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Things You Must See In Venice Italy – Venice is a beautiful Italian gem to explore. It’s the kind of city that’s totally unique, with miles of canals, little alleyways and loads of history, you’ll be spoiled for choice when it comes to deciding on the best things to do in Venice while you’re there.
Now, with all the canals and stunning little alleys, I’m almost certain (at one point in the trip) you’ll get totally lost; This has happened to me countless times in Venice. However, the great thing about Venice is that even if you go a little off the beaten path, you’ll find plenty of gems, as most of the beautiful spots are scattered throughout the city.
Things You Must See In Venice Italy
In addition, there are also a lot of ice cream places around Venice. It’s almost like it’s asking to be eaten. Of course, take this as your duty to “sample” as much as possible (well, that’s my excuse for overindulging in Venice). Just make sure you stay away from the main tourist spots, prices vary considerably in Venice. Plus, take a look at how to find the best ice cream. There are a few easy “rules” to follow to get the best ice cream.
Things You Must Do In Venice
Anyway, below I have put some of the gems of Venice that I hope you will like. Some are iconic spots you can’t miss, while others are a little further away from the crowds. Either way, I hope you find some that you like.
Probably the most famous churches in Venice, seeing St. Mark’s Basilica is one of the best things to do in Venice if you want to see some of the city’s Byzantine architecture (it’s totally stunning).
With centuries of history, be sure to see the iconic mosaics that make this place so special. These mosaics date back hundreds and hundreds of years and still look amazing.
Just make sure you get there early if you want to miss most of the queues, this place can get pretty busy.
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Another ‘must see’ place, Piazza San Marco is one of the most popular places to visit in Venice. This large open square is stunning at any time of the day and is probably the largest “open space” in all of Venice.
Now, it’s quite easy to stroll around the Piazza San Marco area after visiting St. Mark’s Basilica, the National Library or the Doge’s Palace. You see, all these places line the square.
In a way, it’s a bit like going to Time Square in New York or seeing the Eiffel Tower in Venice, as it can be packed with fellow travelers and the cafe/food prices can be a bit higher because of it.
If you are going to eat, I would suggest going a bit away from the main square by following the small canals.
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For example, if you are looking for a special dinner, go to Bistrot de Venise, which is a luxury place that is worth it.
As the oldest bridge crossing Venice’s Grand Canal, the Rialto Bridge has become one of the key sights you must see on your stroll through this beautiful city.
In fact, it is so old that there is evidence of a bridge on this site dating back nearly 1,000 years!
Nowadays, it is usually full of visitors and can be very busy. So if you want to avoid most of the crowds, hop on a gondola and glide under the bridge.
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Commonly called The Frari, it may look a bit plain from the outside, but don’t be fooled, it’s charming and one of the few places in Venice that still retains its medieval Venetian design.
Once inside, and although the lighting can be a bit harsh to see everything, be sure to check out the Assumption of the Virgin (by Titian) and see the stunning heart stops by Marco Cozzi .
Now, if you’re not into your art or history, you might want to skip it, but it’s totally free to enter and a lovely place for a 20-minute visit.
Located on the Grand Canal itself, Ca’ Rezzonico is a Rococo Baroque palace that is absolutely stunning to behold. In my opinion, it is one of the best preserved palaces in Venice and has an amazing art collection that is amazing to explore.
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Not only that, it’s one of the best things to do in Venice if you take a little shower. Step inside, check out the world-class art collections, and be sure to see the Ballroom (with Apollo’s chariot on the ceiling); so nice.
In many ways, the Bridge of Sighs may seem utterly romantic, but it also has a relatively dark history.
You see, the ornate bridge was actually built as a way to connect the Doge’s Palace with its prison and interrogation rooms. It is said to have been named the Bridge of Sighs as it was the last view of Venice that convicted criminals would see before being imprisoned or executed.
Fortunately, you don’t have to be a prisoner to see this impressive bridge. Just go to Ponte della Paglia and you will get a great view.
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Then, it goes to Bacaro 22 vintido’. Trust me, they make one of the best carbonaras in town and it’s also very reasonably priced.
So the Grand Canal is a bit like a “water highway” in Venice. It’s full of boats, gondolas and plenty of water taxis.
Now, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t visit, but you don’t have to plan a trip to walk the Grand Canal. In fact, you will find it quite naturally if you are already seeing Ca’ Rezzonico or the Rialto Bridge.
Now, I personally suggest taking a short gondola tour (yes, they can be a bit pricey) or if you want to save money, take the water taxi from the airport and go straight to Venice.
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This goes directly over the Grand Canal and is a unique way to get to the city. You can take a shared water taxi (cheaper) or a private boat (more expensive) from the airport.
Seat of the Venetian government, the Doge’s Palace has a long history within the Venetian empire (which stretched far beyond Venice to places like present-day Croatia and Greece (to name a few).
Today, you can go to the Doge’s Palace and explore some of the incredible rooms and fine arts that are centuries old. Now, one thing I would say is book your tickets online before you go, that way you’ll save a lot of time on the ground.
It really is one of the best things to do in Venice and a place not to be missed while exploring the city.
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Spread over several floors, you’ll find Tintoretto paintings, sculptures and some incredible rooms that look like something out of a fairy tale.
Now, once inside, the first floor may seem a bit bland, but once you head to the upper floors, you’ll see what makes this place so special. It is a must visit.
As one of the islands that make up the city of Venice, San Giorgio Maggiore is a bit quieter than the area around St. Mark’s Square and is very pleasant to visit.
Not only that, it is very easy to visit by taking the vaporetto Water Bus (ACTVLine No. 2) and only costs a few euros.
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Once here, be sure to check out the views from the bell tower of the church of San Giorgio Maggiore; is one of the best in the city.
Afterwards, wander over to Osteria Al Squero for some of their tasty crostinis and a cold Aperol Spritz. It’s nothing fancy, but the crostinis are so delicious.
Although it is a relatively small palace in Venice, the Palazzo Contarini Del Bovolo is well worth a look; especially for the famous staircase that is outside the building itself.
It’s easily one of the best things to do in Venice if you’re looking for a smaller palace and are short on time. After all, you don’t necessarily need a tour here and you can easily visit the place in about 20-30 minutes.
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Being one of the most famous libraries in the world, the Marciana Library holds some of the most important texts in all of Italy.
Although the library is not the largest, it is worth seeing (even just from the outside) after visiting the Doge’s Palace.
Plus, it’s right next door to the Scuola Grande di San Rocco, which is home to incredible art (which I mentioned above).
Just be sure to see if the church is closed for renovations before you visit; Lately, it has been open and closed at different times.
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Now, don’t be fooled by its small size, seeing the Church of Santa Maria Del Giglio is easily one of the best things to do in Venice; especially if you like the history of this city.
Although you’ll see so many beautiful basilicas and churches around Venice, you’ll still want to pop in here; even for a 10 minute walk. For me, it is one of the most beautiful baroque facades in the city.
Be aware though, this can be quite a busy place on weekends and during peak times. So, to avoid them, plan to go earlier in the morning, which is usually the case
