This iconic and famous stone arch crossing bridge is the oldest in Venice. It is a must see when…read morevisiting. Here you will see and experience daily life, gondola rides, water traffic, shops, and nearby waterfront restaurants. Best time to visit is early morning or late night to avoid the crowds. I recommend seeing it late at night so you can see all the lights glistening in the water. Very pretty.

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.

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.

Iconic picturesque spot in Venice. It was built in 1600 out of limestone. We walked through it…read moreduring our tour guide of the Doge Palace and St Marks Basilica. Many tourist come here for the photos and to also watch the gondolas pass through. It's really a pretty site but so crowded. Rumor has it that prisoners would sigh as they took one last look of freedom before going to the dark cells. We actually went inside the old prison and looked out the windows and you can see the Bridge of Sighs from within. I myself sighed as well.

The Ponte dell Accademia was first erected in the mid-19th century then replaced in the 1930s - it…read moreis interesting for its high arch construction and the fact that it is made of wood. The current Academy Bridge dates from 1985, when the 1930s bridge was rebuilt after being deemed too dangerous. I took this pic with my iPhone, it's pretty awesome. Just a beautiful day & the sunset on this bridge over the Grand Canal doesn't look real. We crossed the bridge & waited for the water taxi with more magnificent views.

Heaven is in your eyes... Nei tuoi occhi c'è il cielo…read more Ciao! After a short flight from Holland and a longer water taxi ride from the mainland of Venice, Italy... I miss my stop when I arrive on the island. Oh, well let's see what serendipity has in store for me. The Venice sun has just set, my feet tired from my travels, but I arrive at a stunning bridge as my first stop to my Italian Bed & Breakfast. I drop my cabin rollaway to admire the view. Simply breathtaking! After a couple minutes of being grateful for life, I head to my B&B, four or five bridges, twenty or thirty alleyways away. I settle in, shower, and yet can't get that bridge out of my mind. I need more... The next early morning I find out the bridge is Ponte dell'Accademia world-known by photographers for it's views and dramatic sunrises and sunsets. As the sunrise is just beginning I head out to hopefully catch a glimpse of nature's beauty mingling with architectural history. I arrive to see maybe a dozen other photographers from around the world at the choicest spots. I decide not to fight others for the perfect shot, and just admire the beauty in front of me. A moment in time I will never forget... Nei tuoi occhi c'è il cielo... Heaven is in your eyes. In the end, Ponte dell'Accademia is a must for all you romantics visiting Venice, Italy. Photographers, scholars, and those that enjoy life will appreciate this wonderful wooden bridge that crosses the south side of Canal Grande, connecting Dorsoduro to San Marco. Go during sunrise or sunset and be amazed... serendipity brought me here... Ti Amo.

"The bridge os sighs" is such an iconic part of Venitian history that no tourist should miss…read more This bridge connected the Doge's palace (where interrogations would take place) with the prison cellars and was built in 1600. Why the name may you ask? This was the last sight of the outside life prisoners would see before veing escorted in the secluded cellars of the Venitian prisons. It has, nowadays, been dubber as a romantic spot, thanks to the legendary (but doubtful) fame that, should you kiss whilst riding a gondola under said bridge, yoi are granted a lasting relationship filled with joy and love. I personally can vouch it does NOT work. But, the site and the history makes this an amazing site to see.

The Bridge of Sighs, Ponte dei Sospiri in Italian, is a bridge in Venice, which is made of white…read morelimestone, has windows with stone bars and connects the new prison to the interrogation rooms. It's one of the most famous bridges in Venice, so expect tourists and crowds. I suggest you come here early during the day if you want to take photos without much interruption.

After having lunch in the Bar All'Arco several times we always went for a walk around the area. And…read moresomehow always ended up on this square. And it's a nice little discovery. While the area here is very popular and busy, we've found this Campo almost empty - and that every time. Ok, there isn't much to do here. But it's a nice spot to enjoy some lovely Venetian architecure. As well as the pretty Chiesa San Silvestro with its impressive tower. If you need a bit of peace and quiet and a piece of a Venice without people all over it, then this is a great little square to check out. It's pretty suprising actually that it's not more visited. But that's also a good thing.

Named for the nearby Chiesa degli Scalzi, literally the "church of the barefoot monks," the Scalzi…read moreBridge is an elegant stone span that links the Santa Croce and Cannaregio neighborhoods. The Scalzi Bridge dates from 1934 and is one of four bridges over the Grand Canal. We arrived in Venice via rail to the Santa Lucia Station, the Scalzi Bridge was the first bridge you will cross after disembarking. It is also referred to as the Bridge of Sighs. As prisoners were being brought to San Marco Square they would cross the bridge, admire Venice and sigh.

Venice is known for the canals and especially the Grand Canal. But did you know there are only…read morefour bridges that cross the Grand Canal? The Ponte degli Scalzi is one of those four bridges. It is located nearly in front of the Santa Lucia/Ferrovia train station (just to the left if standing in front facing the Canal). It is, however, in front of the Santa Maria di Nazareth Church. It was originally an Austrian iron structure built in the 1850's. The stone arch bridge we see and use today was designed by Eugenio Miozzi and finished in 1934. The bridge connects the sestieri of Santa Croce and Cannaregio. The name comes from the order of bare-footed friars, Scalzi, that once had a convent located there. Reality is...if you arrive by train and then step out the train station you see the canal, the beautiful buildings in front of you...and then you are almost drawn to the bridge. This is Venice baby...get on that bridge!!! Let the whole idea of being in Venice sink in...right here! It's the back drop for many selfies since it's really the first bridge a lot of folks see. Just take it all in...and its surroundings!

Venice has tons of monuments scattered throughout the city…read more This particular monument is dedicated to the first unified king of Italy circa 1861. It's an interesting monument, but the plaza around. It has puns of aggressive sales people so buyer beware. that being said, it's more of a stop rather than a destination.

The Palazzo Ducale also known as Doge's Palace is a must visit while in Venice. It's located in the…read morefamous St Marks square right next to St Mark's Basilica. It got its name from the Duke or ruler of Venice. Inside you will see high gold ceilings, an old armory that stored historic weapons, prison cells where you can look out a tiny hole to the Bridge of Sighs. We booked our tour here with Get Your Guide which included a tour of St Marks Basilica. Expect to spend at least a couple of hours here. Make sure to wear comfortable shoes since you will be doing a lot of walking in and around the grounds. Our tour guide spoke English the entire time which was helpful so we got to learn the history and feel first hand of the prisoners here. It was first built in the 14th century and then rebuilt to make it more grander each time.

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!