Visit Venice and Murano, Burano
It was therefore written in the book of fate, to my page, that the year 1786, on the evening of Sept. 28, at five, according to our clock, I saw for the first time Venice entering from the Brenta in the Lagoon and that shortly after I touched this soil and visited this wonderful city of islands, this republic of beavers. So Venice is no longer for me, thanks to the gods, an empty name, like those who have so often tormented me out, deadly enemy of empty words (J.W. Goethe, Italienische Reise).
And how many other writers and artists wrote about Venice after Goethe? Just to mention the most famous: Byron, Ruskin, Nietzsche, Wagner, T. Mann, James, D'Annunzio, Hemingway, Le Corbusier, Peggy Guggenheim. Venice, a bright city, full of colors and music, like a beautiful woman with her mysterious smile, how many passionate lovers had she had?
How to reach Venice leaving from Vittorio Veneto
By Train : it is the best mean of transportation to get to Venice. You can leave directly from the railway station in Vittorio Veneto, and just one hour and a half later you may be able to deep your feet in the canals.
Tickets are not sold on the train. You can buy them from the automatic machine at the station, or from the tourist office near the station on the main avenue.
The last stop is Venice Santa Lucia Station, which is right on the banks of the canals. From there, to go to the Rialto Bridge and St. Mark's Square you can either go on foot following the directions or take one of the frequent ferries “Vaporetto” that go along the Grand Canal to Giudecca. The ferry is a wonderful opportunity to enjoy the sight of Venice from the water.
If you would like to prolong your staying in Venice for the evening and feel free to dine out in one of its beautiful restaurants, we recommend you to leave from Conegliano instead of Vittorio Veneto because trains are much more frequent late at night.
To get to Conegliano from Vittorio Veneto you can take a 15 minute bus ride or you can drive your own car and park in the free parking lot right next to the station.
By car: if you want to drive, to feel free from time schedule, you must remember that in Venice no cars are allowed. You have to leave your car in one of the paying parking lots just outside the city. All day parking is pretty expensive and you are still far from the most beautiful part of town that you can reach with a shuttle boat.
What you absolutely need to see in Venice
- Piazza San Marco, all surrounded by arcades to resemble a huge marble hall under an open sky;
- Basilica of San Marco,the city cathedral, its medieval mosaics with the narrative scenes of the Old and New Testament;
- Palazzo Ducale, (the doge’s palace) built between the fourteenth and sixteenth centuries, a superb example of venetian gothic architecture to show the glory of the “Serenissima” era.
- Canal Grande, the largest waterway in Venice, lined with 200 beautiful historical buildings;
- Ponte di Rialto, built in 1588 to replace a wooden drawbridge as to allow the passage of galley ships;
- Ca 'd'Oro, built in the first half of the ‘400, is now a Venice landmark with its typical late-gothic architecture of the lodges that gives direct access from the Grand Canal. Here you can find masterpieces by Giovanni Bellini, Carpaccio, Mantegna, Titian, Giorgione, Tintoretto;
- Ponte dei Sospiri, (Bridge of Sighs) built at the beginning of the 17th century. got its name from the prisoners that had to walk across the bridge on their way to the executioner. The prisoners would “sigh” as they crossed the bridge, probably catching their last glimpse of the lagoon and the island of St. George, knowing that most likely they would not see the light ever again.
- Arsenal, it has been the largest “industrial company” for naval warfare in the world since the fifteenth century, with its 3000 employees and its 6 galleys per month production . The Arsenal of Venice was one of the most glorious shipyard of the Ancient Maritime Republic: the most famous ships of the world were produced in its Arsenal;
- The Ghetto of Venice: the oldest ghetto in Europe isolated the Jewish residents of Venice who lived within its walls unable to leave from sunset to dawn.
- Ca 'Pesaro - Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Moderna,
is a masterpiece of Venetian Baroque civil architecture, the gallery has important collections of paintings from the nineteenth and twentieth centuries such as Klimt, Chagall, Kandinsky, Klee, Matisse;
- Ca 'Rezzonico - Museum of eighteenth-century. The museum hosts significant art work of the Venetian eighteenth century, paintings of Tiepolo, Rosalba Carriera, Canaletto,Guardi and Longhi, displayed in sumptuously furnished rooms of the period along with various items of personal use.
