HISTORY: For Venice, history began somewhere in the dawn of our era, in the sound of swords and incandescent lights, when the great barbaric invasions touched the territory of the Western Roman Empire. Starting with the 9th century, Venice developed into a city state, later known as the Republic of Venice, which has imposed its power in the region until the end of the 17th century.
During the 18th century, Venice became one of the most elegant cities in Europe, but lost its independence when Napoleon Bonaparte conquered the northern Italy on 12 May 1797. After Napoleon signed the Treaty of Campo Formio, Venice became Austrian territory. In 1866, after the War of Independence, Venice became part of the newly created Kingdom of Italy.
GEOGRAPHY: Venice is, today, the capital of the Veneto region, with 50,000 people living in the historical center of the city, from a total of about 265,000 people in the metropolitan area, including here the mainland towns of Mestre and Marghera and the islands of Murano, Burano, Giudecca and Lido.
Venice, the historical center, is composed of 118 small islands and is divided into six areas called sestieri: Cannaregio, San Polo, Dorsoduro, Santa Croce, San Marco (including San Giorgio Maggiore island) and Castello (including the islands San Pietro di Castello and Sant'Elena).
Venice is located about 42 kilometers away from Padua, 68 kilometers away from Vicenza, 120 kilometers away from Verona and about 150 kilometers from Bologna.
TRANSPORT: You can get to Venice by plane, arriving at Marco Polo Airport, in Mestre, or at Antonio Canova Airport, near Treviso. If you get to Venice by train, then the last stop will be in Venezia Santa Lucia train station, on the main island. By car, you will only get to Piazzale Roma, a large parking lot at the entrance to the city. The transport in Venice is mainly on foot or on water, with one of the many vaporetti (waterbuses) that are crossing the lagoon.
LANDMARKS: What can you find in Venice? Doge's Palace (Palazzo Ducale), Bell tower of St. Mark (Campanile di San Marco), Saint Mark's Basilica (Basilica di San Marco), Bridge of Sighs (Ponte dei Sospiri), and those only in the St. Mark's Square. Also, you don’t want to miss the Rialto Bridge, the Correr Museum, the Jewish Ghetto of Venice... Trust us! You don’t want to miss a thing!
MORE INFO: Touristic Portal | Venice Airport | Treviso Airport | Car Hire | Train Timetables & Fares | Waterbus Timetables & Fares | Hotels in Venice
Also known as the Duomo di Murano, the Church of Santa Maria e San Donato is one of the oldest buildings in the Venetian lagoon. Of byzantine conception, the church preserves the relics of Saint Donatus of Arezzo, martyred in the 4th century after Chr Read more [...]
The Church of San Stae stands on the right bank of the Grand Canal, as you come from Piazzale Roma, heading to Piazza San Marco, between Palazzo Vendramin Calergi and Ca d’Oro, at an equal distance. Its external facade, characterized by rich decoratio Read more [...]
Scuola dei Morti (School of the Dead) is a small and charming building from the 17th century, overlooking the Grand Canal, in Venice, placed between Palazzo Flangini and the apse of the Church of San Geremia. SHORT HISTORY The building belonged Read more [...]
The majestic Gritti Palace is a palazzo located across the Grand Canal from the Church of Santa Maria della Salute, in the Sestieri of San Marco, Venice. A place of exceptional art and elegance, the restored Gritti Palace retains its reassuringly inti Read more [...]
Palazzo Malipiero is located on the eastern bank of the Canal Grande, just 100 meters away from Ponte dell’Accademia. Very close to Palazzo Grassi, separated only by the small San Samuele Square. The palace is famous, first of all, as the residence of Read more [...]
Only a few meters away from the Rialto Bridge and the Rialto Market, there is a church considered to be the oldest in Venice, the Church of San Giacomo di Rialto, or San Giacometto. SHORT HISTORY It is believed that the church was consacrated o Read more [...]
The Carnival of Venice is one of the most beautiful carnivals in the world, taking place every year in January, February or even March, on the islands of the Venetian Lagoon. The Venice Carnival has be Read more [...]
The Venice International Art Exhibition, often called simply the Venice Biennale (La Biennale di Venezia), is one of the oldest, most important and prestigious international art exhibitions in the worl Read more [...]
Festa della Sensa (Feast of the Ascension) is certainly one of the most evocative Venetian traditions, recalling important moments in the history of the Serenissima, through the ceremony of the Marriag Read more [...]
Set on Fondamenta delle Zattere, Silk Road Hostel sits on a long and wide promenade, popular for evening walks, dinning, or gr Read more [...]
The majestic Gritti Palace is a palazzo located across the Grand Canal from the Church of Santa Maria della Salute, in the Ses Read more [...]
Residenza de l’Osmarin is situated in the very centre of Venice, just a few minutes’ walk from the stunning Piazza San Marco a Read more [...]
Facing Caffè Florian, we can find another old coffee house, Grancaffè Quadri. Located under the Procuratie Vecchie arcades, in Read more [...]
Caffè Florian is more than just a café, and can rightfully be considered a tourist attraction in itself. Located under the Pro Read more [...]
Il Mercante was created to propose a sensorial journey in the bartending panorama of Venice. The bar is inspired by the life o Read more [...]
Ca’ Macana is one of the oldest and finest mask making workshops in Venice. They are known for one main reason: respect for tr Read more [...]
La Bauta Atelier is one of the few workshops in Venice, where papier-mâché masks are produced every day, following the ancient Read more [...]
VizioVirtù started its adventure in 2005, when they opened their first chocolate factory, a chocolate shop able to cater for e Read more [...]
The Curse of Palazzo Dario
Top 10 Most Beautiful Squares in Italy
Top 10 Cathedrals in Italy with the Most Beautiful Facades
