnival is one of the most famous carnivals on the planet, and its signature costume, the Venetian mask is definitely one of the most recognisable pieces of outfit anywhere. Everyone has seen one, whether in real life, or more probably, on television or in a blockbuster movie, where the masks can look kind of spooky. Venice Carnival 2020 is a great opportunity for everyone to see the masks in real life – but be warned, some of them really are kind of creepy.
[...]
Things to do during the Carnival
venice
Carnival Treasure Hunt
St. Mark's Square
Carnival activities
Clock Tower
Harry's Bar
Carnival Balls
Artisan experiences in Venice
Handmade mask
Carnival Mask
Venice Carnival
Campanile di San Marco
Carnival walking tour
St. Mark's area tours
02/10/2020
venice contents
Enter in the serene atmosphere of Campo San Giacomo dell’Orio. The church is one of the most ancient in Venice and one of most oriental too.
[...]
venice
History
Traditions
campo san giacomo dell'orio
campo santa maria mater domini
venetian gothic style
brotherhood of tights
Self Guided Tours
02/10/2020
venice contents
Venice’s history is inexorably linked with Constantinople, the ancient capital of the Byzantine Empire in the East, which became modern Istanbul in Turkey.
[...]
venice
History
Traditions
san giorgio dei greci
scuola di san giorgio degli schiavoni
nation schools
venetian schools
san zaccaria
Doges
Self Guided Tours
The Fondaco dei Tedeschi is a 15thcentury palace, which has turned it into a luxury shopping centre. The ties between Venice and the German world were historically very strong, and so a fondaco, from the Arabic for warehouse, was built to host the workshops of these Nordic communities.
[...]
History
rialto
Rialto bridge
Fondaco
Venice walking tour
01/10/2020
venice contents
The Bridge of Scalzi, literally of the barefoot, is named after the Church of the Scalzi
located on the left.
[...]
venice
History
Scalzi bridge
Church of San Geremia
Self Guided Tours
01/10/2020
venice contents
As many early churches in Venice, this too originally came from an apparition in a dream. The Bishop Alberto Magno arrived in Venice in the 7th century AD, and allegedly dreamt that the Holy Mary had told him to look out for a cloud stopping still in the sky; wherever its shadow beat on was where the church should have been built.
[...]
venice
History
Traditions
Church of Santa Maria Formosa
festa delle Marie
Venetian feast
grand canal
museo querini stampalia
querini family
Doge
Self Guided Tours
In the 18th century, in Venice, noblemen no longer wear their togas of office, the women have asses black from all the pinches they get: there is enough joking and luxury you can’t image: religion is going down the drain’ Angelo Labia poet, priest and member of a Patrician family lamented in a journal of this period.
[...]
History
Traditions
Carnival Activity
What to do during the Carnival
Carnival Ball
Venice Carnival
venetian nobleman
30/09/2020
venice contents
From the 14th century, the plague was a frequent occurrence in Venice as in many other parts of Europe, and on three occasions over the following two centuries it decimated the city’s population.
[...]
venice
History
San Rocco
the Bridge of the Constitution
Self Guided Tours
30/09/2020
venice contents
This street is Barbaria de le Tole, which is where tree trunks would be worked and fashioned into wooden tables or ‘Tole’ in Venetian.
[...]
venice
History
Traditions
barbaria de le tole
libreria acqua alta
Self Guided Tours
The official passport to the Venice Carnival was the Domino, a bizarre costume that combined the mask Bauta, a hood of velvet silk and a three-cornered hat.
[...]
What to do during the Carnival
History
Handmade mask
Artisan experiences in Venice
Carnival Balls
Piazza San Marco
Murano
Carnival Mask
Venice Carnival
Gondola
Traditions
29/09/2020
venice contents
This is the imposing gothic Basilica of San Giovanni e Paolo, or of San Zanipolo as the Venetians call it unifying the two names.
