Self Guided Tours

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20/10/2022
Venice Palaces: Ca’Dario, the history of a "cursed" palace
Among the stories and legends that linger in Venice palaces, let’s discover the history Ca'Dario, also known as "the cursed palace of Venice."
Chiara History & Traditions Self Guided Tours
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18/10/2022
Ca' D'Oro, Ca' Farsetti and Palazzo Grimani
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.
Toni History & Traditions Self Guided Tours
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10/10/2022
The Bridge of Sighs, the Clock Tower and Mercerie
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.
Joseph History & Traditions Self Guided Tours St Mark's Square
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08/10/2022
Piazza San Marco, Cafè Florian, Campanile and Loggetta and Basilica of San Marco
You are now entering Piazza San Marco. This is the true heart of Venice, which Napoleon called “the most elegant drawing-room in Europe”.
Caterina History & Traditions Self Guided Tours St Mark's Square
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
01/10/2022
The Church of Santa Maria Formosa, Campo Santa Maria Formosa and Museo Querini Stampalia
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.
Joseph History & Traditions Self Guided Tours
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28/09/2022
Ponte delle Ostreghe and Via XXII Marzo
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.
Caterina History & Traditions Self Guided Tours
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26/09/2022
How to pick the right Venice self guided walking tour
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.
Louis Self Guided Tours
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25/09/2022
Ca' Vendramin Calergi and Santa Fosca
Ca’ Vendramin is famous today for being Venice’s Casinò, and indeed the first casinò in the world.
Pascal History & Traditions Self Guided Tours
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21/09/2022
Marco Polo's House, Fondaco dei Tedeschi and the Rialto Bridge
In Corte Seconda del Milion you’ll see a plaque dedicated to Marco Polo, who apparently live in this house.
Joseph History & Traditions Self Guided Tours
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12/09/2022
Mazzorbo and the Ponte Lungo, Torcello Island, The Devil's Bridge and Attila's Throne
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.
Caterina Lagoon Island History & Traditions Self Guided Tours
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05/09/2022
Ca' Rezzonico, Palazzetto Pisani and Peggy Guggenheim Collection
Ca’ Rezzonico, today Museum of Venice’s 18th century art, is one of the largest palaces on the Grand Canal.
Caterina History & Traditions Self Guided Tours
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04/09/2022
Palazzo Pisani Moretta and Ca' Foscari
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.
Joseph History & Traditions Self Guided Tours
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27/01/2022
Must-sees in Venice
So many places to visit and discover. Don’t know what to see in Venice? Venice Tours here suggests 5 must-sees, you definitely can’t miss.
Anne Lagoon Island Did you know that? Gondola Self Guided Tours St Mark's Square
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05/01/2022
Venetian Gondola and Gondoliers
The Venetian gondola is a great way to have a unique experience in Venice and see the city from a new perspective.
venice contents History & Traditions Self Guided Tours Gondola
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16/10/2020
Fondaco dei Turchi and Ca' Pesaro
The Fondaco dei Turchi, built in the 1400’s, became in 1621 the workplace and residence allotted to merchants of the Ottoman empire.
venice contents History & Traditions Self Guided Tours
venice History Traditions Fondaco dei Turchi Natural History Museum Ca' Pesaro Palazzo Pesaro Museum of Oriental Art Self Guided Tours
15/10/2020
La Fenice and San Moisè
Campo San Fantin is a quaint little square from where you’ll see the entrance to Fenice Theatre.
venice contents History & Traditions Self Guided Tours
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14/10/2020
San Maurizio and Santa Maria del Giglio
Here is the Church of San Maurizio, and in this square antiques markets are often held.
