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!!

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.

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.

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.

This is the oldest Jewish ghetto in the world and it's been around since the 1500s…read more It was created to keep the Jewish community separate while living in the city. The segregation was finally ended in the late 1700s by Napoleon. Now the area thrives with shops, bakeries, stores, and restaurants. It's a stark reminder of a horrible past but a history that should be known and understood. We met wonderful residents and businesses owners and had the most delicious treats from the bakeries as well.

Founded in 1516 the The Venetian Ghetto aka Jewish Ghetto, is a district in Venice. Under the…read moredecree which founded the area people of the Jewish faith were forced to live. The area is fairly quiet especially when compared to the crowds in San Marcos. This makes it an ideal place for a stroll. There are tons of shops, eateries, and interesting architecture. There is a synagog and a Holocaust memorial as well.

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.

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!

If you are in Burano probably as part of the three-island tour, it is worth to explore the Burano…read moreand you will probably cross the bridges without realizing. Every street and canal in Burano lends itself to great photography. However, the wooden bridge named Tre Ponti (three bridges), is located at the confluence of three canals and also brings together three of the more spectacular streets on the islands. This is a lovely part of Burano to look at and to wander around. It's impossible to be anything but happy on this beautiful little island. The brightly colored fisherman's houses are just so lovely and the shops filled with the most delicate pieces of lace. It is, indeed, one of the loveliest places to visit when you are in Venice.

This was one of my favorites on my recent trip. Not so much for the art inside (fairly typical…read moreItalian paintings, sculptures, etc.), but mainly for the building itself. The Ca d'Oro is one of Venice's most breathtaking architectural offerings and this museum lets you go inside and have a glimpse of what it was like to be there long ago. The inside rooms are now art gallery spaces, but you get access to both the 1st and 2nd floor terraces with their fabulous views of the Grand Canal. And you get to explore the ground floor portico with its magnificent mosaic work, garden, and view of the canal.

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!