Venice – San Marco

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The sestriere of San Marco is the true heart of Venice and one of the oldest parts of the city. Centered around the square of the same name, this has always been the seat of power in Venice, it features many of its most iconic landmarks and it is now the area most visited by tourists. The island of San Giorgio Maggiore, located south of the main islands and east of Giudecca, is also part of this sestriere.

✪ Saint Mark’s Basilica

Saint Mark’s Basilica (Basilica di San Marco) is the main church in Venice and one of the most iconic sights not only in the city, but all of Italy. This is an extraordinary piece of architecture blending the Byzantine style with Romanesque and Gothic elements. The first basilica was erected starting in 829, after the relics of Saint Mark were taken by Venetian merchants from Alexandria in Egypt to Venice. It was later damaged by a fire and rebuilt, with only a few sections surviving to this day. The construction of the current church started in 1063. As the power of Venice grew, the basilica was embellished even more, and over the centuries it was greatly expanded and adorned with lavish decorations, adding five large domes and a really elaborate facade. After the Venetian sack of Constantinople in 1204, some of the looted artifacts were brought here. While most of those are kept in the treasury of the basilica, the Portrait of the Four Tetrarchs (Monumento ai Tetrarchi), a 4th-century Roman sculpture, is now fixed on a corner of the basilica’s facade. Another important Roman art piece, the set of bronze statues known as Horses of Saint Mark (Cavalli di San Marco), is instead located in the museum inside the church, while their replicas decorate the facade. The interior of the church is splendid as well, entirely covered by Byzantine-style mosaics and adorned with numerous statues. The main altarpiece, called Pala d’Oro, is considered a masterpiece of Byzantine art.

✪ Saint Mark’s Campanile

The bell tower of Saint Mark’s Basilica (Campanile di San Marco) is one of the symbols of Venice and it has a recognizable and distinctive profile. Originally intended as a military watchtower and lighthouse, the building was erected in the 9th or 10th century and it slowly evolved into today’s bell tower, taking its current appearance in 1514. However, it was damaged several times over the years and in 1902 it suddenly collapsed. The bell tower was then rebuilt with the exact same shape and appearance and inaugurated again in 1912. It is now one of the tallest bell towers in Italy, standing at 98.6 meters, and the view of Venice from the top of it is breathtaking. The base of the campanile is surrounded by a decorated building known as Loggetta del Sansovino.

✪ Doge’s Palace

The Doge’s Palace (Palazzo Ducale) was for centuries the seat of power of the Republic of Venice, hosting the residence of the Doge and other governmental institutions. A masterpiece of the flamboyant Venetian Gothic architecture, it is now one of the most famous landmarks in the city. The original building dates back to the 9th century, and was expanded and rebuilt numerous times, but it only gained its current appearance between the 14th and 15th century, with some later restorations works. The many lavishly adorned halls of the palace now host a museum with several artworks by famous artists such as Titian, Tintoretto, and Veronese, and showcase the long and rich history of the Republic of Venice and its government through many artifacts of different eras. Other areas of the palace include the two prisons. The Piombi was the old prison, from which Giacomo Casanova once escaped, while the New Prisons (Prigioni Nuove) are connected to the main building by the iconic Bridge of Sighs.

✪ Piazza San Marco

The main square of Venice is the iconic Piazza San Marco. While the eastern end is dominated by Saint Mark’s Basilica, the other sides are occupied by the historic buildings of the Procuratie Vecchie to the north and the Procuratie Nuove to the south, connected by the 19th-century Napoleonic Wing. These richly adorned palaces all host museums, exhibition spaces, cafés, restaurants, and stores. Piazza San Marco continues between Saint Mark’s Basilica and the Clock Tower with the small Piazzetta dei Leoncini, which hosts the neoclassical Palazzo Patriarcale. The extension of Piazza San Marco that continues toward the lagoon is called Piazzetta San Marco. The Doge’s Palace and the Biblioteca Nazionale Marciana face this space, which also hosts the Columns of San Marco and San Todaro.

✪ Correr Museum

The Correr Museum (Museo Correr) is one of the main museums in Venice and it is located in the buildings of the Procuratie Nuove and the Napoleonic Wing facing Saint Mark’s Square. Its lavishly decorated 19th-century halls host rich collections that display the long history and unqiue culture of the city and include numerous paintings, sculptures, maps, coins, and all kinds of other artifacts.

✪ Venice National Archaeological Museum

The National Archaeological Museum of Venice (Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Venezia) is hosted in the Procuratie Nuove in Saint Mark’s Square. It houses a large archaeological collection that includes Greek and Roman sculptures, thousands of ancient coins, numerous pre-Roman findings, and various artifacts from the Egyptian and Mesopotamian civilizations.

✪ Gran Teatro La Fenice

La Fenice (“The Phoenix”) is the main opera house in Venice and one of the most remarkable and influential theaters in the world. The first theater was inaugurated in 1792 and immediately became one of the most important one in Europe, hosting operas by Rossini, Bellini, and Donizetti, but it was destroyed by a fire in 1836. Soon rebuilt with even more splendid decorations, it kept its status during the 19th century hosting famous composers and the premieres of Rigoletto and La Traviata by Giuseppe Verdi. In 1996 another fire destroyed the theater, but the phoenix rose from the ashes once again, as it was restored as it was before and reopened in 2003.