[...]
venice
History
Traditions
basilica of san giovanni e paolo
san zanipolo
Doge
pantheon of the doges
monumento a bartolomeo colleoni
Piazza San Marco
scuola grande di san marco
Self Guided Tours
The Venetian mask has a long history stretching back almost 1,000 years. Nobody knows for sure when or why the tradition of wearing masks began, but there is a lot of speculation. The history and origins of “the mask” is as mysterious as the mask itself.
[...]
Carnival activities
Things to do during the Carnival
History
Traditions
Carnival Treasure Hunt
fun things to do in venice
Handmade mask
Venice Carnival
Carnival Mask
venetian mask
Artisan experiences in Venice
28/09/2020
venice contents
The Chiesa dei Miracoli is the Church of Miracles. The story of how it was first built is interesting, if not wholly true.
[...]
venice
History
Traditions
chiesa dei miracoli
scuola grande di san marco
ruskin
venetian schools
Self Guided Tours
28/09/2020
venice contents
This is the Ponte delle Ostreghe, the Bridge of Oysters. This is where once fishermen would moor their boats at dawn after a night of oyster-fishing and sell them to haggling Venetians.
[...]
venice
History
Traditions
ponte delle ostreghe
venetian state
Via XXII Marzo
Self Guided Tours
28/09/2020
venice contents
The Venetian Lagoon is scattered with tiny islands which look utterly abandoned and wild; many, however, were once not only populated but very well-kept, mostly housing convents or monastries. Sant’Erasmo is also known as the Garden of Venice, l’Orto di Venezia as it is from here that Venice imported its fruits and vegetables, essential on a fish-based diet.
[...]
venice
venetian lagoon
History
Traditions
venice islands
san giacomo in paludo
sant'erasmo
garden of venice
fauna della laguna
Self Guided Tours
In Venice in 1094 Doge Vitale Falier was in power. In this period the first edition of the Carnival of Venice began unconsciously, as a public celebration to honor the days preceding Lent. Everything is reported in an official document so that the tradition could be followed. But it took long time before the Venice Carnival became a proper festival, ending the day before Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent.
[...]
History
Traditions
Murano
Burano
Venice Carnival
Carnival Activity
Carnival Mask
venetian mask
Carnival Balls
Festivity
It is almost time for the Venetian Carnival which starts on the 9 February and runs until the 25 February 2020. As usual there will be lots of fun things to do in Venice during the Carnival period, and no matter what your tastes are there will be something for everyone to enjoy.
[...]
Carnival activities
Carnival Treasure Hunt
Things to do during the Carnival
fun things to do in venice
Handmade mask
Carnival Balls
Venice Carnival
Carnival costumes
Carnival Mask
Artisan experiences in Venice
Top 5 things to do in Venice
27/09/2020
venice contents
Among Burano’s traditions, food is definitely up there, and at the top of that list are the Bussolà, the buranese biscuits.
[...]
venice
venice lagoon
History
Traditions
Burano island
bussolà
remiera
voga veneta
ascension day
Doge
Bucintoro
marriage of the sea
golden ring
Self Guided Tours
One of the greatest festivals on earth, and certainly the most stylish one begins on 9th February and runs until 25th February - it is, of course, Venice Carnival 2020. As…
[...]
Carnival Treasure Hunt
What to do during the Carnival
Carnival activities
Venice carnival
fun things to do in venice
Island Tour
Handmade mask
Carnival Balls
gondola tour
Artisan experiences in Venice
Murano
republic of music
concerts in venice
It is no surprise that Venice is one of the most famous tourist destinations in the world, having around 20 million visitors each year, you'll find it hard to discover a more sought after place. The real challenge of visiting…
[...]
Self Guided Tours
Artisan experiences in Venice
Handmade mask
classic concerts
gondola tours
Venice islands tours
St. Mark's area tours
local experiences in venice
St. Mark's Square
St. Mark's Bell Tower
Gondola
vivaldi
Murano
Burano
Torcello
Top 5 things to do in Venice
The origin of Venice Carnival is still uncertain. What it is sure is that its initial affirmation is based on three specific moments: between religious celebrations and wars. Three years: 1094, 1162, 1296. These are the historically documented year of the first period of development of Venice Carnival.
[...]
