The waterways are the lifeline of Venice and the Canal Grade, or Grand Canal, is the main water way…read morethat connects everything in Venice. If you look at the map of the islands, the Grand Canal connects everything with a graceful S shape. In the medieval and renaissance times, Venice was a major trade area and an essential route for merchant ships bringing spices, silk, and other goods from the east. Our gondolier told us how there weren't bridges until Napoleon came along. Everyone traveled around by boat and the closer to the water the richer they were. Even today, traveling by water is the main method of getting around the city. When we first arrived, we saw movers with a crane on their boat hauling furniture. On our last day there, we even saw ambulance by water. It was also such a treat being able to take a gondola ride as part of our experience in the city. I enjoyed the day to day moments of walking around and exploring the city and taking photos on the Grand Canal. Every scene was so unique and stunning.

This waterway runs the entire length of the Lagoon of Venice! There is much traffic on the…read morewaterway: water buses, water taxis, gondolas and private boats and amazing to see how they navigate it all. I purchased a 3-Day Water Bus pass and it allowed me to enjoy the beautiful views, massive buildings, Rialto Bridge and exquisite architecture of all the other buildings along the waterway.

Beautiful! A incredible walk along the way. Just cross the bridge. Maybe 20 minutes away if your…read morewalking from st marks.

We walked to this Basilica one morning before lunch... it's a beautiful basilica on the point of…read morethe Grand Canal and worth the visit. They're doing some renovation inside currently, but it's still beautiful. It's amazing to see the sheer size and beauty, especially when inside of the construction!

Palazzo Ducale or the Doge's Palace was one of my favorite parts of my trip to Venice. Ducale or…read moreDoge means Duke. The Duke was the highest governing position in Venice, and this is once where they lived. While strolling St. Mark's Square I already admired the beauty of the building. The building has gothic architecture with influences from the Byzantine times, Islamic and European Medieval styles. My camera does not do its' beauty justice. The tickets to Doge's Palace are time entry tickets, but they didn't seem to be too strict compared to other museums. Tickets are 37€/person. There is a baggage check in area for large items like a backpack, at no cost. It's nice because my boyfriend and I left our stuff there, even things that weren't required to be checked so we walked around more lightly. I only kept my phone for photos. One of the first things I remember seeing is the snitch mailbox. In the olden days the citizens were encouraged to rat on one another and they can leave anonymous tips for the government here. Unfortunately as a result many were wrongfully imprisoned... and there is a full on prison in the later ends of the tour. It was really scary to walk through. On a more positive note, there had the most stunning golden staircase and one of the most incredible largest paintings in the world, the Il Parasido by Jacopo Tintoretto. A must visit when visiting Venice!

Situated between the Basilica di San Marco and the Riva degli Schiavoni waterfront, the Palazzo…read moreDucale, or Doge's (Duke's) Palace, is arguably the jewel in the crown. It was the seat of the government of Venice for centuries and hosted various government institutions, including the Great Council and the Council of Ten, which controlled the affairs of the republic. Its façade featured intricate marble reliefs, elegant arches, and decorative elements that showcased the beauty of the place where my partner, our friend, family members, and I had gotten self-guided tickets without a reservation last Saturday and moved quickly. One entered the palazzo through a door next to the Lagoon into an enormous courtyard and the Arco Foscari. Here we saw the mix of styles that made up the palace, as successive doges tried to make the palace ever more magnificent. Inside, one can explore a series of opulent rooms, grand halls, and ornate chambers adorned with exquisite artworks, stunning frescoes, and elaborate ceilings. Notable rooms include the Doge's apartments, the Hall of the Great Council, and the Chamber of the Council of Ten. Plan a minimum of two hours to get a good bit of history, which is a living echo of a world that helped shape Europe. We can recommend.

