Venice Holidays - St Mark's, The Doge's Palace - Tours & Day Trips
Although the crumbling grandeur of the floating city's narrow passageways and winding canals may enthral you there are some essential sights that just shouldn't be missed on your Venice holidays. The five monumental sights below are the top tourist attractions in this incredible city.
St Mark's Square (Piazza San Marco)
'The finest drawing room in Europe', the Piazza San Marco was a favourite of Napoleon, and its dignified gentility and timeless architecture make it the focal point of holidays in Venice to this day. Flanked by historic buildings and outdoor cafés, the Piazza has been a meeting point for artists, traders and writers for centuries and is now a haven for young locals and tourists alike. The cooing pigeons, the false perspective and the grandiose architectural forms are as perfect as every Venice-based movie suggests and it's hard not to be impressed by it all. The square is at one of the lowest points in the city though and the acqua alta (high water) - a combination of high tides, low pressure systems and high winds - can see water seep up through the drains to flood the square, a truly magical sight on a bright night. Whatever the weather, Venice holidays wouldn't be quite complete without an expensive drink on the Piazza, a photo overlooking the city from the top of the Basilica's Campanile, and a visit to the incredible Doge's Palace that flanks Italy's best loved square.
St Mark's Basilica (Basilica di San Marco)
Plundered treasures, magnificent Byzantine domes and glittering mosaics combine to create St. Mark's Basilica, one of the most spectacular and exotic places of worship in Europe. Modelled on Constantinople's Church of the Twelve Apostles, the Basilica was consecrated in 1094 and is festooned with golden mosaics, home to a treasury of precious spoils and adorned by the famous Pala d'Oro altarpiece of gold, enamel and precious jewels. The Basilica is the city's top attraction so arrive early and dress so that your shoulders, upper arms and knees are covered.
The Doge's Palace (Palazzo Ducale)
Venetian Gothic reached its climax in the Palazzo Ducale, the home of the city's doge and council up until the fall of the Venetian Republic in 1797. Work was begun on the first ducale in the 9th century but as the years went by the building became more elaborate and today the magnificent Gothic façades give way to a series of increasingly ostentatious state rooms adorned with the works of Titian, Tintoretto, and Veronese. You can also visit the council chambers, the prison cells and the other must see of Venice holidays, the Bridge of Sighs.
Bridge of Sighs (Ponte de Sospiri)
In the 16th century the Doge built a new prison system across the Rio di Palazzo to cater for the overflow of prisoners from the cells in the palace itself. The Bridge of Sighs links the two buildings and after a trial in the ducal palace prisoners would be led across to their cells. Although the bridge received its name in the 17th century, Lord Byron helped to popularise the myth that it had been inspired by the sighs of condemned prisons seeing the lagoon for the last time as they passed across the bridge to the executioner. However, by this date only small-time crooks were held in the cells and the name is more poetic fantasy than fact. The interior of the bridge is divided into two narrow walkways separated by a wall and only has small grilled windows overlooking the waterway below. The bridge is included in guided tours of the Doge's Palace but these should be booked at least a day in advance in high season.
Accommodation, Reservation & Holidays in Venice, Italy
For the best access to the city's sights you'll need to book accommodation close to the San Marco district. Although it's difficult to find cheap accommodation in this part of Venice we've included a few pages on this site to help you find affordable accommodation close to the city centre in order to maximise your time in the city.
Book Online at:
250 Hotels in Venice - Italy - Booking.com/hotels-in-venice-italy
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