Self Guided Tours

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Ca' D'Oro, Ca' Farsetti and Palazzo Grimani
18/10/2020
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History & Traditions Self Guided Tours
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
Fondaco dei Turchi and Ca' Pesaro
16/10/2020
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History & Traditions Self Guided Tours
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
La Fenice and San Moisè
15/10/2020
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History & Traditions Self Guided Tours
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
San Maurizio and Santa Maria del Giglio
14/10/2020
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History & Traditions Self Guided Tours
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
Santo Stefano, Sant'Angelo and Campo Manin
13/10/2020
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History & Traditions Self Guided Tours
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
Ponte dei Pugni, San Barnaba and San Trovaso
12/10/2020
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History & Traditions Self Guided Tours
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
Squero of San Trovaso, Zattere and Gesuati
12/10/2020
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History & Traditions Self Guided Tours
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
Erbaria and Pescheria
12/10/2020
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History & Traditions Self Guided Tours
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
San Pantalon and Santa Margherita
11/10/2020
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History & Traditions Self Guided Tours
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
Ponte dei Bareteri, San Salvador and San Bartolomeo
11/10/2020
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History & Traditions Self Guided Tours
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
Sant'Aponal and Ponte delle Tette
10/10/2020
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History & Traditions Self Guided Tours
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
The Bridge of Sighs, the Clock Tower and Mercerie
10/10/2020
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History & Traditions Self Guided Tours St Mark's Square
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
San Tomà, Goldoni's House and San Polo
09/10/2020
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History & Traditions Self Guided Tours
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
Doge's Palace, the Columns of Mark and Theodore and St. Mark's Basin
09/10/2020
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History & Traditions Self Guided Tours St Mark's Square
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
San Nicola da Tolentino and Frari
08/10/2020
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History & Traditions Self Guided Tours
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
Piazza San Marco, Cafè Florian, Campanile and Loggetta and Basilica of San Marco
08/10/2020
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History & Traditions Self Guided Tours St Mark's Square
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
Campo delle Beccarie, San Giovanni Elemosinario and San Giacometto
04/10/2020
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History & Traditions Self Guided Tours
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
San Giovanni in Bragora and Arsenale
04/10/2020
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History & Traditions Self Guided Tours
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
Campo San Zan Degola' and Calle dei Boteri
03/10/2020
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History & Traditions Self Guided Tours
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
Riva degli Schiavoni and Chiesa della Pietà
03/10/2020
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History & Traditions Self Guided Tours
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
Campo San Giacomo dell'Orio and Campo Santa Maria Mater Domini
02/10/2020
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History & Traditions Self Guided Tours
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
San Giorgio dei Greci, Scuola di San Giorgio degli Schiavoni and San Zaccaria
02/10/2020
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History & Traditions Self Guided Tours
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 Bridge of Scalzi and The Church of San Geremia
01/10/2020
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History & Traditions Self Guided Tours
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
The Church of Santa Maria Formosa, Campo Santa Maria Formosa and Museo Querini Stampalia
01/10/2020
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History & Traditions 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
San Rocco and the Bridge of the Constitution
30/09/2020
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History & Traditions Self Guided Tours
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
Barbaria de le Tole and Libreria Acqua Alta
30/09/2020
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History & Traditions Self Guided Tours
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
Basilica of San Giovanni e Paolo and Monumento a Bartolomeo Colleoni
29/09/2020
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History & Traditions Self Guided Tours
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
Chiesa dei Miracoli and Scuola Grande di San Marco
28/09/2020
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History & Traditions Self Guided Tours
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
Ponte delle Ostreghe and Via XXII Marzo
28/09/2020
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History & Traditions 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
San Giacomo in Paludo, Sant'Erasmo and Fauna della Laguna
28/09/2020
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Lagoon Island History & Traditions Self Guided Tours
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
Burano "Bussolà" and The Remiera and the Voga Veneta
27/09/2020
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Lagoon Island History & Traditions Self Guided Tours
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
The best things to do in Venice
27/09/2020
Venice Tours
Lagoon Island Did you know that? Gondola Self Guided Tours St Mark's Square
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
How to pick the right Venice self guided walking tour
26/09/2020
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 Calergi and Santa Fosca
25/09/2020
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History & Traditions Self Guided Tours
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
San Martino Vescovo and The coloured houses
25/09/2020
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Lagoon Island History & Traditions Self Guided Tours
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
The Venetian Lagoon and Lazzaretto Nuovo and sanità
23/09/2020
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Lagoon Island History & Traditions Self Guided Tours
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
Burano Island and Museo del Merletto
22/09/2020
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Lagoon Island History & Traditions Self Guided Tours
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
Marco Polo's House, Fondaco dei Tedeschi and the Rialto Bridge
21/09/2020
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History & Traditions 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
The Canal Grande of Murano, Santi Maria e Donato and Santa Maria degli Angeli
21/09/2020
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Lagoon Island History & Traditions Self Guided Tours
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
Scuola Grande della Misericordia, Gesuiti and Santi Apostoli
20/09/2020
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History & Traditions Self Guided Tours
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
The Faro of Murano, San Pietro Martire and Museo del Vetro
20/09/2020
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Lagoon Island History & Traditions Self Guided Tours
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
Campo dei Mori and Madonna dell'Orto
19/09/2020
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History & Traditions Self Guided Tours
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
San Michele Island and Murano Island and the glass
18/09/2020
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Lagoon Island History & Traditions Self Guided Tours
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
Campo del Ghetto Nuovo, Campiello dell'Anconeta and Campo della Maddalena
15/09/2020
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History & Traditions Self Guided Tours
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
Lista di Spagna, San Geremia and Ponte delle Guglie
12/09/2020
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History & Traditions Self Guided Tours
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
The Gondola and Venice Canals
12/09/2020
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History & Traditions Self Guided Tours
The gondola has always fascinated and inspired artists and writers from all over the world with its elegance and its aura of mystery. [...]
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Mazzorbo and the Ponte Lungo, Torcello Island, The Devil's Bridge and Attila's Throne
12/09/2020
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Lagoon Island History & Traditions 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
Harry's Bar and Ernest Hemingway
12/09/2020
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History & Traditions Did you know that? Art 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
Rio Terà Antonio Foscarini and Accademia
11/09/2020
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History & Traditions Self Guided Tours
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
The Gondoliers, Paline and Pirati and Palazzo Dario
10/09/2020
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History & Traditions Self Guided Tours
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
Santa Fosca and Basilica of Santa Maria Assunta
10/09/2020
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Lagoon Island History & Traditions Self Guided Tours
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
5 Non touristy things to do in Venice
10/09/2020
Did you know that? Self Guided Tours Lagoon Island
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
Gritti Palace, Chiesa della Salute and Punta della Dogana
08/09/2020
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History & Traditions Self Guided Tours
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
Venice and the Belle Epoque, the foreigner Simmel and Monet
07/09/2020
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History & Traditions Self Guided Tours Art
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
The History of Venice
06/09/2020
Tommaso
Did you know that? History & Traditions 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
Ca' Rezzonico, Palazzetto Pisani and Peggy Guggenheim Collection
05/09/2020
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History & Traditions Self Guided Tours
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
Palazzo Pisani Moretta and Ca' Foscari
04/09/2020
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History & Traditions 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
Art and professions in the Dorsoduro Sestiere
04/09/2020
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History & Traditions Gondola Art 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