Located in the Doge's Palace complex in Venice, this covered bridge span of white limestone with…read morestone bars covering the windows was constructed in the opening years of the 17th century to link the palace's old prison and courtrooms with a newly constructed jail across the narrow canal.⁣⁣ According to legend, the Bridge of Sighs takes its name from the despairing sighs of prisoners gazing out at the beauty of Venice as they were led away to their dark future of imprisonment. This forms part of the Palazzo's museum route, where visitors like us last Saturday to the museum would reach the bridge after passing through the elegant staterooms and frescoed halls of the Palazzo, before getting to grips with Venice's extensive early-modern armory on the way to the forbidding New Prison. When one reaches the bridge, make sure to peer out through the narrow gaps in the stone window grills to catch a glimpse of the island of San Giorgio Maggiore glittering splendidly in the waters of the Venetian lagoon. The best time to see this bridge is still surprisingly quiet in the mornings, the earlier the better, or at sunset, which we can recommend.

Such a beautiful and iconic spot in Venice -- definitely worth seeing in person. The bridge itself…read moreis smaller than I expected, but the history and the setting make it really special. Pro tip: for the best photo, walk past the main view area and sit on the left-hand side (when facing the bridge from the front). There's a little spot by the canal where you can relax and snap a perfect shot without the crowds in the background.

This Basilica is small but beautiful. Make sure to follow the dress code, knees and shoulders…read morecovered. There are additional features that you need to get separate tickets for (or get a bundle) so make sure to do your research beforehand and and book appropriately. It will be a short visit given the venue isn't large but it's worth it when you're in Venice!

Basilica di San Marco or the St. Mark's Basilica is dedicated to St. Mark, the patron saint of the…read morecity and a house for his relics. This is without a doubt the most important religious site in the city of Venice. At the time of our visit, there was construction on front of the building, but it was still beautiful. It is a masterpiece of Byzantine architecture with Gothic influences. There was so much incredible detail that went into every inch of the building. I did not get to go inside but the outside was already impressive. A great spot for photos.

Venice's only Gothic church. It is dedicated to the Assumption of Mary. It is simply called "I…read moreFrari" as it was built by the brothers (frati) of the Franciscan order. LOCATION: In the San Polo sestiere but I remember just stumbling onto it while walking the island from my hotel in Dorsoduro to the train station on the opposite side of the island. ADMISSION: €3 Modest dress requested. I'm an atheist but as Christianity was highly influential in shaping European history I visit churches with the intent of understanding the history (and sometimes) art in shaping a region's cultural identity. As the Frari is not in San Marco, Rialto or any other major Venetian landmark I would've easily missed this church if not for Rick Steves' audioguide (http://podcasts.ricksteves.com/walkingtours/FrariChurch.mp3). His reasoning is that offers an opportunity to experience art in-situ (right where it was designed to be seen) as opposed to hanging in a museum. The audioguide explains the major art pieces in detail way better than I ever can. Here's a summary of the major pieces inside the church. - Titian's Assumption of Mary. This is considered to be Titian's magnum opus and his first major commission from a church. It's located behind the main altar. Its depiction of Mary was revolutionary for its time as she is seen as triumphant and depicted in soft and warm colors. - Titian's Madonna of Ca' Pesaro. What's significant is that this broke Renaissance tradition by depicting Mary and Jesus off-center and interacting with the commonfolk. - Giovanni Bellini's Madonna and Child aka the Frari Triptych. - Tombs of Titian and Canova. Titian had his tomb decorated with a relief of his most famous painting. On the other side Canova's cenotaph (Venice's most famous sculptor) is pyramid-shaped and was once meant for Titian, but when the church used the present design his pupils repurposed it for their master instead. It's a cenotaph because he isn't buried here but an urn contains his heart. Once you're done exploring the church the surrounding area is quieter than San Marco or Rialto. It makes for a good lunch/dinner spot and the prices are more reasonable.

Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari (aka Frari Church) was one of my favorite attractions in Venice…read more The church is beautiful, there were no lines to wait in, and the cost was only 3 Euros per person. Frari church has many beautiful Venetian sculptures. The main highlight at this church is Titian's Assumption over the main alter. We downloaded Rick Steves' free audio tour onto to our iPods and it really added to the experience since our knowledge on Venetian art and Frari Church were minimal. You can download the free audio tour at: http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/italy-audio-tours/id272230438 After you visit the church I recommend checking out the Dorsoduro neighborhood along the Grand Canal and buying a cone of gelato!

