All Places in Veneto

Palazzo Michiel dalle Colonne is a palace in Venice, located about 250 meters from the Rialto Bridge, overlooking the Grand Canal near Palazzo Michiel del Brusà. The palace is known for the architectural structure of its ground floor, with a portico along the whole facade, divided by very tall columns.   SHORT HISTORY OF PALAZZO MICHIEL DALLE COLONNE The palace was built in the 13th century by the Grimani family, whose coat of arms is carved on an old well in the courtyard. Originally, it probably followed the Venetian-Byzantine style typical of that period. Starting with 1661, the palace was attested as the property of the Zen family, and was named dalle Colonne (of the Columns). To the Zen family, we owe the partial rebuilding to a design by Antonio Gaspari, completed in 1697. In 1702, the palace was given to Ferdinando Carlo di Gonzaga-Nevers, the last duke of Mantua and Monferrato. He lived there starting with 1706, after he was exiled by the Austrians who emerged victorious in the War of the Spanish Succession. In 1712, the palace was bought by the Conigli family, nobles of Verona. It seems they have never used it, and in 1714 they sold 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 decorations, faces the Canal Grande, and you can not pass beside it on a vaporetto without at least one admirative look.   SHORT STORY The church is said to have been built in 966 and dedicated to Sant’Eustacchio (San Stae, in the Venetian dialect). St. Eustacchio was the commander of Trajan’s army, who would have seen a crucifix between the antlers of a deer, while hunting. The first reference is in a document from 1127, where the church is remembered as a filial parish of San Pietro. This original church, rebuilt in the 12th century following a fire, was demolished in 1678. The current church was built by Giovanni Grassi, who realigned it to face the Grand Canal.   ART AND ARCHITECTURE The facade, which has the form of a temple, with an imposing triangular pediment, supported by columns resting on high pedestals, was built by Domenico Rossi in 1709, whose design was the winner of a competition. Read more [...]

Palazzo Grimani is a historic palace in Padua, located on Prato della Valle, one of the city’s most important monumental spaces. The building stands near Basilica of Santa Giustina, Orto Botanico di Padova, and Basilica of Saint Anthony, in the southern part of the historic center. The palace is also known as Palazzo Verson, formerly Grimani, a name connected with later ownership. The complex is historically important, but it is private property, so visitors normally see it only from the outside. Palazzo Grimani was built over medieval structures and transformed by the Grimani dai Servi family from 1561. The earlier Gothic buildings were reorganized into a noble residence, then completed in a more monumental form between 1621 and 1630, during the seventeenth-century development of Prato della Valle. The palace is linked with Giovanni Antonio Rusconi, Francesco Contin, and Mattia de Rossi. De Rossi, a Roman Baroque architect connected with Bernini’s circle, designed an ambitious enlargement in 1671, but the project was never completed. His plan remains central to the palace’s architectural history.     Short History of Palazzo Grimani Medieval Origins and the Grimani Family The site of Palazzo Grimani was already occupied in the late fourteenth century by several Read more [...]

Ca’ Vendramin Calergi, also known as Palazzo Loredan Vendramin Calergi, is an imposing palace on the Grand Canal, in Venice, where the composer Richard Wagner died in 1883. Since 1950, Palazzo Vendramin Calergi il also known for hosting the oldest casino in the world, Casino di Venezia, established in 1638.   SHORT HISTORY OF CA’ VENDRAMIN CALERGI The palace was commissioned in the late 15th century by the Loredan family to the famous architect Mauro Codussi. The building was his last work, completed in 1509, five years after his death. In 1581, the palace was sold to the Duke of Brunswick and, after some legal troubles, in 1589, it was bought by a rich nobleman, Vettor Calergi, for his wedding with Isabetta Gritti. Vettor Calergi had only one daughter, Marina, who was married in 1608 to Vincenzo Grimani. The palace passed, by inheritance, to the sons of Marina with the obligation to take also the surname Calergi. The three sons of Marina remained famous for their ferocity – after the cruel murder of Francesco Querini Stampalia, they were banned from the Republic and deprived of the property, but after a donation to the Senate for war expenses, they were reinstated in Read more [...]

