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Where do you start? You could spend a year in Venice and still only see a fraction of what is there.
Venice is the place for leisure, with its endless canals, ornate balconies and incredible churches. The Grand Canal wraps around the city, emerging at the unforgettable vista of Piazza San Marco with its campanile, Doges' Palace, St Mark's Basilica and elegant piazza. Overlooking the gondolas on the Grand Canal are some stunning churches, Santa Maria della Salute, San Giorgio.
Here are a few things you really shouldn't miss:
Giardini di Castello
Since its inception in 1895, the Biennial has used this garden as a venue for the International Exhibition for the Visual Arts. The grounds include many pavilions, including the lage Italian Pavilion, as well as numerous other buildings and structures. The gardens are only open when the Biennale is running.
The most impressive secular building in Venice, this palace served as the senate house, administrative center, hall of justice, public archive and prison up until the fall of the Venetian Republic in 1797.
Attraction type: Castle; Landmark/point of interest; Architectural building; Historic home; Historic site; Museum; Art gallery
Venice's main water thoroughfare, lined with great Renaissance palaces, is a colorful and busy spectacle of gondolas and vaporetti.
Attraction type: Waterway
Blending the architectural styles of East and West, Venice's magnificent basilica was consecrated in 832 AD as an ecclesiastical building to house the remains of St. Mark.
Attraction type: Historic site; Landmark/point of interest; Religious site; Architectural building; Art gallery
Undoubtedly the most photographed and famous plaza in Europe, St. Mark's is in the heart of the city, surrounded by chic sidewalk cafes and boutiques.
Attraction type: Town center/square/plaza; Landmark/point of interest
This satellite gallery of the famous Guggenheim in New York occupies the 17th-century Customs House in Venice, featuring modern and contemporary works of art.
Attraction type: Art museum; Landmark/point of interest; Historic home
Visiting La Fenice Theatre is a unique experience to discover another way to live the Theatre. The tour among the plasters and the golds of the prestigious halls allows to discover the grounds and...
Attraction type: Theater; Opera
Attraction type: Historic site; Religious site; Town center/square/plaza
This monumental marble mansion of the Grassi family on the Grand Canal, is now a world renowned art and history museum with a 600-seat garden theatre.
Attraction type: Art museum; History museum; Garden
The city's most important and prestigious art gallery features an impressive collection of Venetian paintings and works by such artists as Bellini, Titian and Mantegna.
Attraction type: Art museum; Movie theater
Originally built in the mid-13th century, Santa Maria dei Frari (St. Mary of the Friars) houses many masterpieces of Venetian Renaissance art, notably Giovanni Bellini's triptych "Madonna and Child with Saints," and the "Pesaro Madonna" by Titian, who is buried in the church.
Attraction type: Religious site; Landmark/point of interest; Historic site
Attraction type: Neighborhood; Historic site; History museum; Museum; Art gallery; Natural history museum
Originally built as a lighthouse to assist navigation in the lagoon, visitors can be whisked by elevator to the top of St. Mark's Campanile or bell tower to savor incredible views of Venice, the lagoon and the Alps in the distance.
Attraction type: Architectural building; Landmark/point of interest; Observation deck/tower; Historic site
Attraction type: Architectural building; Castle; Art museum
Venice's cemetary island since the 1800s.
Attraction type: Cemetery; Island
Attraction type: Island
The picturesque island of Giudecca is home to the world-famous Hotel Cipriani.
Attraction type: Neighborhood
Visit the ubiquitous glass shops on the island of Murano, and you'll find just about anything made of glass from paperweights and beads to sculpture and aquariums.
Attraction type: Island; Landmark/point of interest
Attraction type: Flea/street market
Known for its brightly colored houses & for its lace, Burano is a treat for the senses.
Attraction type: Neighborhood; Specialty shop; Historic walking area; Island; Historic home
Here you will find some of the beautiful works from the painter Tintoretto.
Attraction type: Art gallery; Educational site; Historic home; Historic site; Religious site
Immerse yourself in Venice's Age of Decadence with a visit to this lavish palace of the Venetian aristocracy Rezzonico, which houses an unsurpassed collection of eighteenth-century Venetian art.
Attraction type: History museum; Historic home; Historic site; Landmark/point of interest; Castle
Considered the true heart of Venice, this landmark bridge, characterized by its 24-foot arch, is built on approximately 12,000 wooden pilings that still support the bridge more than 400 years after it was built.
Attraction type: Bridge; Flea/street market
Attraction type: Historic site; Religious site; Lookout
Designed by Baldassare Longhena in 1631-83, the church's façade is embellished with 125 statues, which form a sharp contrast to the somber interior.
Attraction type: Religious site
Civic museum of Venice that opened in 1923, which houses a major art gallery and superb collections of objects-d'art, historic memorabilia and documents regarding the fascinating history of the Venetian Republic.
Attraction type: Art museum
Attraction type: Historic site
Attraction type: Religious site; Architectural building
Attraction type: Religious site
Attraction type: Theater; Concert; Landmark/point of interest; Theater district
This historic bridge connects the Doge's Palace with its prisons and was named for the condemned prisoners who crossed it to meet their executioners.
Attraction type: Bridge; Landmark/point of interest; Historic site
Many famous and fascinating islands can be found on this large body of water located between Venice and the Adriatic Sea.
Attraction type: Waterway
In 1473, the Senate in Venice ordered the building of the Arsenale Nuovissino, in order to have a safe shed to store weapons and boats that would always be available in case of war.