- Scuola Grande di San Rocco, which hosts masterpieces of the great Tintoretto;
- Peggy Guggenheim Collection is the most important museum in Italy for European and American art form the first half of the 20th century. It is located in Peggy Guggenheim former home, Palazzo Venier dei Leoni, on the Canal Grande in Venice;
- The Islands of Murano, Burano, Torcello; Murano, known for its glassmaking and Glass Museum. Burano an island of fishermen, lacemakers, and colorfully painted houses. Torcello a bucolic island with a 1,000-year-old cathedral and a handful of outdoor restaurants.
Venice sightseeing – guided tours - excursions
As you can imagine Venice has a thousand agencies and offices that provide tourist services of any kind, sightseeing, walking tours, by ferry, by gondola, with or without serenade, lunch and dinner, not everything at an affordable price though.
If you are the independent kind of tourist who may prefer to explore small alleys, little squares, and walk along the canals on you own, you can do it!
Your accommodation or your house is usually provided with maps of Venice and tourist brochures listing all you can do as guided tours and excursions.
Just plan your day and you can easily get around using the “vaporetto” (waterbus) which will take you to all the most important points of interest. You can save money on public transportation also by purchasing a 12- to 72-hour pass.
Enjoy Venice by boat!
- St. Mark Square, Basilica and Doge’s Palace
- Venice tour by gondola and on foot
- Murano, Burano, Torcello Excursion of the Islands
- Gondola Serenade
- Gondola Serenade and dinner
- Shadow of Venice – Night tour
- Spicy Venice tour at Rialto market
Here’s what an important Italian writer thinks about the best way to visit Venice . . . !
Where are you going? Throw away the map! Why do you want to know where you are now? In Venice, just raise your eyes to see yellow arrow signs telling you where to go, easily: to Ferrovia, to San Marco, to Rialto bridge, to Accademia … get lost! Why do you fight the labyrinth and the maze? Indulge for once!
Do not worry, let it be the alleys to decide your way … learn to roam … wander … loaf around … ! (Tiziano Scarpa)
There is nothing better than getting lost in Venice, wandering around its street and its endless alleys without any destination. If you have a few hours to visit the city, then try to get lost before you decide to go in a museum or to any another points of interest. Wander about the city and you may come across a lot of different fascinating places or hidden Venetian churches. Go to the opposite side where all the people is going and be led by the enchanting atmosphere of Venice magic streets.
Some places to go – Our suggestions
Do not go home without having visited the most outstanding points of interest of Venice, on your own or with a guided tour.
Visit the Basilica of San Marco: it is considered one the most beautiful Italian churches. The admission is free for the Basilica, but you’ll have to pay a ticket if you want to visit the three small museums on the inside. You might want to reserve the visit on-line to avoid waiting in a long line. We suggest you to visit at least the four original horses moved to the museum and replaced on the outside by reproductions, this way you will get the chance to climb on the top of the terrace and enjoy the view of Piazza S. Marco from above.
Tour of the Palazzo Ducale: right next to the Basilica of San Marco you will find the second landmark of Venice. This is a perfect example of gothic civil architecture. It is worth the entrance fee. Do not miss the opportunity to visit the palace together with the Bridge of Sighs.
Top of the Bell Tower: you can buy a ticket for a ride in the elevator on the top of the Bell Tower (also called the Clock Tower, “torre dell’orologio”) located just outside the church to get a complete view of the Basilica and the San Marco square . The view is fantastic and you can see and hear the bells from up close!
Walk around the Rialto market: you cannot miss a walk through the food market at Rialto Bridge if you want to learn about Venetian culture. It is better known as “fish market”, even if you can also buy vegetables, fruits and spices. This is one of the best “angle” to take a picture of the Rialto Bridge.
Visit of a Murano glass factory: Murano is one of the closest and easily accessible islands. Watching men making glass products by hand is a must for first time visitors to Venice, especially if you are traveling with children, a visit to the glass factory could be either educational and much fun.
A walk around Burano : Do not miss a visit to the uncrowded Burano island, easily accessible by boat after visiting Murano. Strolling Burano is a unique and satisfying experience with its beautiful colored houses.