The Church of San Geremia and Santa Lucia is a church in Venice, located on the left bank of the Grand Canal, as you are heading to Piazza San Marco, right before its confluence with Canale di Cannaregio.   SHORT HISTORY The Church of San Geremia was founded in the 11th century by Mauro Tosello, who used it to house the arm of Saint Bartholomew brought from Apulia in 1043. The church was dedicated to the prophet Jeremiah, an old testament figure. The church was rebuilt in 1174 by the Doge Sebastiano Ziani, and reconsecrated only in 1292. Later, the church was demolished, and rebuilt again in 1753, by Carlo Corbellini, a Brescian priest and architect. The first mass was celebrated on April 27th, 1760, during the final works of reconstruction. Following the damage made by the Austrian bombardment of 1849, two new facades were built in the second half of the 18th century, one facing Campo San Geremia (Saint Jeremiah Square), and the other one oriented towards the Cannaregio Canal. A chapel built in 1863 contains the relics of the Sicilian Santa Lucia, stolen by Enrico Dandolo during the Sack of Constantinople, which, in 1204, marked the end of Read more [...]

Palazzo Flangini is, practically, the first truly monumental building that you meet on the Grand Canal, in Venice, when you are traveling with the vaporetto from the railway station, heading to the Rialto Bridge. Located near Scuola dei Morti, the Flangini Palace consists of two-thirds of an unfinished building, probably designed by Giuseppe Sardi in the second half of the 17th century.   SHORT HISTORY It is said that the palace remained unfinished because one of the two brothers who inherited it, in spite of the other, had one of the wings destroyed, cutting the palace in half. The reality, much simpler and more prosaic, is that the old owner lacked the funds and was unable to buy the nearby area necessary for the completion of the building. The building was built between 1664 and 1682 and is attributed to the architect Giuseppe Sardi by the art historian of the 18th century Tommaso Temanza, but some think it could be the project of Baldassarre Longhena. Currently, the building is divided into several private properties. Following an important restoration, the entrance hall and the portego of the building have been taken over by the Valorizzazioni Culturali society, with the aim of 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 to the Congregazione della Santissima Madonna del Suffragio dei Morti, known also as the School of the Dead, a religious congregation that, in 1624, has joined the homonymous Confraternity of Rome. A few years earlier, in 1615, the congregation held meetings in the Church of San Geremia, until the parish priest gave them a piece of land in the ancient cemetery, to erect a chapel for the meetings, permission approved by the Venetian Senate in 1659. At the expense of the Savorgnan family, the school was built, but was then destroyed during an Austrian bombing in 1849. Today, after an integral reconstruction, the building is used by the parish of San Geremia.   ARCHITECTURE The facade of the one-storey building is simple and has a skull in the center, between two large windows, with an inscription below reminding about the congregation of Scuola dei Morti.   HOW TO GET THERE The best place to admire the Scuola dei Read more [...]

Palazzo Malipiero is a palace located on the eastern bank of the Canal Grande, just 100 meters away from Ponte dell’Accademia. The palace is very close to Palazzo Grassi, separated only by the small San Samuele Square. The palace is famous, first of all, as the residence of Giacomo Casanova for a few years, when he was still a teenager. In the chambers of this palace, it seems, the Venetian lover learned the art of love that he will practice so tenaciously later.   SHORT HISTORY The palace, also known as Ca’ Grande di San Samuele, was built in the 11th century by the Soranzo family. At the beginning of the 15th century, the palace was in the possession of a powerful Venetian family – the Cappello family, following a marriage. By the mid-sixteenth century, the Cappello family comisioned the widening of the palace and the construction of the facade facing the Canal Grande, which still exists today. Also in the 16th century, through another union, the palace passes from the possession of the Cappello family to that of the Malipiero family. Like the other owners, the Malipiero family took care of the palace, being responsible for a series of Read more [...]

