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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.
[...]
venice
venice lagoon
History
Traditions
venice islands
mazzorbo
Burano
ponte lungo
Torcello
devil's bridge
attila's throne
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.
[...]
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
Ca’ Rezzonico, today Museum of Venice’s 18th century art, is one of the largest palaces on the Grand Canal.
[...]
venice
History
Traditions
ca' rezzonico
museum of 18th century art
grand canal
palazzetto pisani
Peggy Guggenheim
peggy guggenheim collection
Gondola
Self Guided Tours
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.
[...]
venice
History
Traditions
palazzo pisani moretta
Carnival Balls
Venice Carnival
ca' foscari
venice's university
Doge
venetian republic
Self Guided Tours
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.
[...]
venice
History
Traditions
rio terà antonio foscarini
Church of Sant'Agnese
byzantine building
accademia
accademia art gallery
venetian republic
Self Guided 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.
[...]
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.
[...]
venice
venice lagoon
History
Traditions
Torcello
santa fosca
Basilica of Santa Maria Assunta
gothic structure
art
Self Guided Tours
08/09/2020
venice contents
Ernest Hemingway called the Gritti Palace “the greatest hotel in a city of great hotels”.
[...]
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
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.
[...]
History
venice
Belle Epoque
simmel
monet
Gondola
art
Self Guided Tours
Discover the history of Venice, one of the most charming and beautiful cities in the world!
[...]
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
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?
[...]
Gondola
squero san trovaso
venice
History
church of san sebastiano
Self Guided Tours