History
Carnival Activity
Venice Carnival
Carnival Balls
Handmade mask
Carnival Mask
Artisan experiences in venice
Giovedì Grasso
Venetian feast
venetian mask
So you’re going to Venice and have decided to opt for self-guided tours rather than putting up with super tedious, super slow guided tours? Good idea! But with a myriad of unforgettable things to see and do in Venice, what’s the best way to approach your self-guided tour? This post will give you some ideas about choosing the best self-guided tour in Venice for you.
[...]
Self Guided Tours
What to do during the Carnival
Carnival activities
St. Mark
Rialto bridge
gondola tours
full venice self-guided tour
Casanova
secret itinerary of the prisons
Gondola
Venice Carnival
How to pick the right Venice self guided walking tour
25/09/2020
venice contents
Ca’ Vendramin is famous today for being Venice’s Casinò, and indeed the first casinò in the world.
[...]
venice
History
Traditions
ca' vendramin calergi
venice's casinò
richard wagner
santa fosca
paolo sarpi
Serenissima
bridge of war
bridge of fists
Self Guided Tours
25/09/2020
venice contents
Piazza Baldassare Galuppi is the only real square in the whole of Burano, dedicated to the 18th century musician who was of course a proud Buranelo.
[...]
venice
venice lagoon
History
Traditions
Burano island
san martino vescovo
Colors
coloured houses
bepi's house
art
Self Guided Tours
You cannot leave Venice without having admired the city from another perspective, without filling your eyes with the sight of magnificent buildings reflected on the canals, of dusk light floating on water, you can’t leave Venice without experiencing the magic and the relaxation of a gondola ride.
[...]
Gondola
History
venice
venice historical regatta
gondola tours
The offer of parties, events and entertainments during Venice Carnival is very rich. The different proposals are so peculiar that anyone can find his ideal party, ranging from romance to excesses, from history to pure entertainment, from vice to gourmet events! A lot of proposals all sharing a common characteristic: they are all masquerade balls!
[...]
Carnival Activity
Venice Carnival
Carnival Balls
Masquerade Balls
Carnival costumes
Carnival Mask
Traditions
23/09/2020
venice contents
The Venetian Lagoon is a stretch of water 55km long comprised between two rivers flowing from the mainland.
[...]
venice
venetian lagoon
History
Traditions
venetian republic
high water
lazzaretto vecchio
lazzaretto nuovo
sanità
venice islands
Murano
Torcello
Self Guided Tours
"L’ Arsenale" is located in S. Martino in the Sestiere di Castello. Among the various meanings of the origin of the name we report that of the Masons that seems more relevant and that is dock, a word of Arabic origin that indicates the place where the ships are manufactured and stored.
[...]
Arsenale di Venezia
Serenissima
History
Traditions
full venice self-guided tour
22/09/2020
venice contents
Burano Island is, next to the almost unpopulated Torcello, the one truly inhabitated centre of the northern lagoon.
[...]
venice
venice lagoon
History
Traditions
Burano island
Torcello
Museo del Merletto
lace-making art
piazza gualuppi
Self Guided Tours
In Venice the word "School" has two completely different meanings:
the first is the one common all over the world and which identifies a place where teachers teach and students learn;
the second, which is the subject of our study, indicates a building where, in the Middle Ages, people who had in common the same art or craft, the same nationality, the same devotion to a saint, gathered with the aim of doing "good deeds", and for a moment let's try to think about the religiosity of men in 1300 when doing a good deed ensured "credits" for Paradise...
[...]
History
Saint Mark's Square
venetian schools
venice
Artisan experiences in Venice
Venice walking tour
As Venice was surrounded by salt water but didn’t have drinking water due to its hydro-geological characteristics, wells were built all around the city to collect rainwater.
[...]
venice
History
vera
wells
Venice walking tour
21/09/2020
venice contents
In Corte Seconda del Milion you’ll see a plaque dedicated to Marco Polo, who apparently live in this house.
[...]
venice
History
Traditions
marco polo's house
rialto
Rialto bridge
Fondaco dei Tedeschi
grand canal
Self Guided Tours
21/09/2020
venice contents
Although obviously not as famous or as important as its counterpart in Venice, the Canal Grande of Murano is rather splendid in its own right.
