earch hotels in Venice

Places in Venice

St. Mark's Square
Piazza San Marco is a masterpiece of city architecture, creating a unique feeling of extensive space bordered by magical works of art. The patterned floor of the Piazza, the steps and the balustrades surrounded by historic buildings (Basilica di San Marco, Doge's Palace, Palazzo Ducale) create a picturesque image. The square was laid out in the 11th Century. The buildings though grew through the subsequent centuries.
read more about St. Mark's Square

St. Mark's Basilica
A magnificent construction of Byzantine domes, mosaics, and plundered treasure built in the 8th century for the Doge, nowadays is the proof of the Venetian colonial expansion, as it was built with materials brought here from Turkey. The exterior and interior of the Basilica is a pure feast not only for art lovers. The facade has five separate entrances each with an arch above with decorative paintings. Inside the walls are aligned with real treasure: more than 2 000 square kilometres of mosaics covered with gold glaze. The huge dome surmounted on the church indicates the clash with Byzantine culture.

Doge's Palace
The Doge's Palace is a visible expression of Venice's image - open and unguarded, but a great imperial power. The palace as it stands today dates to the early-fourteenth century, when Venice was at the height of its power. The palace style represents pure Italian Gothic. The upper walls are decorated with red and white brick worked into a damask pattern, while the loggias with their delicate arcades and quatrefoil windows bring to mind the airy quality of Venetian lace. To demonstrate the position of the center of a world empire, the interior of the palace was lavishly embellished with paintings and carved wall decorations.

Rialto Bridge
Ponte di Rialto, spanned over the Grand Canal, is the true heart of Venice. The Rialto has always been the commercial heart of Venice, which explains why the construction was raised precisely here. The current structure was built in 1591 and remained the only way to cross the Grand Canal on foot until the Accademia Bridge was built in 1854. Rialto's 24-foot neo-Gothic arch was designed to allow the passage of galleys. The bridge has three walkways: two along the outer balustrades, and a wider central walkway leading between two rows of small shops that sell jewelry, linens, Murano glass, and other items for the tourist trade.

Chiesa di San Giorgio Maggiore
The church on the Giudecca Island represents one of the principal works of Andrea Palladio, even if the work, began in 1566, but actually finished long after the death of the master. The impressive facade in the Greek style and the majestic interior make it one of the most important churches in Venice. The pictorial and sculptural decoration of the altars is very rich. Beside the sancturay is a square bell tower. The bell tower was completely renovated in 1791, after collapsing in 1774, by the Bolognese brother Benedetto Buratti. A a rotating angel on the cuspide was added.