✪ Basilica of San Giorgio Maggiore

The Basilica of San Giorgio Maggiore is a large 16th-century church located on the island of the same name. It faces the lagoon opposite the Doge’s Palace and it is one of the most iconic sights in Venice. The basilica was designed by Andrea Palladio and built between 1566 and 1610. The interior contains various impressive artworks such as paintings by Tintoretto, while the view from the top of the tall bell tower is one of the most breathtaking ones in the city.

Clock Tower

The Renaissance Clock Tower (Torre dell’Orologio) of Venice stands just outside of Saint Mark’s Basilica and stands on top of an archway connecting Piazza San Marco and Mercerie dell’Orologio, one of the main commercial avenues in the city. The palace and the astronomical clock were both built at the end of the 15th century, with the building being later expanded. The elaborate timepiece needed constant upkeep and maintenance workers always lived in the tower until 1998, when the intricate machinery was automated.

Biblioteca Nazionale Marciana

The Biblioteca Nazionale Marciana is the main public library in Venice and one of the largest ones in Italy. Facing the Piazzetta San Marco, it is housed in an elaborate Renaissance palace with richly adorned halls and it contains one of the most significant collections of classical texts and manuscrpits in the world, spanning several centuries.

Bridge of Sighs

The Bridge of Sighs (Ponte dei Sospiri) was built between 1600 and 1603 to connect the main building of the Doge’s Palace to the New Prisons. It got its name because here the prisoners would sigh while looking for the last time at the external world before spending the rest of their life in a jail. The Bridge of Sighs is now one of the most iconic and photographed sights in Venice.

Church of San Moisè

The elaborate Baroque facade of the Church of San Moisè was built in 1668 over a previous building and features a large amount of sculptures and decorations. The interior is also richly adorned with paintings by artists such as Tintoretto and Palma il Giovane and features a Mannerist sculptural set as an altarpiece.

Church of Santa Maria del Giglio

Also known as: Santa Maria Zobenigo

The Church of Santa Maria del Giglio features one of the most impressive Baroque facades in Venice. The church was erected in the 10th century but it was rebuilt with a new facade between 1678 and 1681. Numerous sculptures and bas-reliefs decorate the elaborate work, such as the statue of Andrea Barbaro, who paid for the restorations, placed in the center among representations of his family members and various virtues.

Church of San Maurizio

The Church of San Maurizio is a deconsecrated Neoclassical church built during the 19th century. Now it hosts the Museum of Music (Museo della Musica), a collection of Baroque instruments and an exhibition of the long history of music and composers in Venice.

Church of Santo Stefano

The large Gothic Church of Santo Stefano was built between the 13th and 14th century and later expanded and adorned with an elaborate doorway and a tall bell tower. The interior is decorated with artworks and monuments, while the sacristy hosts three paintings by Tintoretto.

Palazzo Cavalli-Franchetti

Also known as: Palazzo Franchetti

Located on the Grand Canal near Ponte dell’Accademia, Palazzo Cavalli-Franchetti is one of the best examples of Venetian Gothic architecture, with 19th-century neo-Gothic additions. Now it is the seat the academy of science Istituto Veneto di Scienze, Lettere ed Arti, and hosts cultural events and exhibitions.

Palazzo Grassi

Palazzo Grassi is one of the most famous buildings facing the Grand Canal of Venice. Built between 1748 and 1772 in a Neoclassical style, it hosts a rich collection of modern and contemporary art. The gardens located just outside the palace have been turned during the 20th century into a modern theatre known as Teatrino.

Church of San Salvador

The Church of San Salvador is a Renaissance church of medieval origins which hosts paintings by Titian, several artworks, and various funerary monuments. These include the tombs of three doges and a large shrine dedicated to Caterina Cornaro, Queen of Cyprus.

Palazzo Contarini del Bovolo

Palazzo Contarini del Bovolo is a Gothic palace built between the 14th and 15th century. It is famous for its external spiral staircase known as Scala Contarini del Bovolo, decorated with arches. The staircase allows access to the arcades of the palace, one of which hosts the art exhibition space Sala Tintoretto. A wonderful view of Venice can be enjoyed from the top of the palace.

Fortuny Museum

The Fortuny Museum (Museo Fortuny) is an art collection housed in the Gothic historic palace once called Palazzo Pesaro Orfei and now also known as Palazzo Fortuny. The museum presents various artworks and objects that belonged to fashion designer Mariano Fortuny, who lived and worked in this building between 1906 and 1946.

Fondaco dei Tedeschi

Fondaco dei Tedeschi is a historic building once seat of the German merchants in Venice. Facing the Grand Canal, it was built between 1505 and 1508 and it is mostly famous for the terrace on top, which has an amazing view over the center of Venice.

Giorgio Cini Foundation

The Giorgio Cini Foundation (Fondazione Giorgio Cini) is a cultural institution located in the former San Giorgio Monastery adjacent to the Basilica of San Giorgio Maggiore. The foundation restored the monastery and the island, which was used for decades as military barracks. It now houses a large library and hosts exhibitions and events.