Unmissable Venice to catch world’s most famous places - Short Tour

The Doge's Palace in Venice was built in Gothic style starting from 1340 with details and suggestions from the Byzantine tradition. Its construction lasted almost a century. It was the Doge's Residence, the Palace of Justice and the seat of the Maggior Consiglio: it therefore contained the highest powers of the state. Its institutional rooms are decorated with works by the most famous Venetian masters, including Tintoretto and Tiziano.

Built in its present form at the beginning of the 16th century next to St. Mark Basilica, the St. Mark Bell Tower, with its 98 meters in height, also served as a lighthouse and watchtower. Until 1889, the year the Eiffel Tower was built, it was the tallest building in the world. On its top stands the golden rotating statue of the archangel Gabriel. In 1609 Galileo Galilei tested his telescope from his belfry. The Clock Tower is famous for the two bronze statues, known as the Moors, which have been striking the hours since 1499. On the facade stands the winged Lion of San Marco, symbol of Venice, the dial with the 24 hours, the signs of the zodiac and the solar and lunar phases.

St. Mark Basilica was built for the first time in 828, when the relics of the saint arrived in Venice, stolen by two Venetian merchants in Egypt. Destroyed by a fire, it was rebuilt with its present appearance in 1063. Today the basilica boasts an amazing mix of styles, from Byzantine to Gothic. The exterior and interior decoration with marble and Byzantine mosaics with a gold background took five centuries to complete.

St. Mark Square in Venice certainly needs no introduction! Marvel at one of the most famous and beautiful squares in the world, once known as "the living room of Europe" and center of political power of the Republic of Venice. Here all the main buildings of the city stand out, including the Basilica and the St. Mark Bell Tower, but also the Procuratie (now home to the Correr Museum), once the seat of St. Mark procurators. Under the arcades you will find jewelers and prestigious cafes, including the historic Caffè Florian, opened in 1720, frequented by intellectuals and socialites, including Giacomo Casanova and Coco Chanel.

The Bridge of Sighs, together with Rialto Bridge, is one of the most famous and representative bridges in Venice. Made of Istrian stone in Baroque style at the beginning of the 17th century, it connects the Doge's Palace to the New Prisons. It once served as a passage from prisons to the inquisitors' offices. It is said that prisoners sighed while crossing it at the idea of ​​seeing the outside world for the last time: hence its name.

Near St. Mark's Square you will come across one of the most beautiful bookshops in the world, Libreria dell'Acqua Alta ("Deep Water Bookshop") in Calle Lunga Santa Maria Formosa. Unlike in common bookshops, the books here are not arranged on shelves, but on gondolas, boats and canoes. A very original book staircase allows visitors to enjoy a wonderful view over the Venetian canals. Old and new books are sold in this peculiar bookshop. If you are looking for unusual itineraries in Venice, this is definitely an unmissable stop!

The Fondaco dei Tedeschi, overlooking the Grand Canal, was a landing place and warehouse for goods transported by German merchants. The palace also housed the offices of the Fugger family, a lineage of influential German merchants and bankers. The building has a huge square plan and is spread over three levels around an internal courtyard. The second level of the facade is crossed by a row of elegant mullioned windows.

"The most beautiful street in the world": this is how the French ambassador defined the Grand Canal at the end of the 15th century. And even today, this large stream that cuts the city in two remains one of the most evocative attractions of Venice. Sliding along the canal by boat you can admire as many as 200 palaces in different styles and many ancient churches. The Grand Canal is crossed by four bridges: the Rialto Bridge, the Accademia Bridge, the Scalzi Bridge and the Constitution Bridge.

The Rialto Bridge is the oldest of the four bridges that cross the Grand Canal of Venice, built between 1588 and 1591 to a design by Antonio Da Ponte to replace a previous bridge, which collapsed and was rebuilt several times. Its name derives from "Rivus Alto" (deep canal), as in this point the banks were higher and the whole area was protected from rising tides. The bridge structure consists of two inclined ramps joined in the center by a portico. The colorful Rialto Market takes place near the bridge.