Palazzo Gussoni Grimani Dalla Vida is a palace in Venice, located in the Cannaeregio district (sestiere), overlooking the Grand Canal between Casa Velluti and Palazzetto Da Lezze.   SHORT HISTORY OF PALAZZO GUSSONI GRIMANI DALLA VIDA The palace was designed by the architect Michele Sanmicheli, and built between 1548 and 1556 for the Gussoni family. Between 1614 and 1618, Palazzo Gussoni Grimani Dalla Vida was the residence of the English diplomat Sir Henry Wotton, the Doge’s counselor at that time, and also the author of a limited number of poems and translations. During the 17th century, the edifice served as the headquarters for the Accademia Delfica, founded in 1647 by Francesco Gussoni. In 1736, after the death of the last member of the Gussoni family, the palace was transfered to the next of kin, the Minio family. In 1978, the building was sold to the Grimani family, and starting with 1814 it was owned by the Dalla Vida family, recognized as the last owners. Today, the palace is the property of the Italian state.   ARCHITECTURE OF PALAZZO GUSSONI GRIMANI DALLA VIDA The main facade overlooking the Grand Canal is characterized by a horizontal and vertical tripartition. At the center Read more [...]

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 Christ, during the reign of the Roman Emperor Flavius Claudius Iulianus.   SHORT HISTORY A document from the year 999 shows that the church had been built in the 7th century, when many refugees from the continent arrived on the Murano Island. Initially, it was dedicated to the Virgin Mary, and later, in 1125, when the relics of St. Donatus were brought from Cephalonia, it received a second patronage. The church, apparently, has been rebuilt at that time, in a Byzantine style, in the form that resisted, to a large extent, until today. The mosaic inside is marked with the year 1141, when these reconstruction works were completed. In the 18th century, the church was redecorated in Baroque style and later, between 1858 and 1873, a return to its original style was attempted. This development of the building was condemned by several voices, because the result was a hybrid between the 12th century style and the Read more [...]

Most of the tourists who visit the island of Giudecca are attracted by Il Redentore, the famous creation of Andrea Palladio, and only a few know that the island hosts another church attributed to the great architect, the Church of Santa Maria della Presentazione, popularly known as Le Zitelle.   SHORT HISTORY Le Zitelle is part of an ecclesiastical complex set up by the Jesuit Benedetto Palmi, to provide shelter to beautiful young girls (zitelle) from poor families, who otherwise would become prostitutes. Poor virgins were taken in and trained in lace and music making. They were protected until the age of 18, when they could choose between marriage or becoming nuns. If they chose marriage, a husband was found and a dowry was provided. The church was built between 1581 and 1588 by the architect Jacopo Bozzetto, after a project belonging to Andrea Palladio, which was initially intended for another location. The assignment of the church to Andrea Palladio is somehow controversial. Centro Internazionale di Studi di Architettura Andrea Palladio argues that in the absence of the documents that would link Palladio to this creation and because Palladian style is not very clear in this structure, the project could Read more [...]

There are many churches in Venice, and many are beautiful, but few impress like the Church of San Giorgio Maggiore. It may be the place, because not many churches have their own island, or it may be the bell-tower, probably second in height after the one in the Saint Mark’s Square, but we can easily believe that, among all, the inspiration of Andrea Palladio matters probably the most.   SHORT HISTORY In 982, the Doge Tribuno Memmo donated the island of San Giorgio Maggiore to a benedictine monk, who will establish here a monastery. The church, built five years later, from brick and wood, will last until 1223, when it will be severely damaged by an earthquake. The Doge Pietro Ziani will fix it, only to retreat to the island a few years later. In 1109, the relics of St. Stephen will be brought here from Constantinople, and the annual celebration held on 26 December, on the saint’s day, will become one of the most popular Christian holidays in the Venetian calendar. The church we see today was begun by Andrea Palladio in 1565 and completed after his death, in 1610. The one who finished the project was, apparently, Vincenzo Read more [...]

