Things To Do In Venice

Location: Italy

Languages: Italian, Venetian, English, German, French

Best Time to Visit: April to September

Time Zone: CET, UTC+1

Driving Side: Right Side

Main Attractions: Piazza San Marco, Golden House, Marciano Museum, Accademia Gallery, Giardino Giusti, Scuola Grande di San Rocco, Grand Canal

 

Venice is an Italian city, which forms the capital of the Veneto region of the country. It is known by a number of other names, like ‘La Dominante’, ‘Serenissima’, ‘Queen of the Adriatic’, ‘City of Water’, ‘City of Bridges’ and ‘The City of Light’. Venice, along with Padua, forms the Padua-Venice Metropolitan Area. One of the most beautiful cities of the world, it was formed on 117 different islands. Today, over 150 canals, 400 bridges and many ancient pavements stand linking the various parts of the city with one another. A favorite honeymoon destination, Venice comprises of numerous monuments, museums, parks and gardens, which make up its most popular tourist attractions. Read on further and explore the things to do in Venice.

 

 

The monuments of Venice, being over 1000 years old, have attracted visitors since ages. Piazza San Marco is one of the busiest places in the city and stands surrounded with many significant public buildings. It is here that you will find Basilica San Marco and Torre dell'Orologio Clock Tower. Ponte di Rialto is a bridge along the Grand Canal, designed by Antonio da Ponte. The area around the bridge houses shopping stalls and notable buildings. Golden House is a palace in Venice that has been built as per Gothic architecture and stands adorned with gilded façade, justifying its name. Ca' Rezzonico, Scuola Grande di San Rocco, Palazzo Mocenigo and Santa Maria della Salute also merit a visit.

 

Marciano Museum forms a part of the Basilica San Marco complex and houses a gallery. Its collection includes manuscripts, ancient mosaics & antique tapestries. Palazzo Ducale, an excellent example of Gothic architecture, displays paintings of famous artists. Correr Museum exhibits a diverse mix of historical items and artworks. Naval Museum houses artifacts retrieved from popular ships, some gondolas and nautical memorabilia. Natural History Museum, as the name suggests, boasts of an interesting collection of fossils. Make sure to visit Museo Archeologico, Ca' Pesaro and Scuola Di San Giorgio Degli Schiavoni too.

 

Venice is known for being a reservoir of the most stunning pieces of art. Accademia Gallery is home to Venice's single most important art collection and houses paintings dating back from the 14^th to 18^th century. Bac Art Studio displays paintings of Venice scenes, angels, flowers and animals. If you want to look at sculptures, along with paintings, head for Bugno or Contini. At Scuola di San Giorgio degli Schiavoni, you will find many pieces by Vittore Carpaccio, including 'St. George and the Dragon'. Gallery Holly Snapp, Ravagnan and Scuola Grande Di San Rocco are other notable art galleries in Venice.

 

Though it seems incredible to read, Venice is known for housing numerous parks and gardens too. Giardino Giusti is one of the finest Renaissance gardens in Italy. It was laid out by Giardino Giusti, in the year 1580.  Parco delle Rimembranze was built as a memorial to the soldiers who died in World War II. Giardinetti Reali is known for its colorful environs, blooming with flowers, and tranquil atmosphere. Giardini Pubblici is situated along Riva degli Schiavoni and with its swings and slides, is the perfect place for picnic. Hruska Botanical Gardens contains more than 2,000 different varieties of plants and flowers.

 

When in Venice, make sure to shop for its fine silk and glorious velvets, Venetian glassware, masks and costumes, as well as junk jewelry. All of them make the perfect souvenirs to take back home. Amongst the oldest and the most popular shopping streets of the city are Mercerie and the nearby Calle dei Fabbri. As you walk from the Piazza to the Accademia Bridge, you will find the more up-market stores of Venice. To the north of Campo Santo Stefano is the shopping street that is best for buying souvenirs and gifts. The narrow streets from the Rialto area to San Polo are the best for reasonable shopping.