The moment you hop on your Venice Airport water taxi and head towards the main part of the city itself, you will start to see some of the most famous sights rising up before you. While you may want to explore undiscovered Venice to unearth some of the things few tourists ever see, you will undoubtedly want to see the most famous buildings and sights as well. Don’t miss the following ones off your list.
The Doge’s Palace
Many people recognize this grand building in Venice and many are taken aback by its size. It was originally used as a place of diplomacy, security, law and order, but today it is a glorious centre of art and culture. You can take guided tours within the building and then spend some time just wandering around its rooms. There are many art exhibitions held in the palace throughout the year, so you may even be lucky enough to see one of the showings.
Saint Mark’s Cathedral
Often referred to as St Mark’s Basilica, this is another landmark building in the city. The building is almost a thousand years old so it is a grand place to visit for a historical sense of the city. Just as the Doge’s Palace displays a grand sense of architecture, the same applies with St Mark’s Cathedral. It was founded in the early 13th century and has had some dramatic changes along the way. You can see the famous mosaics and appreciate the detail that has gone into the construction.
The Bridge of Sighs
Apparently this famous bridge got its name because it used to see prisoners crossing it after being sentenced in the Palazzo Ducale (the Doge’s Palace, mentioned above) to spend many years in jail. The prisons, called the Piombi, were on either side of the bridge. So while it may seem romantic now, it was nothing of the sort many years ago.
San Giorgio Maggiore
If you have time, head out to the island of San Giorgio Maggiore to see the church of the same name. It dates from the 16th century and is quite charming in its proportions and history. It is known as the focal point of the entire island, and is free to enter, so you can see two charming paintings by the artist Sebastino Ricci while you are there but you will need translators near me to transcribe the Italian into your native language.
Piazza San Marco
Most people who arrive by Venice Airport water taxi will be thinking of seeing the Piazza San Marco while they are in the city. St Mark’s Square, to call it by its English translation, is quite a beautiful and romantic place to be. It is known as a meeting place and is the biggest square of its kind in the city. Even if you don’t come into the square by way of your Venice Airport water taxi, you can arrive at the square by boat, and many think this is the most attractive way to do it. Be sure to stay long enough to soak up the atmosphere and indulge in some romance with your sweetheart.
Whatever you do, make a point of visiting these delightful venues and you will begin to understand what the Italians are really all about.