La Bauta Atelier is one of the few workshops in Venice, where papier-mâché masks are produced every day, following the ancient tradition that dates back to the beginning of the 12th century. All their creations are rigorously made and painted entirely by hand, making their masks unique and special, both for wearing on a particular occasion, or to adorn the walls of your homes. In the 15 years of work, the atelier has created more than 500 models, starting from traditional carnival masks, passing through those of the art comedy and even the most modern ones. All their masks come to life from strips of moistened paper, simply processed with flour and water, applied in layers in handmade plaster molds. After drying, the masks are finished with abrasive paper to obtain smooth surfaces, ready for decoration. From here, begins the most beautiful phase, that of decoration, using ancient traditional techniques such as stucco, gold and silver leaf, acrylic colors, decoupage and aged shading with bitumen, finishing with macramé and pearls.   HOW TO GET THERE The nearest vaporetto station is San Toma, where the waterbuses of ACTV Line 1 and 2 are stopping. From there, you can walk about 150 Read more [...]

When you are looking at the Giudecca Island, from Zattere, your eyes are attracted by the splendid creation of Andrea Palladio, Chiesa del Santissimo Redentore or, commonly known, Il Redentore (The Redeemer). The church impresses at first from the distance, thanks to its massive structure, but only in front of it you will be able to discover the details that complete one of the most valuable architectural creations of the Venetian Renaissance.   SHORT HISTORY After the plague epidemic of 1575-1577, that killed over 50,000 Venetians, the Senate of the Republic decided to build a church to celebrate the end of the scourge and to thank the Divinity. The mission was entrusted to the great Renaissance architect Andrea Palladio, who was to begin the construction in 1577 and to leave it, after his death in 1580, to Antonio da Ponte, who would complete it many years later, in 1592. After the church was finished, the Venetian Senate established that every July, a pontoon will be built to link Zattere with the Giudecca island. In time, this tradition will become an important celebration for the Venetians, known as Festa del Redentore.   ARCHITECTURE Considered the most beautiful church built by Palladio, Read more [...]

Buy tickets & tours:GetYourGuide One of the oldest palaces in Venice, Fondaco dei Turchi is located in the district of Santa Croce, on the southern bank of the Grand Canal. From this strategic point of view, with an impenetrable mimic on its Byzantine style facade, the palace watches the gondolas passing by for almost 800 years.   SHORT HISTORY The palace was built in 1225 by Giacomo Palmieri, one of the members of the powerful Pesaro family. For certain political favors, the construction was given in 1381 to Nicolo d’Este, Marquise of Ferrara. Two centuries later, in 1621, it was bought by the Turkish merchants in Venice, who turned it into a warehouse and a residential space. The name that it bears today comes from that period, meaning in English The Turkish Warehouse. In 1838, the palace was abandoned by the Turks in a very bad state. It had to be another twenty years before the Municipality decided to renovate it, and the mission was entrusted to the architect and engineer Camillo Boito. It seems, however, that after the reconstruction, the palace was adorned with two lateral Gothic towers that did not existed before, but keept the general lines of Read more [...]

Commonly known as Ca’ d’Oro, Palazzo Santa Sofia, located just across the Rialto Market, overlooking the Grand Canal, undoubtedly remains the most beautiful Venetian palace. Its name, translated into English as The Golden House, does not lie, because at origins, portions of the facade facing the Grand Canal were covered with this noble metal. Today, gold is missing, but the Venetian-style Gothic building still impresses, not so much by stature, but by the delicacy of its decorations. Currently, the palace hosts the Giorgio Franchetti art gallery, and it can be visited at the same time.   SHORT HISTORY The palace was built between 1421 and 1440 for the Venetian merchant Marino Contarini. He closely supervised the work of several architects and sculptors, of whom we can mention the Venetians Giovanni and Bartolomeo Bon, responsible for the decorations that adorn the palace, the Milan sculptor Matteo Raverti, and Marco d’Amedeo, probably the designer of the project. Marino Contarini died in 1441, leaving his only son, Piero, his entire fortune. Piero inherited, of course, the palace, which he will leave after his death to his daughters. A series of misunderstandings that followed led to the loss of the palace, which came in Read more [...]