[...]
venice
venice lagoon
History
Traditions
Murano
canal grande of murano
venetian canal grande
Murano glass
murano glass factories
palazzo da mula
santi maria e donato
santa maria degli angeli
art
Casanova
Self Guided Tours
Venice has four bridges that cross the Grand Canal: the Rialto Bridge, the Accademia Bridge, the Ponte degli Scalzi Bridge and the Constitution Bridge known as the Calatrava Bridge. The Rialto Bridge is the oldest and was the only connection between the two banks of the Grand Canal.
[...]
rialto
Rialto bridge
venice
History
Curiosities
Venice walking tour
20/09/2020
venice contents
Scuola Grande in Venice was initially a place where the poor, sick and destitute could receive help and assistance.
[...]
venice
History
Traditions
scuole grandi
venetian schools
scuola grande della misericordia
gesuiti
crociferi
scuola dei sartori
santi apostoli
Church of Saint Apostles
Doge
judiciary council
Self Guided Tours
20/09/2020
venice contents
The Faro, or lighthouse, you see was built in 1912 but ever since the middle-ages there had always been a wooden tower on Murano, even if more inland.
[...]
venice
venice lagoon
History
Traditions
Murano
faro of murano
St. Mark's Campanile
san pietro martire
gothic church
Museo del Vetro
Murano glass
art
glass-making master
maestro vetraio
Self Guided Tours
On the origin of the name many pages have been spent, we report here that of Prof. Siega, "Dictionary of the Veneto lexicon etymologically and curiously commented" Finegil editorial, which seems to us the most accredited; the name would derive from Buzon, Bonzonus which stood for navis; Buzon d'oro or golden ship from here became the Bucintoro.
[...]
History
venice
St. Mark's Square
Serenissima
Bucintoro
sensa
arsenal of venice
columns of St. Mark's Square
Curiosities
Venice walking tour
To discover Venice resting back on a private gondola ride gliding across the water, like a real Venetian of the past, is to immerse oneself in a completely new dimension, to look with new eyes at the unique Venetian palazzi that seem to hover in the water.
[...]
private gondola
Gondola serenade
gondola tours
Gondola
rialto
Piazza San Marco
Peggy Guggenheim
proposal on gondola
One of the many peculiarities of Venice is the way the city is structured. The city is divided into 6 areas called Sestieri (from latin word “sex” = six).
[...]
venice
History
Traditions
venice quarters
castello
san marco
cannaregio
dorsoduro
san polo
santa croce
Self Guided Tours
19/09/2020
venice contents
In 1113 the Mastelli family, a merchant family who traded in silk and spices, arrived in Venice from Peloponneseus in Greece.
[...]
venice
History
Traditions
campo dei mori
mastelli family
madonna dell'orto
school of st. cristopher
umiliati
Self Guided Tours
The building of St.Mark’s Bell Tower (once used as a lighthouse) begun in XI century under the Doge Pietro Tribuno but the current look was reached only between 1511 and 1514.
[...]
St. Mark's Square
History
Traditions
St. Mark's Bell Tower
Venice Carnival
Curiosities
City of Venice
Venice Bell Tower
St. Mark's area tours
18/09/2020
venice contents
San Michele Island, recognisable by high leafy tress which stick out above the encircling walls, is also known as the Isola dei morti - the Island of the dead - as this is in fact the cemetery of Venice.
[...]
venice
venice islands
venice lagoon
History
Traditions
san michele island
Murano
Murano glass
art
glass-making master
maestro vetraio
Self Guided Tours
A great musical culture has always characterized Venice especially between the 1500 and 1800. Many famous travelers and writers as Rousseau, Goethe or Wagner narrated about concerts and the incredible musical vivacity in the city, particularly during the famous carnival that lasted six months!
[...]