Attraction type: Historic site; Landmark/point of interest
Buy your mask for the next Venetian festival at this shop, which specializes in the traditional Commedia dell'arte, as well as Venetian styles.
Attraction type: Specialty shop; Factory tour
Attraction type: Shop; Street; Neighborhood
Attraction type: Island
Attraction type: Art museum
Attraction type: Religious site
Visitors can admire the famous frescoed room in the Palazzo Labia, featuring Tiepolo's "The Meeting of Anthony and Cleopatra" (1746-1747.)
Attraction type: Castle; Architectural building
Attraction type: Religious site; Historic site
Attraction type: Architectural building
Attraction type: Religious site
Attraction type: Architectural building
Attraction type: Religious site
Attraction type: Museum
Attraction type: Religious site
This 16th-century home was where German composer Richard Wagner died.
Attraction type: Historic home
Rival to Castello for bragging rights as the largest of Venice's six sestieri (boroughs).
Attraction type: Neighborhood
A popular piazza in Venice's Dorsoduro district.
Attraction type: Town center/square/plaza
This cathedral was first built in the seventh century.
Attraction type: Religious site
Not for land-lubbers: this museum has filled its four floors with interesting maritime objects, including the banners that were flown by the Venetian fleet at Lepanto.
Attraction type: History museum
Many important attractions are located on or near this busy square including Ognissanti, the parish church of the Vespucci family, and Santa Maria Novella, the home of the Dominicans.
Attraction type: Town center/square/plaza
Attraction type: Theater
Attraction type: Game/entertainment center; Coffeehouse
Venice district that offers many interesting historic sites such as the Church of San Giacomo di Rialto, thought to be the oldest church in Venice.
Attraction type: Neighborhood
Attraction type: Historic site; Religious site
Attraction type: Religious site; Art museum; History museum
Attraction type: Specialty shop
Leading from the clock tower in the Piazza to the Rialto, the Merceria is the busiest shopping street in Venice.
Attraction type: Street
Stop in at this well-established shop for your next Carnevale mask, hand-crafted papier-mâché or leather.
Attraction type: Specialty shop; Factory tour
No visit to romantic Venice is complete without sampling a true Bellini, the famous prosecco and peach apéritif, at Harry's Bar at the San Marco.
Attraction type: Bar/club
Attraction type: Dance club/disco
Attraction type: Bar/club
Attraction type: Art museum
Attraction type: Specialty shop
Attraction type: Island
Attraction type: Tour
This specialty shop is filled with hand-blown glass items and objects - both traditional and unique.
Attraction type: Art gallery; Specialty shop
This shop is what dreams are made of with its imaginative puppets and masks that are all handmade and of high quality.
Attraction type: Specialty shop
Step back into the 14th century when you visit this shop offering unique handmade masks.
Attraction type: Specialty shop; Factory tour
Find out what keeps the ancient art of mask-making alive during a visit to this artist's workshop.
Attraction type: Specialty shop; Factory tour
One of the oldest mask-making shops, this unique store specializes in papier-mâché and custom-designed creations.
Attraction type: Specialty shop; Factory tour
Attraction type: Concert
This 14th-century clock stands on the north side of St. Mark's Square,and is known by its large clock face displaying the hours of the day, phases of the moon and movement of the sun through the signs of the Zodiac.
Attraction type: Architectural building; Landmark/point of interest
This Renaissance spiral staircase, built around 1499 by Giovanni Candi, is an elegant structure that is designed like a bòvolo, Venetian dialect for snail.
Attraction type: Historic site; Architectural building; Landmark/point of interest
You can visit where the world explorer Marco Polo started out - from his home located close to the Rialto Bridge in Venice.
Attraction type: Historic site; Historic home
Attraction type: Shop; Tour
Attraction type: Bar/club
Attraction type: Health club
Attraction type: Dance club/disco
Since 1929, this has been a popular watering hole and elegant eatery for writers, artists, celebrities and aristocrats.
Attraction type: Bar/club; Landmark/point of interest; Historic site
The elegant seventeenth-century Palazzo Barbaro is in a picture-perfect setting with the Accademia Bridge in the background, and adjacent to the gardens of the Palazzo Franchetti Cavalli.
Attraction type: Historic home; Historic site; Castle; Architectural building
One of the most beautiful palaces frescoed by Tiepolo is located on the Grand Canal between Campo San Tomà and Campo San Polo.
Attraction type: Historic home; Historic site; Castle
Once a Roman theater, this grand city square is the traditional venue for fairs and amusements.
Attraction type: Town center/square/plaza; Landmark/point of interest
Basilica where the apostle St. Mark is buried and which contains the largest bronze works of Donatello.
Attraction type: Religious site; Historic site; Cemetery; Landmark/point of interest
Dating back to the 16th-century, this is the oldest Jewish Ghetto in the world with its five synagogues, which are the oldest still existing.
Attraction type: Neighborhood; Religious site
Built in 1745 by architect Masaari, the façade of this church has a classical style, and is noted for the presence of Gian Battista Tiepolo's masterpieces, the "Fortezza e la Pace" and the "Trionfo delle Fede," which is painted on the ceiling.
Attraction type: Religious site
Attraction type: Specialty shop
Attraction type: Art gallery
Attraction type: Library
Attraction type: Library; History museum
Attraction type: Art gallery
Attraction type: Art gallery
Attraction type: Art gallery
Attraction type: Art gallery
Attraction type: Art gallery
Attraction type: Art gallery
Attraction type: Art gallery
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Venice - More info 