Ponte di Rialto, or the Rialto Bridge, is the oldest and most iconic bridge across the Grand Canal,…read moreand it is an essential landmark to visit when in Venice. The bridge connects 2 key districts in Venice: San Marco and San Polo. It was only a 15 minute walk over for us and as we approached I was surprised to see it wasn't just a bridge. There were jewelry shops, leathered goods shops, Murano glass shops, and other different types of souvenir shops. The only downside is that IT WAS SO BUSY. The crazy inconsiderate tourists would be walking and then stopping part way through the bridge blocking the flow of the walk way to talk their photos. I feel like you're obligated to see the Rialto Bridge if you're in Venice, but mentally prepare for some madness.

The Rialto Bridge is one of the ICONS of Venice! I was lucky enough that my hotel was less than a…read more5 min walk. It has a wonderful view of the Grand Canal..but for the best times to see it w/o the countless people taking selfies or blocking your view is to go early morning or late evening after the 'day trippers' leave! Tip: Don't go to the restaurants or buy souvenirs near the bridge...huge Markup on everything!!

Campanile di San Marco is the bell tower of St Mark's Basilica in Venice, Italy. The current…read morecampanile is a reconstruction completed in 1912. The previous tower collapsed in 1902. It is one of the most recognizable symbols of the city. It's located in Saint Mark's Square where my hotel was located when I visited Venice. The campanile was intended to be a watchtower to sight approaching ships and protect entry into the city. You can see it for miles. If you visit Venice I suggest you go up inside, if it's still allowed. I'm sure the views are amazing. I'm glad I enjoyed being underneath and looking up at this historic landmark. It's a great memory!

The Campanile di San Marco is the bell tower of nearby Saint Mark's Basilica. It is one of the many…read morethings in St. Marks Square to see and I highly recommend you get your tickets in advance unless waiting in line is your thing. As noted in many reviews the previous tower suffered a collapse in 1902 and was subsequently rebuilt in 1912. The line aside, one of the benefits of its reconstruction is that they were later able to add a elevator to get you to the top which is a nice convenience having walked around most of the day (not to mention 4 stories a day to get to our killer VRBO) The views are spectacular and you basically are treated to a 360 degree view of the city and surrounding lagoons. It also gives a specatcular perspective of the Basilica below. If you do not have a ticket ahead of time my advice it to look at the major attractions and chose the one with the shortest line then go back to the others.

500 to 600 year-old works of art including Michelangelo and Bosch. But the highlight is undoubtedly…read morethe vitruvian man by da Vinci. It is worth the price of the entry alone. It sits behind a closed curtain for 20 minutes then they uncover it for another 20 minutes. They say it will be on display for one year. And then it is stored in a dark room where no one can see it for eight years. They do this routine to avoid damaging the sensitive material.

Worth a trip to the Gallerie dell' Accademia when visiting Venezia…read more I recommend lunch or dinner at Al Vechio Maragon (nearby) after the visiting the museum.

A great place to visit to obtain really stunning views of the city. Only 80 steps and 6€ and you…read morewill have hundreds of opportunities to take THE picture. Steeped in history this architectural wonder hits all the notes on what you want in Venice. The eighty monolithic steps, which climb counterclockwise, find their end at the wonderful terrace "Belvedere", from which it is possible to admire the whole City on the lagoon. The Palace, in its century-old history, has been inhabited by several owners. In the nineteenth century, for example, it was turned into a lodging-house by Arnaux Marseille, called "il Maltese", who local rumours suggest had been the inspiration for Corto Maltese, the main character of Hugo Pratt's comics. It was really one of the lodging-house guests, the German astronomer Ernst Wilhelm Tempel, who discovered the C/1859 comet and the Merope Nebula of the Pleiades during one of his sky observation activities. In 1849 the Palace was donated by its last owner to the "Fraterna dei Poveri di San Luca".

The hidden staircase. After a bit of searching you stumble (ask for directions) across a small…read morelane that leads you down to the hidden staircase. When we were there a couple of years back it was all closed off and we had to take the picture though some barred gates. Even then it was impressive. I think if one day they open it up and you can go inside it would get extra stars. For now though for a impressive building just out of touching distance you can only really give it three. Still worth a look though, if you can find it. Plus it only takes ten mins out your day to grab some great snaps of a staircase that gives you a glimpse into the past.