History
venice
Serenissima
venetian schools
Venice Carnival
violins
Classical music concerts
concerts in venice
It was the day of the Ascension in 997 when Doge Pietro Orseolo set sail against Istria and Dalmatia, conquering them. To commemorate this fortunate feat, which ensured the Doge the title of Duke of Dalmatia, the most solemn of the Venetian feasts was established, the famous Ascension Day, Sensa in Venetian.
[...]
Doge
Bucintoro
ascension day
sensa
venice
History
Traditions
Curiosities
St. Mark's area tours
Venice counts more than a hundred islands, intersected by about 150 canals, linked together by more than 400 bridges that originally consisted of wooden planks because they served the passage of horses in use in Venice in 1400. They were later built in stone and brick, protected by side espaliers.
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venice
History
Rialto bridge
Accademia bridge
Scalzi bridge
Constitution bridge
Bridge of sighs
Redentore
Salute
secret itinerary of the prisons
bridges
canals
Venice walking tours
The Venice lagoon or Venetian Lagoon is located in the Northern Adriatic Sea, along the coasts of Veneto region, has long been under UNESCO protection.
[...]
venice lagoon
venice
high tide
venice islands
Murano
Burano island
Torcello
unspoilt nature
History
full venice self-guided tour
Among the various characteristics that make the city of Venice original all over the world, high tide appears at the top of the list.
[...]
venice high tide
venice
St. Mark's Square
sea levels
15/09/2020
venice contents
This is Campo del Ghetto Nuovo, the main square of the Jewish area. Ghetto, like many international words, is a Venetian word, from the verb ‘gettare’.
[...]
venice
History
Traditions
wells
campo del ghetto nuovo
shakespeare
merchant of venice
campiello dell'anconeta
campo della maddalena
Self Guided Tours
St. Mark's Square (San Marco, in Italian) is one of the most important, beautiful and fascinating places in Italy, famous worldwide for its beauty, its magic and its architectural integrity.
[...]
St. Mark's Square
Saint Mark Bell Tower
Clock Tower
Ducal Palace
colums of the lion and Saint Theodore
saint mark basilica
venice
History
Venice Carnival
St. Mark's area tours
Formerly called Amuranium, the island of Murano lies North-East of Venice, facing the Fondamente Nuove and can be easily reached by vaporetto (the public boat-transport service. It was, along with other islands in the lagoon, a safe haven for the people of Veneto region, fleeing from the barbarian invasions.
[...]
Murano
History
Traditions
Murano glassblowing
Museum of glass
Murano glass
Murano vase
Hall of Honor
murrine
glass-making masters
Island of Venice
pearl of venice
art
Murano island tour
The Peggy Guggenheim museum is probably the most important in Italy regarding american and european art of the first half of the XX century. It hosts works by Picasso, de Chirico, Mondrian, Kandinsky, Miró, Klee, Ernst, Magritte, Dalí e Pollock and by many others in the areas of Dadaism, Cubism, Futurism and Surrealism.
[...]
Peggy Guggenheim
peggy guggenheim collection
venice
art
gondola tour
The Redentore Day is one of the few Venice holidays that Venetians really feel as their own.
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Redentore
venice
History
Traditions
Palazzo Ducale
San Giorgio Church
columns of Marco and Todaro
venice lagoon
St. Mark's area tours
Torcello was already inhabited in Roman times probably only as a retreat of some noble family, later was abandoned when the surrounding lagoon got silted up.
[...]
Torcello
Island
Island of Venice
Hemingway
santa maria assunta
santa fosca
museum of art and archaeology
History
venice lagoon
pearl of venice
full venice self-guided tours
Bellini is one of the most classy, precious and famous cocktails. The recipe is very simple: peach fresh juice and champagne.
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Bellini
Cocktail
Harry's Bar
History
italian wines tasting
12/09/2020
venice contents
This is Lista di Spagna. The name Lista comes from the Italian verb meaning ‘to delimit’.
[...]
venice
History
Traditions
wells
venice lagoon
lista di spagna
san geremia
Church of San Geremia
palazzo labia
ponte delle guglie
grand canal
Self Guided Tours
12/09/2020
venice contents
The gondola has always fascinated and inspired artists and writers from all over the world with its elegance and its aura of mystery.
