La Serenissima
The jewel of the ancient City of the Doges, the Piazza San Marco, or St. Mark’s square, still draws the crowds. This enormous esplanade is a tourist landmark and features some of the loveliest buildings in the city. A mix of styles, part Byzantine, part Renaissance, the Basilica di San Marco, located on the Piazza San Marco, dates back to the 11th century. It is home to the exquisite Pala d’Oro, an altarpiece inlayed with gold and gemstones. The Gothic rooms of the Palazzo Ducale, or the Doge’s palace, located on the Piazzetta San Marco, were decorated by Tintoretto and Veronese. Tintoretto’s Paradise, one of the largest paintings in the world, hangs in the Grand Council chamber. The Museo Correr, which is housed in the Procuratie Nuove in the Napoleon wing of St. Mark’s square, is devoted to the history of Venice. A visit to the Museo Correr also offers access to an archaeological museum and the Libreria Marciana. The Grand Canal that crosses the city can be explored on board a vaporetto, a sort of water bus that used to run on steam, hence the name (today they run on diesel). The comings and goings of the vaporetti and other taxi acquei (water taxis) is spectacle in its own right. The mythical Rialto bridge, built in the 16th century, connects the two shores of the Grand Canal. Other beautiful bridges followed, such as the Accademia bridge. The Palazzo Grassi, which sits on the shore of the Grand Canal, was restored in 1986. Today it is one of Venice’s most prestigious exhibition spaces. One of Venice’s largest museums, the Galleria dell’Accademia features masterpieces of Venetian art from the 16th to 18th centuries. Works by masters such as Veronese, Giorgione and Giovanni Bellini are on display. Exhibited in the Palazzo Venier dei Leoni, the Peggy Guggenheim collection retraces the art movements of the 20th century, through the paintings and sculptures of its most important representatives. A perfect example of the Venetian Gothic style, the Chiesa di Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari was built in the 14th and 15th centuries. This church is home to Titian’s famous Assumption of the Virgin. The Ca’Rezzonico palace is one of the best examples of the splendour of Venetian homes. Its museum features paintings by Longhi and Tiepolo. Built in the 16th century, the Chiesa di San Giorgio Maggiore is one of the most imposing monuments of Venice. The bell-tower of the church offers an impregnable view of the city.