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!

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.

There is an old Venetian legend which says ... If two lovers…read more... kiss ... in a gondola ... under the Bridge of Sighs ... at sunset ... when the bells of the Campanile toll ... they will love each other ... forever ... The legend is true. Smooching while gently gliding on Rio di Palazzo under Ponte dei Sospiri (with a furtive glance from your gondoliero) is the most "romantic" way to experience this very popular tourist attraction near Canal Grande behind Palazzo Ducale. The other two ways to enjoy Venice photo spot #4 (or #2063 depending on which way your walking) aren't nearly as amorous. The "easiest" experience is to join the throngs of tourists crowded onto the Ponte della Paglia stone bridge (built in 1847 near Piazza San Marco) to get the same pic as every other single person that has visited Venice since 1848. It's a local custom (which may be an actual law) that you MUST take a picture of Ponte dei Sopiri from this view point. The most "educational" way to visit the Bridge of Sighs is the old-fashioned way ... like prisoners (such as the infamous Casanova) ... did since 1603 when being led from the interrogation rooms of Palazzo Ducale (Doge's Palace) to the Prigioni Nuove (New Prison). Take the self-guided tour of the palace to explore within the covered bridge. Inside, you can peek from the small windows carved into the ornamental Istrian limestone while learning more about why the bridge earned it's title as the "last view of Venice" ... causing prisoners to *sigh* on their way to the famously-cold, wet, and windowless jail. Why the sigh? Oh, it's this bridge. If you're already at Ponte dei Sospiri, why not take some (obligatory) pics? Whether they are the most romantic, easiest, or educational is forever entirely up to you.

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.

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!

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.

Normally not a museum guy, but I completely enjoyed this one. The audioguide worked perfectly and…read moreallowed me the time to follow the paintings and see things I would not have seen on my own. This is definitely worth your time. So glad we did this.

It's overwhelming. Give yourself time to view, recognize and feel this art environment. The…read morepaintings, woodwork, wood sculptures, tile work etc. The restoration video is educational about the precise process of bring the color back to the original form

We opted for the Ca d'Oro when the Gallerie dell'Accademia di Venezia sounded too daunting and too…read morefar away. Galleria Giorgio Franchetti alla Ca d'Oro was a great beginner's introduction to the island's many art galleries and museums. The museum is just the right size (housed in an old palace, just a few floors) and is not crowded. You basically get the whole museum to yourself and its a nice contrast to the busyness of Piazza San Marco. The art is so so but the building is what truly shines here. The Bon family designed the palace. If that family name makes no sense to you at all, just know that they also designed Doge's Palace! The courtyard is a beautiful space and is made up of the most amazing tile work. Also nice is the balcony and area where your boat would pull up from the canal. Just imagine what that would be like if it were back in the day. Not much has changed in terms of the structure and it is easy to picture what life was like in this palace.

A behind-the-scenes tour of an important landmark. Plus, as a bonus, we got a bird's eye view of…read morethe city. It is well worth the stair climb to see the history involved in this mechanical marvel. Well worth the cost cost of admission.

Clock tower is built into a building & walkway into the St Marks Square facing the basilica.At the…read moretop is a beautiful bell that rings on the hour. The back with Roman numerals was different & special.

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.