[...]
venice
History
Traditions
Gondola
mark twain
venice canals
grand canal
giudecca canal
cannaregio canal
islets
bridges
city of water
Self Guided Tours
12/09/2020
venice contents
Mazzorbo, which is connected to the island of Burano via a long wooden bridge called Ponte Lungo, is often considered as an appendix to Burano.
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venice
venice lagoon
History
Traditions
venice islands
mazzorbo
Burano
ponte lungo
Torcello
devil's bridge
attila's throne
Self Guided Tours
There is no doubt that the intensity of warfare in the Veneto district overall, and it echoes in Ernest Hemingway’s novella Across the River and Into the Trees, published in 1950. Although not the greatest of Hemingway’s writings, there is nevertheless undeniable poignancy in its account of the survival of a beautiful city after war.
[...]
History
venice
Hemingway
Harry's Bar
Murano
Murano glass
Burano
lace-making art
Torcello
Self Guided Tours
The new prisons were fundamental to the maintenance of order in Venice and were the first buildings in Europe built specifically for realization of judicial and custodial functions.
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St. Mark's Square
Bridge of sighs
Rialto bridge
Lords of the Night
prisoners
History
Curiosities
Venice Carnival
new prisons
secret itinerary of the prisons
11/09/2020
venice contents
The Church of Sant’Agnese is a typical Byzantine building. The gothic façade looks onto the street we are walking on, which is called Rio Terà Antonio Foscarini.
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venice
History
Traditions
rio terà antonio foscarini
Church of Sant'Agnese
byzantine building
accademia
accademia art gallery
venetian republic
Self Guided Tours
The "lords" of the new prisons in Venice were the guards, the Lords by night at the Criminal and the most important, Council of 10.
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St. Mark's Square
Lords of the Prisoners
prisoners
Lords of the Night
Council of ten
Doge
History
Curiosities
Prisons' palace
districts of Venice
secret itinerary of the prisons
The Clock Tower, or as it is usually called Moors Tower, is one of Venice landmarks.
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St. Mark's Square
St. Mark
History
Clock Tower
astronomical clock
Moors' Bell
St. Mark's area tours
10/09/2020
venice contents
It is said that Venetians only enter a gondola twice in their life: their wedding and their funeral. Until the 18th century, gondolas were once mainly owned by noblemen under whose employ gondoliers would work for rather low pay.
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venice
History
Traditions
gondoliers
Gondola
paline and pirati
vertical wooden posts
venice lagoon
grand canal
Piazza San Marco
palazzo dario
ca' dario
Self Guided Tours
10/09/2020
venice contents
The small church in Torcello is dedicated to Santa Fosca; the story took place in the early middle-ages, when Fosca, originally from the Middle-East, converted to Christianity along with her maid.
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venice
venice lagoon
History
Traditions
Torcello
santa fosca
Basilica of Santa Maria Assunta
gothic structure
art
Self Guided Tours
Palazzo Grassi, located in campo San Samuele and facing the Grand Canal, was the last palace built before the end of the Venetian Republic, in 1772.
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History
Palazzo Grassi
venice
Self Guided Tours
With a ridiculous amount of things to do, and an obscene millions of tourists, it’s a great idea to be a well-organised tourist while looking for non touristy things to do in Venice. The Venice City Tours app has itineraries to bring you on self guided tours of to all the mega tourist spots in Venice, and also less famous but just as beautiful sites. A classic place to visit in Venice is Piazza San Marco.
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Piazza San Marco
Doge's Palace
Local food
Venice islands
Murano
Burano
Torcello
Grand Canal
Venice islands tours
Italian wines tasting
Self Guided Tours
Top 5 things to do in Venice
Punta della Dogana separates the Grand Canal from the Giudecca Canal. For its strategic location it was the house of the Custom and of the Salt Warehouses.
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History
Punta della Dogana
venice
Arsenale di Venezia
Palazzo Grassi
grand canal
giudecca canal
full venice self-guided tour
The three forms of punishment practised against prisoners to corret their wrongful conduct in Venice: pleadings, tortures and galleys.
