Venice Unveiled: Two Days Exploring Canals

The top attractions of Venice are closely located – and easy to access. The close vicinity of the top things to do in Venice makes it easy to accomplish it all in a two day trip to Venice. Venice offers an interesting dark history for justice, mixed with impressive art and architecture. Learn more about exploring the city of canals.

Venice is built of over 100 islands, bridging between all of them. The city offers no roads, only alleys and canals to navigate through the city.

When to Visit Venice

The best time to visit Venice is during the spring months: March, April, May. As it does not rain as much during this period, and then the weather is warmer.

The later months, August through December, the chances of rain are increased. What does rain season mean for Venice? Flooding. The city built on canals has an old irrigation system, when it down pours the streets flood as the water cannot drain as fast as required, and the canals grow full quickly.

Overtourism in Venice

Venice is a popular destination, known for the canals and the festival of masks. The city, while hard to navigate, is small enough to making short trips easy to accomplish.

However, so many tourists have been swarming Venice that Venetians are growing tired. Additionally, individuals buying out apartments and homes to do AirBnB is pushing Venetians out of the city.

Cultural Experience in Venice

Due to the overtourism in Venice, the cultural experience is quickly dying. You will more likely encounter other tourist or people trying to bank on the tourism, than a Venetian. While, there are still Italian restaurants, and the popular festivals Venice is known for, those will continue to be supported by the fact it is what tourist want to see.

While you can still experience “Venice” as most imagine, the city is becoming so busy that you will probably be shoulder to shoulder with another tourist. Ultimately, not only bothering the Venetians but also the tourist visiting Venice.

Top Attractions in Venice

If you are okay with being part of the tourist crowd, then below are some of the top sights to find in Venice. A majority of them are within walking distance to one another, and can all probably be seen in one day if avoiding paying for tours or entering buildings.

Rialto Bridge

This bridge is oldest bridge, of the four, that cross the Grand Canal in Venice. The history of this bridge, makes it one of the top attractions in Venice.

The central location of this bridge, has made it one of the most important bridges at Venice. If you did not even plan on visiting the bridge, chances are you will end up crossing over it in order to go from one point to another.

This bridge is very busy with tourists, but completely free to visit. Walk up to the middle section and squeeze your way between the other tourist to get the classic photo of the Grand Canal.

The best time to visit? Sunrise, beat the majority of the crowd and get there at the break of dawn. Or, if you have a tripod, then perhaps try for a night shoot down the grand canal.

Want to check out the other bridges that cross the Grand Canal? Here are the other three:

1. Ponte dell’Accademia
2. Constitution Bridge
3. Ponte degli Scalzi

Address:  Sestiere San Polo, 30125 Venezia VE, Italy

Cost: Free

Grand Canal

If you made it to the Rialto Bridge then you are already looking down the Grand Canal. Really all the Grand Canal is the major waterway that runs through Venice. As the largest canal in the city, which earns the name “Grand”. This is the waterway that cuts through the center of the city.

When you arrive at the train station, Santa Lucia railway station, you are already staring down at the Grand Canal as it is the start of the entrance to the Canal. The total length of the Canal is only 4km, and the average depth of the canal is 5m.

The Canal is lined with hundreds of buildings ranging in age over the centuries, some dating back to the 13^th and 18^th century.

The iconic photos of the Grand Canal can be shot from the Rialto Bridge. However, check out the other bridges listed above to find some different photo opportunities of the Grand Canal and perhaps to avoid some of the crowds!

Address:  Just center of Venice

Cost: Free to see

Doge’s Palace

Doge’s Palace is one of the top attractions in Venice, and an icon of Venice. This landmark was once home of the Doge of Venice. Which can be roughly be translated to the “Duke” of Venice. Basically, the Palace was home to the head magistrate of Venice.

The palace was built in traditional Venetian Gothic style.

A tour through the Doge’s Palace includes golden staircases, a large variety of paintings throughout the Doge’s Apartments, and then the most impressive in my opinion is the The Sala del Maggior Consiglio. This was the room in which the political body would meet. This room is a large meeting room with murals covering all the walls, and ceilings.  Additionally, with beautiful views out over the Courtyard of the Doge’s Palace.

The Doge’s Palace is connected to another popular Venice attraction “The Bridge of Sighs”. Which connects the Doge’s Palace with the prison.

Learn about buying tickets here.

Address:  Piazza San Marco, 1, 30124 Venezia VE, Italy

Cost: €25.40

Bridge of Sighs

The Bridge of Sighs is the bridge that connects the Doge’s Palace with the Prison across a small canal.

Venice is surprisingly known for a bit of a violent history when it came to matters of the state. During the 14^th to 18^th Century, a body called the Council of Ten was an appointed group that were notorious for their torture methods, and executions. The Council of Ten ran a tight ship, and would ensure that the laws were maintained. The council worked in complete secrecy, and were sworn to secrecy during their term.

The most famous item that is left over from the Council of Ten are the bocche dei leoni, or ‘lions’ mouths’ – stone letterboxes. These letterboxes were across the city, typically a statue head of some sort in a very hideous fashion. Citizens could turn in their neighbor by dropping in a letter into the mouth of the statue which would be collected later. The offenses could range from adultery to money laundering and the sort. The matter would be investigated into (typically through torture) and if found guilty the criminal would be sent to Prison, or to execution. The person that turned the individual in would be then given a cash reward.

