Venice Cruise Guide
Grandiose buildings rise up on all sides and it is easy to slip back through the centuries. However away from the Grand Canal and main tourist throng, another Venice appears, with narrow canals, women hanging out their washing and small osterias (bars) where locals outnumber tourists. Despite its museum-like appearance Venice is still a living city.
Sightseeing
Highlights
• Basilica di San Marco (St Mark's Basilica): one of the greatest churches in Christendom.
• Palazzo Ducale (Doges' Palace): the former home of Venice's rulers, which also includes the infamous Ponte dei Suspiri (Bridge of Sighs).
• Galleria dell'Accademia: Venice's most important art gallery.
• Ponte Rialto (Rialto Bridge): the city's picturesque 16th-century bridge is also renowned for its market.
• Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari: this 14th-century church is a treasure trove of Venetian art.
• Scuola Grande di San Rocco (School of St Roch): housing masterpieces by Tintoretto and other great Venetian artists.
• Collezione Peggy Guggenheim (Peggy Guggenheim Collection): a world-class collection of modern art.
Tourist Information
San Marco all'Ascensione - APT, San Marco, 71/f Tourist Information Office, Venice, Italy
Tel: +39 041 529 8711.
Website: www.turismovenezia.it
Shopping
Where? Mercerie - the succession of narrow busy streets which run from the Piazza San Marco (beneath the Torre dell'Orologio) all the way to the Rialto, where the markets are good for foodstuffs.
What? Carnival masks, hand-painted fabrics, hand-made lace (very expensive), ceramics, art and antiques, hand-printed and marbled writing papers, glass from the island of Murano, Italian designer clothes and leatherware. Emilio Ceccato, on Sottoportego di Rialto, San Polo, specialises in gondoliers' outfits.
Eating Out
• Fegato alla veneziana (calves' liver thinly sliced and cooked in butter with onions).
• Baccalà alla vicentina (salt cod simmered in milk).
• Radicchio rosso di treviso (wild red chicory with a bitter taste).
• Seppie al nero (cuttlefish in its own ink, served with polenta, a firm yellow cornmeal purée).
• Cichetti (‘Venetian tapas' such as polpette (meatballs) or marinated sardines).
• Tramezzini (sliced white-bread sandwiches with trimmed crusts and outsized fillings).
• Local wines include Prosecco, Soave, Bardolino and Valpolicella.
When To Go
Hotels
Getting There
By Water
Marittima, Fabbricato 248, 30135 Venice
Website: www.port.venice.it or www.vtp.it/vtpuk
By Rail
By Air
Transfer Times
Nearest Destination
Transfer Time
Key Facts
Region
Time Zone
Currency
Language
Location
Population
Government
Religion
Social Conventions
Tipping: It is customary to give around 10% if service has been good.
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