VizioVirtù started its adventure in 2005, when they opened their first chocolate factory, a chocolate shop able to cater for even the most demanding palates and to make Venice an even sweeter town. VizioVirtù is right in the heart of the Laguna, between Rialto and San Marco square. Why they have chosen this corner in Venice is soon explained. Right where Marco Polo lived, spices, coffee and cocoa powder were traded. Yes, cocoa powder, their preferred ingredient, the one which is never missing from their chocolate shop. VizioVirtù offers chocolate workshops and guide tastings. You can take part in their workshop to cook truffles and mousses with them. They will show you how to temper chocolate and, of course, how to make the most loved drink in the winter: drinking chocolate. Has your mouth started watering? To book your lesson, and ask for information, write on e-mail . The courses, by reservation, are held every day from 7.30 pm to 9.30 pm. Every day, from 10 am to 7.30 pm, you can taste delicacies made in their store and travel through the history of chocolate. Would you like another good reason for dropping by? You must know that you can 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 tradition. However, they have been able to interpret tradition in innovative ways, creating new and unique decorative styles and shapes. They craft authentic handmade masks in the same way Venetian artisans would do 800 years ago. On the other hand, they never repeat a decoration, so each mask is unique. Their masks were featured in important film productions like Eyes Wide Shut by Stanley Kubrick and theatres like the Vienna Opera Haus. Thanks to the experience gained, today they also held conferences and courses on the history of Venetian masks and traditional mask-­making techniques.   SHORT HISTORY Ca’ Macana began making masks in 1984, when the Venice Carnival was making a comeback after two centuries of decline. They created their first models for fun, but also as a way to make some money, selling their models on the streets of Venice in the evening, when there were fewer policemen around. Bringing an ancient craft back to life and turning a game into a real work was, and still is today, the most wonderful job in the world! Read more [...]

Set on Fondamenta delle Zattere, Silk Road Hostel sits on a long and wide promenade, popular for evening walks, dinning, or grabbing a gelato and watching the sunset. With the congestion a tourist can experience in a city with small winding streets like Venice, Silk Road Hostel is a welcome escape. At Silk Road Hostel, you can find spacious dorm rooms with just four beds per room. Each dorm has beautiful views across the Giudecca Canal. All rooms are well lit and ventilated and guests can enjoy a comfortable dining room with free breakfast. The bathrooms are modern, and all guests can enjoy the use of the kitchen.   HOW TO GET THERE The hostel is located on one of the most beautiful walkways in Venice, and just a five minutes walk to the most popular campo in Venice, Campo Santa Margherita, the meeting point for all students in Venice. The nearest waterbus station (only 130 meters), is S. Basilio, that can be reached with the vaporetto ACTV Line 2, 6 or 8.

Residenza de l’Osmarin is situated in the very centre of Venice, just a few minutes’ walk from the stunning Piazza San Marco and a stone’s throw from the Rialto Bridge and all the main tourist attractions in the city. This comfortable B&B, which was renovated very recently, stands in one of the most beautiful and characteristic quarters, at the heart of the real, more genuine Venice. Residenza de l’Osmarin is in an elegant period Venetian building where peace and tranquility reigns. There is nothing better than to return to a lovely warm and welcoming environment after a long day’s walking. The rooms are all large and equipped with all amenities. Each room affords a breathtaking view of the enchanting city on the water with its canals, roofs and a thousand and one belltowers. During your stay, you will receive full and complete attention: the hosts are happy to offer valuable tips and information on the city, its life and the many cultural, artistic, musical and folk events that take place in Venice all year round. In this way, you are sure to enjoy a special holiday you are not likely to forget.   HOW TO GET THERE The San Zaccaria Read more [...]

Il Mercante was created to propose a sensorial journey in the bartending panorama of Venice. The bar is inspired by the life of adventurers and explorers who have marked new routes and brought new experiences to the West. The bar occupies the premises of the historic Caffé dei Frari, known and frequented by many Venetians. The restoration has emphasized the original architecture and the character of the location that has already inherent in its nature the philosophy of Il Mercante. The upper floor of Il Mercante is dedicated to guests who want to experience the sensory experience of the special cocktails dedicated to the adventures of Marco Polo and to the spices that he brought from the East. In a nice and quiet environment, it will be possible to rely on Il Mercante mixologist’s guide. Il Mercante cocktails are the result of a continuous research in preparations and blends. The bar presents a main list of cocktails always available and a list inspired by the theme of great adventurous trips.   HOW TO GET THERE Il Mercante is located in one of the most beautiful areas of Venice, in Campo dei Frari, in front of the Chiesa dei Frari. From Read more [...]

