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Must Do In Venice Italy – Welcome to Venicewith Context, where lifelong learners come together to do what they love most – be it through our tours, seminars or stories!
You may have heard of a small town on the northeast coast of Italy – a beautiful city suspended in water, adorned with architecture that tells the story of a mighty empire and the burgeoning art scene of a bygone era. Venice, the capital of the Veneto region, is an attraction like no other. It is made up of about a hundred small islands in a lagoon at the top of the Adriatic Sea, so the best way to cross is through the channel. Venice’s sheer uniqueness has made it the romantic backdrop it is today, and its beauty is an excellent complement to the remarkable history that the city has also experienced. We’ve outlined some of our favorite destinations to see in Venice for their historical significance and fascinating roles in making the city what it is today. From must-try art to eclectic neighborhoods, you can start with Context.
Must Do In Venice Italy
Inspired to learn more about Venice? Check out our upcoming seminars and online courses on all things Venice.
Things To Do In Venice For 3 Perfect Days
Our knowledgeable expert Matteo Gabrielli gave us all about Rialto, so you can know before you go.
Curving across the Grand Canal in all its stone glory is the historic Rialto Bridge, the oldest bridge to cross the canal. It is the oldest of the four notable bridges in Venice. Since the 12th century, it has been built and rebuilt several times. Nicolò Barattieri laid the groundwork for this beautiful structure in 1178, when it was a floating wooden walkway meant to connect the two sides of the canal. At first it was made of old shallow boats to support people passing by. To make it more favorable, the pontoon was turned into a wooden drawbridge. But like many wooden structures in history, it caught fire during the Great Fire of Rialto in 1514. In 1588, Antonio da Ponte began its transformation into the stone arch bridge it is today.
Part of the allure of the Rialto Bridge comes from its symmetry. Both sides of her bow are almost exactly the same. The high, wide arch is topped by a low parapet, a protective wall along the edge of the bridge. There are also rows of shops above the grey-white walkway. Once you’re on the bridge, you’ll want to head south. Although it is often crowded, this side has the best view of Venice and the Grand Canal. You can avoid the crowds by arriving at the bridge in the early hours of the morning. Reward yourself with a delicious breakfast at the Rialto Market afterwards!
For centuries, the Rialto Market area was the economic center of Venice. The market’s historical roots go back to when the small island was settled by the first Venetians. At that time it was called Rivoaltus. By the 11th century, the area had already become the city’s central market. Merchant goods were loaded and unloaded on boats crossing the Grand Canal. Eventually, it made sense to connect these two waterfronts with a bridge – the Rialto Bridge! This market originally sold vegetables, fruits, cheeses, meats, fish, expensive spices from the East, metal, precious stones, silk and other luxury items. To this day, these divisions are still recognized. The area is organized by the product and merchandise stalls that previously existed throughout history.
The Top Things To Do In Venice
The city is surrounded by water, so it’s not surprising that there was a large and prominent fish market at the Rialto Market. Fun fact: there used to be an official fishery that determined the freshness, quality and size of the fish before they were sold. Years later, a white marble plaque still exists that specifies the minimum size of a fish before it can be sold.
If you go to the Rialto Market, avoid the rush by going early. Shop for fresh produce, spices and wine for an aromatic, crunchy meal. You can take a Rialto market tour with us through the market and sample local specialties with a local chef, cookery writer or foodie. Learn about the special cuisines of Venice like
, a small glass of wine and much more! And if you want to taste the wines of Venice, be sure to check out our Wine Tasting: Wines of Venice and the Venetotour.
Piazza San Marco, or St. Mark’s Square, has been an important meeting place for Venetians and tourists alike throughout time. Napoleon once referred to St. Mark’s Square as the “Living Room of Europe”, probably because of its wonderful tranquility as you sit back and take in your surroundings. Like the royal Basilica, the impressive square was made to showcase the city’s richness, especially as it comes from the direction of the water. The Square represents all forms of public life with its political, religious, historical and intellectual buildings, such as the Basilica of San Marco, the Belfry of San Marco, the Ducal Palace, the National Library of San Marco, the National Archaeological Museum, the Correr Museum and the many outdoor cafes.
Must See Places & Top Things To Do In Venice, Italy (+map & Tips)
St. Mark’s Square used to be paved with terracotta blocks, but this material was replaced by stone in 1735. You’ll see two 12th-century columns by the waterfront with statues of both of Venice’s patron saints: St. a winged lion (which you can also see on the grand façade of St. Mark’s Basilica) and St. Theodore. Let’s delve into some of the important places in this square below.
Begun in 829, St. Mark’s Basilica is one of the oldest and most renowned buildings in Venice. Did you know that the origins of the basilica involve theft? Not exactly the holy start you’d think! According to history, St. Mark’s Basilica was built to house relics stolen from Alexandria, Egypt. Venetian merchants stole the body of St. Mark the Evangelist, one of the four apostles who kept him in the city. The thieves nearly died at sea bringing their precious cargo back, but as legend has it, St. Mark himself told the captain to lower the sails for safety. You can see the tale illustrated in the 13th century mosaic above the door as you enter the great space.
The church, like many historic landmarks, has been burned down, restored and renovated countless times. The first iteration was burned in 976 as an act of defiance against the doge Pietro Candiano IV. The Basilica as it now stands was completed sometime between 1063 and 1094 under his successor, Doge Domenico Contarini.
Crowned by five domes in a Greek cross plan, the design is in the Byzantine style and has been renovated throughout history to represent Venice’s wealth. Its opulent decor, rich interiors and magnificent facades were added to over a few centuries. According to Matteo, after the sack of Constantinople and the Fourth Crusade, many of the treasures were shipped to St. Mark’s Basilica, such as polychrome stones, four bronze horses, gold altarpiece enamels, and much more. Venice especially had to show off its rich power as it became a maritime power with the military occupation of the Greek and Turkish islands in the 13th century. The expensive marbles, sculptures, ceremonial objects and gilded mosaics do a good job of showcasing Venetian lavishness. No wonder St. Mark’s Basilica has become a treasure chest for war looters!
Things To Do In Venice (italy) In 48 Hours
There’s a lot to look at in this grand basilica, but you might want to start with the gorgeous facades, a mix of smooth marble slabs, colorful columns and gold-backed mosaics. If you turn your head towards the larger façade, you will see the four bronze horses of Constantinople. On top of these dashing horses, you can see an imposing golden lion with wings over the square, the patron saint of Venice in animal form. Upon entering, you will be in awe as you watch the change from natural light to reflected light from thousands of gleaming tiles.
Would you believe it’s just the beginning? In fact, there are enough mosaics in St. Mark’s Basilica to cover a football field and a half! See in detail and learn much more about the ornate basilica from an expert on our Venice introductory tour.
Many of history’s relics have been built and rebuilt and the Bell Tower of San Marco is no different. The Campanile di San Marco is the bell tower of the Basilica of San Marco and is one of the best known representations of Venice. It was originally built as a watchtower to catch ships approaching Venice and to protect the city. Construction began in the 12th century and was completed in the 16th century with a tower and belfry. As well as signifying religious services and holidays, bells also regulated public life by ringing at the beginning and end of a working day, indicating political events and marking public executions.
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Another claim to fame for this remarkable site is that Galileo Galilei presented his telescope to Doge