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St. Mark's Square
Prisons' palace
Lords of the Night
prisoners
convicts
galleys
History
Curiosities
secret itinerary of the prisons
08/09/2020
venice contents
Ernest Hemingway called the Gritti Palace “the greatest hotel in a city of great hotels”.
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venice
History
Traditions
gritti palace
Hemingway
Doge
Salute
Chiesa della Salute
Punta della Dogana
centre for contemporary art
grand canal
giudecca canal
golden ball
Self Guided Tours
Considering that the island of Venice isn’t one of the biggest places in the world you’d be surprised with how many "gems" could be hidden here.
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venice
city of water
Piazza San Marco
italian wine tasting
local food
venice islands
Murano
Burano
Torcello
full venice self-guided tour
The history of Venice begins with the twilight of the Roman Empire, when barbaric invasions drove the inhabitants of the Venetian coast towards the islands of the lagoon.
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History
venice
Traditions
venice foundations
lagoon
rialto
venice walking tours
The old and the new clashed frequently, and were never to be reconciled in the twentieth century. Nor was Venice able to escape the vilification and ambivalence that appeared in the interpretations in the early century . But the old Serenissima was not yet dead: indeed there was renewed fascination with the eighteenth century.
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History
venice
Belle Epoque
simmel
monet
Gondola
art
Self Guided Tours
Though opinions vary regarding the etymology of the word, it is certain that the name appeared for the first time in some 1094 documents.
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Gondola
venice
History
Traditions
felze
creation of Gondola's forcola
gondola tours
Hence, here are 10 unique things to do in Venice by choosing Venice City Tours, among them we have listed other “tips” alongside the essential steps.
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10 things to do in venice
Top 10
Visit Venice
Grand Canal
Piazza San Marco
Golden Basilica
Doge's Palace
Venice islands
Murano
Burano
Torcello
Venice islands tours
Classical music concerts
Venetian craftsmen workshop
Gondola
Gondola tours
Venice walking tour
Venice Carnival
Casanova
Carnival Balls
Mysterious Venice
Italian wines tasting
Local food
Discover the history of Venice, one of the most charming and beautiful cities in the world!
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venice
History
St. Mark's Square
St. Mark's Basilica
St. Mark's Bell Tower
Doge's Palace
Clock Tower
Rialto bridge
la fenice theatre
Self Guided Tours
The Venice High Tide will not ruin your holiday, because it’s just a 2 hours event and in many cases it consists in few cm on some places of the city. We provide a list of suggestions and tips to follow during this unique phenomenon. If you follow them, you will enjoy the Venice properly even if with the High Tide.
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venice high tide
venice
what to do
what not to do
05/09/2020
venice contents
Ca’ Rezzonico, today Museum of Venice’s 18th century art, is one of the largest palaces on the Grand Canal.
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venice
History
Traditions
ca' rezzonico
museum of 18th century art
grand canal
palazzetto pisani
Peggy Guggenheim
peggy guggenheim collection
Gondola
Self Guided Tours
You cannot leave Venice without having tasted one of the trademark dishes that blends into one the city’s marine flavour and the aroma of the islands’ orchards: sarde in saòr.
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venice
Traditions
Sarde in Saòr
local food
cooking class
What's Venice high tide?
Have a look at this article!
[...]
venice high tide
Piazza San Marco
Rialto
Venice Municipality
venice
04/09/2020
venice contents
One of the most noteworthy gothic palaces is Palazzo Pisani Moretta; built in the 15th century, in the mid 1700’s it was acquired by the Moretta branch of the Pisani family.
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venice
History
Traditions
palazzo pisani moretta
Carnival Balls
Venice Carnival
ca' foscari
venice's university
Doge
venetian republic
Self Guided Tours
Are you looking to avoid crowds and the usual touristy walks?
Do you want to hear Venice’s primitive pulse, by exploring a true gem of Venetian art and one of the city’s historic professions?
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Gondola
squero san trovaso
venice
History
church of san sebastiano
Self Guided Tours
You can face the problem of Venice High Tide in autumn and winter (usually from November to March). It can be very annoying, especially if it’s your first time in Venice and you would like to live its famous romanticism. But, it’s not a huge problem and your holiday will remain an unforgettable experience in one of the most fascinating city of the world.