Facing Caffè Florian, we can find another old coffee house, Grancaffè Quadri. Located under the Procuratie Vecchie arcades, in the St. Mark’s Square, the second is with nothing inferior to the first. From Stendhal to Wagner, Proust and Woody Allen, Grancaffè Quadri has always been a lively place to stop for a coffee. Guests who enjoy the outdoor seating in St. Mark’s Square can select from a large illustrated menu featuring everything from Italian coffee drinks to cocktails made by resident barman Leonardo Cisotto, or breakfast pastries to Venetian bar snacks called cicchetti and gelato. A team of well-trained baristas tends to the coffee, while Leonardo Cisotto is in charge of the cocktails and wine service.   SHORT HISTORY Before Grancaffè Quadri, it was Il Rimedio (The Remedy), opened in 1638, named so due to the fact that it served Malvasia wine, commonly believed to enliven both the body and spirit. On May 28, 1775, Giorgio Quadri, arrived in Venice from Corfu together with his wife Naxina in search of fortune. It was Naxina to suggest that they invest in a place that served “hot black water.” The couple purchased Il Rimedio and began serving Turkish coffee. In 1830, Caffè Read more [...]

At Alle Corone Restaurant, you will discover the real authentic flavors of their genuine products, prepared in accordance with their precious recipes. You will also discover the pleasure of savoring the best ingredients that this land can offer, following an itinerary of gastronomic excellence that, depending on the season, will take you from the starters to dessert. The bread, the homemade pasta and the desserts they serve all come straight out of their kitchen.   HOW TO GET THERE Whether you come with the water bus ACTV Line 1 or 2, getting off at the Rialto station, or you are near the Rialto Bridge already, you have only about 150 meters to Alle Corone Restaurant. The place can be reached on foot through Salizada Pio X, making right on Merceria II Aprile and left on Calle dei Stagneri O de la Fava.

Caffè Florian is more than just a café, and can rightfully be considered a tourist attraction in itself. Located under the Procuratie Nuove arcades, in the St. Mark’s Square, the world’s oldest café still in operation has been a silent witness, for almost three centuries, of the joys and excitement of Venice. Famous names have passed the threshold of this café over time, and if we were to mention just a few, we could start very well with Casanova, the famous conqueror of hearts, continuing with the playwrighter Carlo Goldoni, Lord Byron or the poet Goethe, with the writer and politician Chateaubriand, Charles Dickens, or Marcel Proust, to end triumphantly with Modigliani.   SHORT HISTORY The café opened its doors for the first time on December 29, 1720, under the name of Alla Venezia Trionfante, and soon after that received the name of its first owner, Floriano Francesconi. By the middle of the 19th century, Caffè Florian remained in the possession of the Francesconi family, and then changed its owners several times. In 1858, the café was completely restored by Lodovico Cadorin, with the help of the best Venetian artists and artisans. Since 1985, the cafe hosts the Venice Biennale, Read more [...]

Rising at the entrance to the Grand Canal, the Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute is one of the defining monuments of Venice. Its great dome dominates the view from the Bacino di San Marco, while its marble mass marks the tip of Dorsoduro beside Punta della Dogana. Commonly called La Salute, the church stands between the Grand Canal and the Giudecca Canal, directly across the water from Piazza San Marco. From the square, La Salute appears as a theatrical counterpoint to the Doge’s Palace, San Giorgio Maggiore and the long waterfront of the city. The church was built as an ex voto after the plague of 1630-1631, when Venice suffered one of the most destructive epidemics in its history. The Republic promised a sanctuary to the Virgin Mary, under the title of Santa Maria della Salute, meaning Saint Mary of Health or Salvation. Designed by Baldassare Longhena, the church combines religious symbolism, difficult lagoon engineering and Venetian Baroque architecture. The building is not a longitudinal church with a traditional nave. Its main space is centralized, octagonal and luminous, organized around a massive dome and a sequence of Marian altars. Inside, visitors find works by Titian, Luca Giordano, Tintoretto, Pietro Read more [...]