Venice, Italy - the home of romance
Venice is an amazing city and one of the modern wonders of the man made world. Despite the constant battle with rising sea levels and tides, the romance and mystery that is Venice is still very much present. We actually recommend that you visit Venice during November and December, there are less tourists and the mistry cold weather makes the experience even more romantic.
Besides taking a ride on the amazing gondolas, one of the critical things to do in Venice is actually to just get lost and wander the streets. While we have provided a detailed walk that will take you past many of the landmark sites and palaces we highly recommend that you lose yourself in the Venice streets.
In addition to the main Venice city area we highly recommend that you visit the islands of Murano (famous for its glass sculptures) and the colourful Burano (famous for lace and amazing squid ink risottos and pastas). The number 12 ferry departs Ferry Terminal Nova D, on the northern side of Venice.
Our walk starts in the large public space, the famous Piazza San Marco. You can chosse to visit the Basilica at the beginning or end of the work as we will return to the piazza at the end. Our walk takes you through the shopping boutiques of Sant Angelo and visits the the Palazzo Contarini del Bovolo a small palazzo by Venice standards but best known for its beuatiful external multi-arch spiral staircase known as the Scala Contarini del Bovolo or locally the Snail.
We then make our way through the San Marco district to the site of Marco Polo's home, now whilst you can't enter the building given the mystery and relationship that the story of Marco Polo has with Venice this make your all personal expediction all the more poignant.
We then cross the beautiful and well photgraphed Pont di Rialto (or Rialto bridge. The oldest bridge crossing Venice's grand canal it is significant because it connects the Rialto markets with the rest of Venice. If time allows it we recommend you take some time to explore the Rialto Markets. Our journey now winds through the districts of San Polo and Dorsodouro strolling past a number of spectacular palaces and wonderful sites. Two key sites to visit on our walk are the Gallerie dell' Accademia and the Peggy Guggenheim Collections. The Accademia Galleries were built by Andrea Palladio,and house a very rich collection of Venetian paintings from the Bizantine and Gothic fourteenth century artists to the artists of the Renaissance including Veneto, Bellini, and others who had an amazing influence on the history of European painting.
The Peggy Guggenheim Collection is housed in the Palazzo Venier dei Leoni, an 18th-century palace, that was the home of the American heiress Peggy Guggenheim for three decades. She began displaying her private collection of modern artworks to the public in 1951. The collection includes works of prominent Italian and American artists working in such genres as Cubism, Surrealism and Abstract Expressionism.
Our stroll then takes us to the Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute, The Salute, a vast, octagonal building built on a platform made of 100,000 wooden piles. It is constructed of Istrian stone and marmorino (brick covered with marble dust). In October 1630, the Venetian Senate decreed that if the city was delivered from the currently raging plaguethat had killed about a third of Venice's population, then a new church would be built and dedicated to the Virgin Mary. The city was so delivered, and Baldassare Longhena, then only 26 years old, was selected to design the new church. It was consecrated in 1681, the year before Longhena's death, and completed in 1687.
Finally we cross back across the to the Doge's Palace and Piazza San Marco. The Doge's Palace is a palace built inVenetian Gothic style, is one of the main landmarks in the city. The palace was the residence of the Doge of Venice, the supreme authority of the former Venetian Repbuplic, today it is an amzing museum that provides great insight into the history of Venice.
The Journey
Our journey begins in the Piazza San Marco, Walk south on Piazza San Marco and turn right to stay on Piazza San Marco. Turn right onto Calle Frezzeria then a sight left onto Calle Barcaroli, veer right to stay on Calle Barcaroli. Turn right onto Calle Fuseri and then turn left onto Calle Locande, turn left and the Scala Contarini del Bovolo will be on the right.
Leaving the Scala Contarini del Bovolo walk north towards Calle Locande and turn left onto Calle Locande. Turn right onto calle minelli and then turn right at Calle del Carbon, and left onto Calle dei Fabbri/Per S. Marco. Turn right onto Calle del Lovo and take the stairs, continue onto Campo S. Salvador which turns into Merceria II Aprile. Tale a slight right onto Campo S. Bortolomio/Sestiere di S. Marco and ontinue to follow Campo S. Bortolomiowhich turns slightly right and becomes Salizzada del Fontego dei Tedeschi, take the stairs and turn right at Calle Moderna.
After visiting the sight of Marco Polo's Home walk north-west and take a slight right towards Salizada S. Giovanni Grisostomo. Turn left onto Salizada S. Giovanni Grisostomo and continue onto Salizzada del Fontego dei Tedeschi, take the stairs and then turn right onto Calle del Fontego and then turn right onto Ponte di Rialto and take the stairs.
Cross the Rialto Bridge and walk north-west on Ponte di Rialto towards Riva del Vin, taking the stairs and then a slight left at Campo S.Silvestro. Turn right onto Calle Sbianchesini, then left onto Calle de Mezo and right onto Calle dei Meloni. Turn left to stay on Calle dei Meloni and continue onto Calle Sottopassaggio de la Madoneta which turns into Salizada S. Polo and then Calle dei Saoneri. The Palazzio Dona Brusa 6 Dispossession will be on the left. Take the stairs and turn left onto Rio Tera' dei Nomboli and then right towards Calle del Traghetto, take the stairs and turn right onto Calle del Traghetto. The Casa di Carlo Goldoni will be on the left. Turn left onto Calle del Campanileand then right towards Calle Crosera and left onto Calle Larga Foscari/Sestiere Dorsoduro, the Palazzo Contarini Polignac will be on the right. The Universita Ca Foscari will be on the right after the bridge. Turn right onto Calle Giustinian veering slightly left onto Calle Cappeller and then turning right onto Calle della Madonna. Calle della Madonna turns left and becomes Calle de le Boteghe and then becomes Calle Pedrocchi Dorsoduro, take the stairs and turn left onto Calle de le Boteghe and the Church of Saint Baranabas will be on the left.
Leaving Saint Barnabas walk south on Calle de le Boteghe towards Calle Lunga S. Barnaba and turn right onto Calle Lunga S. Barnaba and then left onto Fondamenta Borgo, the Instituto Canossiano will be across the canal on the right. Take the stairs and turn left onto Fondamenta Bonlini the San Trovoso Square will be on the left
Leave the sqaure and walk east on Fondamenta Bonlini towards Ponte S. Trovaso, turning right onto Ponte S. Trovaso and then left onto Fondamenta Priuli. Turn right onto Calle del Pistor and then right again onto Campo della Carita. Turn left onto Calle Larga Pisani, the Gallerie dell' Accademia is on the left, turn left onto Rio Terrà Foscarini and right onto Calle Nuova Sant'Agnese. Continue onto Piscina Forner which becomes Calle della Chiesa, then veer left onto Fondamenta Venier dai Leon which turns left and becomes Calle S. Cristoforo. The Peggy Guggenheim Collections is on the left beyond the park.
Walk east on Campiello Barbaro towards Calle Bastion Dorsoduro/Calle Del Bastion veering right and taking the stairs
and turn left onto Calle Bastion Dorsoduro/Calle de l'Abazia/Calle Del Bastion. Turn right onto Calle Bastion Dorsoduro/Calle Del Bastion and the Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute will be directly in front of you.
Walk along Fondamenta Salute to wards the grand canal,
and take the 1 ferry to San Marco ferry stop and turn right onto Riva degli Schiavoni The Doge's Palace will be on the left.
Follow Piazza San Marco back to the Basilica San Marco.