venice contents History & Traditions Self Guided Tours
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13/10/2020
Santo Stefano, Sant'Angelo and Campo Manin
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 contents History & Traditions Self Guided Tours
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12/10/2020
Ponte dei Pugni, San Barnaba and San Trovaso
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 contents History & Traditions Self Guided Tours
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12/10/2020
Squero of San Trovaso, Zattere and Gesuati
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 contents History & Traditions Self Guided Tours
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12/10/2020
Erbaria and Pescheria
This empty space giving onto the Grand Canal is the Erbaria, which is Venetian for Herbs Store.
venice contents History & Traditions Self Guided Tours
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11/10/2020
San Pantalon and Santa Margherita
Here we are in Campo San Pantalon, with the church dedicated to Saint Pantaleon, a priest who was martyred in the 3rd century.
venice contents History & Traditions Self Guided Tours
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11/10/2020
Ponte dei Bareteri, San Salvador and San Bartolomeo
You are now on the Ponte dei Bareteri, the hatmakers’ bridge, which is halfway along the Mercerie.
venice contents History & Traditions Self Guided Tours
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10/10/2020
Sant'Aponal and Ponte delle Tette
Entering Campo sant’Aponal, at the centre we see a typical Venetian well in Istrian stone.
venice contents History & Traditions Self Guided Tours
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09/10/2020
San Tomà, Goldoni's House and San Polo
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 contents History & Traditions Self Guided Tours
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09/10/2020
Doge's Palace, the Columns of Mark and Theodore and St. Mark's Basin
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 contents History & Traditions Self Guided Tours St Mark's Square
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08/10/2020
San Nicola da Tolentino and Frari
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 contents History & Traditions Self Guided Tours
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04/10/2020
Campo delle Beccarie, San Giovanni Elemosinario and San Giacometto
Campo delle Beccarie, this is one of the many parts of the Rialto market, the economic force of the Venetian Republic.
venice contents History & Traditions Self Guided Tours
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04/10/2020
San Giovanni in Bragora and Arsenale
Entering the peaceful Campo San Giovanni in Bragora, we see the simple gothic Church where Antonio Vivaldi was baptised.
venice contents History & Traditions Self Guided Tours
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03/10/2020
Campo San Zan Degola' and Calle dei Boteri
Here we are in Campo San Giovanni Decollato, and this is as secret as Venice gets.
venice contents History & Traditions Self Guided Tours
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03/10/2020
Riva degli Schiavoni and Chiesa della Pietà
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 contents History & Traditions Self Guided Tours
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02/10/2020
Campo San Giacomo dell'Orio and Campo Santa Maria Mater Domini
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 contents History & Traditions Self Guided Tours
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02/10/2020
San Giorgio dei Greci, Scuola di San Giorgio degli Schiavoni and San Zaccaria
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 contents History & Traditions Self Guided Tours
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01/10/2020
The Bridge of Scalzi and The Church of San Geremia
The Bridge of Scalzi, literally of the barefoot, is named after the Church of the Scalzi located on the left.
venice contents History & Traditions Self Guided Tours
venice History Scalzi bridge Church of San Geremia Self Guided Tours
30/09/2020
San Rocco and the Bridge of the Constitution
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 contents History & Traditions Self Guided Tours
venice History San Rocco the Bridge of the Constitution Self Guided Tours
30/09/2020
Barbaria de le Tole and Libreria Acqua Alta
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 contents History & Traditions Self Guided Tours
venice History Traditions barbaria de le tole libreria acqua alta Self Guided Tours
29/09/2020
Basilica of San Giovanni e Paolo and Monumento a Bartolomeo Colleoni
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 contents History & Traditions Self Guided Tours
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28/09/2020
Chiesa dei Miracoli and Scuola Grande di San Marco
The Chiesa dei Miracoli is the Church of Miracles. The story of how it was first built is interesting, if not wholly true.
venice contents History & Traditions Self Guided Tours
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28/09/2020
San Giacomo in Paludo, Sant'Erasmo and Fauna della Laguna
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 contents Lagoon Island History & Traditions Self Guided Tours
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27/09/2020
Burano "Bussolà" and The Remiera and the Voga Veneta
Among Burano’s traditions, food is definitely up there, and at the top of that list are the Bussolà, the buranese biscuits.