For those who went to Prison? They would have to cross the Bridge of Sighs.

The Bridge of Sighs earned the name, because the bridge that went over the small canal is the last sight of the outside that the prisoners would see. Therefore, as the prisoners caught their last glimpse of the sunlight and the sea, they would “sigh” in grief as they pass their way to prison.

These prisons were specially designed for torture by the Council of Ten. One, Piombi, was made with a lead roof to ensure that during the summer it was hotter in the prison, and then during the winter to pull the cold.

It is actually said that most of the prisoners that end up in the Venetian prison are due there because they were unable to pay for their trail. So, while defending themselves, they incurred a debt that they could not repay and therefore sent to prison until they paid. Clearly, being in prison the individual is unable to pay, and had to hope someone or family would be able to pay the fines in order to free them.

Tip: If you want to save the money of entering the Doge’s Palace, then you can tour around the outside, and down over the Ponte della Paglia Bridge to view the Bridge of Sighs down the canal.

Address:  Piazza San Marco, 1, 30100 Venezia VE, Italy

Cost: Included with the Doge’s Palace to cross, free to view from outside at the Ponte della Paglia bridge

St. Mark’s Campanile

When visiting the famous Doge’s Palace you probably saw the large bell tower in the square. The St. Mark’s Campanile is the large bell tower found in Piazza San Marco just outside of Saint Mark’s Basilica. This was originally built to be used as a lighthouse for boats in the lagoon.

St. Mark’s Campanile is one of the most recognizable icons of Venice as it towers above all the buildings in Venice.

The current tower is actually a reconstruction of the first one built in 1514. As in 1902, the tower began showing a large crack on the side. A couple of days later, the entire bell tower collapsed. It only took to the next day for the government to fund for the reconstruction of the tower. The tower standing today is the rebuild tower after the collapse in 1902. The redesign allowed them to reinforce the structure and to install an elevator.

You can purchase tickets to go to the top of the tower to get views out over Venice.

Address:  Piazza San Marco, 30124 Venezia VE, Italy

Cost: To just see the tower is free! To go to the top costs €8

Saint Mark’s Basilica

St. Marks Basilica is difficult to miss. While visiting the Doge’s Palace and the St. Mark’s Campanile you will probably have noticed the large ornate church located in the center of it all. That would be Saint Mark’s Basilica. One of the most famous examples of Italo-Byzantine architecture.

A popular attraction for Saint Mark’s Basilica is the mosaic displays that cover the church. The mosaic show the stories of the Bible and cover all of the Church.

However, the most popular piece of Saint Mark’s Basilica is the Pala d’Oro. Or the altar of the Church. This altar, which is the largest of its design, is made of gold and silver, with various gems and stones to make out the Saints. What is all included on this two sided altar? 526 pearls, 330 garnets, 320 emeralds, 255 sapphires, 183 amethysts, 175 agates, 75 rubies, 34 topazes, 16 carnelians, and 13 jaspers.

If you want see other famous Basilicas then check out Florence’s Basilica di Santa Croce or St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome which is made from the Marble of the Colosseum!

Address:  Piazza San Marco, 328, 30100 Venezia VE, Italy

Cost: Free. However there will be a long line. You can make reservations in advance for €2. Check out making reservations here.

Libreria Acqua Alta

If you want to make your final stop a souvenir destination, then check out the Libreria Acqua Alta. This bookshop is famous for how it is has integrated itself into the culture of Venice. You will find books piled inside of boats for displays.

The most popular point though is the book staircase outback. This staircase allows visitors to sit on a large pile of books overlooking the canal. This has become a popular destination for those visiting Venice and is a must stop for any bibliophile.

Additionally, if you have a favorite book stroll the shop and see if there is the Italian translation (especially the classics!)

If you enjoy book tours then make sure to check out more about a Literary Tour of Dublin.

Address:  Calle Lunga Santa Maria Formosa, 5176b, 30122 Venezia VE, Italy

Cost: Free – unless you purchase a book.

Travelling to Venice

There are two main ways to get to Venice: Train and Plane.

• Land at Venice Marco Polo Airport. You can arrange for a water bus from the airport to take you to Venice. Learn more about water bus here. Or you can take the shuttle bus, or a bus transfer service to get to the airport. Check out options here for the bus.
• If you are making a long trip out of your time in Italy, then you are most likely training in from another city. You will arrive at the Stazione di Venezia Santa Lucia. When you walk down the stairs you will be greeted by the Grand Canal! From there you can either navigate through the city to your stay, or take a water taxi to your location (however lines are long). Purchase train tickets here.

Travelling in Venice

While you are in Venice, the best way to get around is going to be by foot. Cars can’t navigate through the roads here – if you can even call them that. A majority of Venice is made up of a maze of alleyways. You can hire rides on gondolas, or by water taxi, but the lines can be line and it is a pricey way to get around.

The best way to travel around is by foot – you will most likely get completely lost at least once.. or twice. Make sure to have google maps handy and follow the walking route closely. However, getting lost in Venice is never bad as you will find smaller bridges over tiny canals, and a variety of shops down the side streets.