The St. Mark’s square is one of the most beautiful squares in the entire world. Due to its shape, its resembles a giant sitting room, surrounded by St. Mark’s Basilica – a blaze of gold and pinnacles -, Procuratìe Vecchie, Napoleonic wing and the Correr Museum. The famous clock tower, 100 metres high, the Doge’s Palace made of stone brought from Istria and Verona, the columns bearing St. Mark’s Lion and St. Theodore enclose the square part of the “Piazza”, which gives onto the St. Mark’s basin. The view from there is spectacular. The St. George’s island and the Palladian architecture, the Basilica of St. Mary of Health, the visible patch of the lagoon and the gondolas offer a unique show to every tourist. The square is also known for its historical cafés, Florian and Quadri, each in turn trying to win over the crowd with the sound of their orchestras.
Not far from the square, on the Riva degli Schiavoni, you’ll find the famous Sospiri Bridge – one of the last places almost in open air from which the convicts were able to see Venice, probably for the last time, before being imprisoned.

It is not just the most famous bridge of Venice. It got its name from Rivo Alto, which is the highest point in the entire lagoon. According to historical documents, it was the first area in the lagoon to be inhabited by those fleeing from the barbaric invasions. For several centuries Rialto was the centre of Venice, after which the St. Mark’s square gained more importance. Rialto was and remains the home of the largest market of Venice – the city whose cultural and historical identity is based on trade. Today the Rialto area is one of the most busy parts of the city and in certain ways its beating heart. The view of the Grand Canal from the bridge is breathtaking, especially at sunset.

The large dome of the Basilica of St. Mary of Health is elegantly outlined against the Venice sky. Even the Venetians find it fascinating every time they take a look at it. The basilica itself, with its curved and intricate shapes, is a spectacular example of baroque architecture. It was built to thank the Blessed Virgin Mary for ending a horrible plague that struck the city between 1630 and 1631, which practically decimated the number of its inhabitants. Every year on 21st November a bridge made of boats leads directly to the Basilica to celebrate the pilgrimage commemorating this event.
The Basilica stairway is a great place for enjoying the view of the Grand Canal and the entire St. Mark’s basin. Day and night in this place you can often hear the gondoliers singing mixed with the gentle splashing of the sea. The city, though close, seems to belong to another dimension. The renewed Punta della Dogana, located a short distance from the Basilica, is a museum of international renown.

Connecting the St. Lucy’s train station and Campo Santi Apostoli near to Rialto it represents one of the few straight and wide streets of Venice. Along this street you’ll be able to glimpse the Basilica of St. Lucy, the Jewish Ghetto with its curious traditions and synagogues, various churches and clock towers and the Grand Canal. Plunging into its magical mix of colours and perfumes, Lista di Spagna is the best way for you to get to know the liveliest atmosphere in entire Venice.

Campo Santa Maria Formosa is one of the largest and the most popular squares or “campi” in Venice. It is located near the Civil Hospital and it is the centre of a lively district rich with impressive buildings, such as Palazzo Querini Stampalia.
The little Church of the St. Mary of the Miracles is a jewel shining among the canals and the narrow alleys of Cannaregio. Where it stands there was once a painting in the angle of a house belonging to a trader. The inhabitants of this district used to pray to this painting for miracles which, according to the legend, had always been answered. Therefore the people decided to build there a church worthy of such miracles and one of the first examples of Venetian renaissance architecture came to life. A visit to the Church of the Miracles, with its many coloured marble walls, is an absolute must for those who want to discover the secrets of Venice.

The islands scattered in the northern part of the Venice lagoon are timeless places in which the ancient Venetian traditions are still part of the everyday life.
Murano is renowned for its fine glass and its visitors may participate in the making of those extraordinary works of art that made the Venetian glass famous in the entire world. Burano, on the other hand, is a blaze of colour: houses painted in bright colours, laundry drying in open air and the voices of children playing in little squares are the most authentic Venice.
Torcello is the home of history. People from all over the world passed through it, even Attila, King of the Huns, they say, when he invaded this territory. In fact, you can see there the remains of what it is believed to had been his throne. The wide and thick clock tower dominates this wild, fascinating and silent island.
The Venetian islands are a precious treasure chest guarding the ancient identity of the peoples of the lagoon; with their monasteries, stands and small cultivated fields they belong to the most interesting attractions offered by Venice.