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venice high tide
Piazza San Marco
Rialto
Venice Municipality
venice
Burano is no doubt the most colorful island in the Lagoon of Venice, the facades of its houses are painted pink, blue, green, yellow, indigo. The inhabitants decided to paint their houses to give fishermen a way to see their homes when they returned from fishing and fog enveloped the island. A very popular landmark, painted in a plethora of bright colors, is “Bepi’s house”.
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Burano
Island
Island of Venice
Colors
Traditions
venice lagoon
lace-making
art
bussolà
Venice islands tours
Why does the Venice High Tide happen?
The Venice High Tide occurs because of the sum of several factors, which we can bring together in two broad categories: meteorological and astronomical.
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venice high tide
venice
venice lagoon
Punta della Salute
Have a look at the most popular free events in Venice of Carnival 2020!
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What to do during the Carnival
History
Carnival activities
Angel Flight
Svolo del Leon
Cut the bull's head
Most beautiful mask contest
Eagle's Flight
Venice carnival
Once the basin of San Marco was the sea port of Venice and those who came by ship could admire the impressive unique architecture of Palazzo Ducale, seat of the Venetian power, and two marble and granite columns topped by the statues of the two patron saints of Venice: the winged Lion, symbol of St. Mark the Evangelist, and “Todaro”, the Byzantine St. Theodore of Amasea, who was the first protector of the city.
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City of Venice
History
St. Mark
St. Mark's Square
columns of the lion and Saint Theodore
columns of St. Mark's Square
Clock Tower
Venice walking tour
Dress up as a Venetian noble and experience an unforgettable night. After the welcoming cocktail on the ground floor, a special dinner prepared by a chef awaits you on the baroque noble floor of the palace.
The evening will be livened up by opera singers and Dance Masters that will teach you period group dances.
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Things to do during the Carnival
Carnival activities
What to do during the Carnival
Venice carnival
Carnival Balls
Carnival costumes
characteristics of the balls
13/05/2020
venice contents
The first courses are the great pride of Venetian cuisine, from a poor dish they have become true specialties.
Pasta and rice played two important roles in the local cuisine even if the rice, to tell the truth,
was used more on a large scale in the period of the Serenissima, so much so that it was grown.
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venice
venetian cuisine
first courses
Serenissima
subioti
subiotini
bigoli
bigoli mori
risotto
rice and peas
bigoli in sauce
pasta with cuttlefish ink
pasta with scampi in busara
pasta and beans
risotto with scampi
Traditions
cooking class
12/05/2020
venice contents
Visiting a magnificent city also means immersing yourself in its culinary culture, tasting traditional dishes.
The appetizer is a course consumed at the beginning of the meal and preceding the first courses,
corresponds to the French hors d'oeuvre or entrée.
They are small appetizing delicacies to choose and enjoy with a good glass of wine or an aperitif.
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venice
venetian cuisine
granseola
moeche
masanete
clams
mussels
cappelunghe
capasanta
folpetti
sea cicale
shrimps
scampi
schie
Traditions
venetian lagoon
venetian appetizers
cooking class
11/05/2020
venice contents
The history of the Venetian cuisine has very ancient roots, when the local people escaped the raids of tribes from northern Europe and the Orient, abandoning the mainland to take refuge "on the water", in the many islands of the lagoon.
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venice
venetian cuisine
History
Traditions
On this section you can find posts of bloggers who has tried our tours and local experiences: they tell the quality and uniqueness of our products.
In addition there are also some interviews to Venice Tours CEO made by experts of Tourism sectors.
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Blogger
The quintessential Venetian libertine was Casanova, the son of a Venetian actor and a shoemaker’s daughter. As he stated in his autobiography, “My Life and Adventures“
Casanova’s purpose was simply pleasure, and his greatest pleasure was sex, preferably with a new woman.
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History
Things to do during the Carnival
Casanova
Venice carnival
Carnival Balls
Carnival activities