venice contents Lagoon Island History & Traditions Self Guided Tours
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25/09/2020
San Martino Vescovo and The coloured houses
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 contents Lagoon Island History & Traditions Self Guided Tours
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23/09/2020
The Venetian Lagoon and Lazzaretto Nuovo and sanità
The Venetian Lagoon is a stretch of water 55km long comprised between two rivers flowing from the mainland.
venice contents Lagoon Island History & Traditions Self Guided Tours
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22/09/2020
Burano Island and Museo del Merletto
Burano Island is, next to the almost unpopulated Torcello, the one truly inhabitated centre of the northern lagoon.
venice contents Lagoon Island History & Traditions Self Guided Tours
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21/09/2020
The Canal Grande of Murano, Santi Maria e Donato and Santa Maria degli Angeli
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 contents Lagoon Island History & Traditions Self Guided Tours
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20/09/2020
Scuola Grande della Misericordia, Gesuiti and Santi Apostoli
Scuola Grande in Venice was initially a place where the poor, sick and destitute could receive help and assistance.
venice contents History & Traditions Self Guided Tours
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20/09/2020
The Faro of Murano, San Pietro Martire and Museo del Vetro
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 contents Lagoon Island History & Traditions Self Guided Tours
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19/09/2020
Campo dei Mori and Madonna dell'Orto
In 1113 the Mastelli family, a merchant family who traded in silk and spices, arrived in Venice from Peloponneseus in Greece.
venice contents History & Traditions Self Guided Tours
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18/09/2020
San Michele Island and Murano Island and the glass
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 contents Lagoon Island History & Traditions Self Guided Tours
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15/09/2020
Campo del Ghetto Nuovo, Campiello dell'Anconeta and Campo della Maddalena
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 contents History & Traditions Self Guided Tours
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12/09/2020
Lista di Spagna, San Geremia and Ponte delle Guglie
This is Lista di Spagna. The name Lista comes from the Italian verb meaning ‘to delimit’.
venice contents History & Traditions Self Guided Tours
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12/09/2020
The Gondola and Venice Canals
The gondola has always fascinated and inspired artists and writers from all over the world with its elegance and its aura of mystery.
venice contents History & Traditions Self Guided Tours
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12/09/2020
Harry's Bar and Ernest Hemingway
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.
vctour History & Traditions Did you know that? Art Self Guided Tours
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11/09/2020
Rio Terà Antonio Foscarini and Accademia
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.
venice contents History & Traditions Self Guided Tours
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10/09/2020
Santa Fosca and Basilica of Santa Maria Assunta
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.
venice contents Lagoon Island History & Traditions Self Guided Tours
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10/09/2020
The Gondoliers, Paline and Pirati and Palazzo Dario
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.
venice contents History & Traditions Self Guided Tours
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09/09/2020
5 non-touristy things to do in Venice
Many walking tours available in the Venice City Tours app will show you Venice as you have never seen it. What are you waiting for?
Did you know that? Self Guided Tours Lagoon Island
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08/09/2020
Gritti Palace, Chiesa della Salute and Punta della Dogana
Ernest Hemingway called the Gritti Palace “the greatest hotel in a city of great hotels”.
venice contents History & Traditions Self Guided Tours
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07/09/2020
Venice and the Belle Epoque, the foreigner Simmel and Monet
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.
vctour History & Traditions Self Guided Tours Art
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06/09/2020
The History of Venice
Discover the history of Venice, one of the most charming and beautiful cities in the world!
Tommaso Did you know that? History & Traditions Self Guided Tours
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
04/09/2020
Art and professions in the Dorsoduro Sestiere
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?
vctour History & Traditions Gondola Art Self Guided Tours
Gondola squero san trovaso venice History church of san sebastiano Self Guided Tours

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