Our trip to Venice

This church, started in the 14th Century, is situated in the Campo Santa Margherita area, not far from Piazza Roma and the university. At present, like many long established Venetian structures, it has a 16th-century façade, a 14th-century Gothic one, and an interior of the same peculiar mix. Paintings by Lorenzo Lotto and Cima da Conegliano adorn the walls.

Designed by 20-year-old Longhena, this church is a masterpiece of 17th-century architecture. The dominating feature is its octagonal dome, which contains a lantern showing an image of the Madonna; while the smaller dome has a statue of San Marco. The interior consists of a nave, three chapels and a floor made of multicolored marble with a design of five roses in the center. The magnificent altar, also designed by Longhena, is particularly ornate. To its right is Tintoretto's Le Nozze di Cana, while the ceiling of the vestry is adorned with paintings by Titian.

Venice, Italy (Venezia in Italian) is one of the most interesting and lovely places in the world. This sanctuary on a lagoon is virtually the same as it was 500 years ago, though it has certainly begun to decay since its heyday. Tourists slightly outnumber residents, but the city’s romantic charm remains.

Venice is made up of different parts. The most famous is the area comprising the 118 islands in the main districts of Cannaregio, Castello, Dorsoduro, Isola Della Giudecca, San Polo, San Croce, San Marco and Lido di Venezia where the main monuments and sights are located.

The Most Serene Republic of Venice dates back to 827, when a Byzantine dukedom moved its seat to what is now known as the Rialto, and for the following 970 years prospered on trade and under the rule of a Roman-style Senate headed by the Doge. In 1797 the city was conquered by Napoleon, a blow from which the city never recovered.

The summer may be the worst time to visit: It’s sometimes very hot, the canals sometimes stink (in the most literal sense), there are occasional infestations of flies and there are more tourists than usual. Spring and fall are probably best. Ride a Vaporetto (water bus) down the Grand Canal right before sunset. The Vaporettos are inexpensive, but the sites are priceless: amazing architecture, soft seaside sunlight, and a fascinating parade of Venetian watercraft. Or shop. Venice is packed full of little stores in every corner and crevice. The most common local specialties are Carnival masks, glass and marbled paper.

This 15th century hotel is a five minute walk from Venice's main railway station, is located on the Grand Canal, and is approximately 10 miles from the Venice Marco Polo Airport.Hotel amenities include internet access, wood-paneled garden bar, next to the lobby, on site meeting room, 24-hour front desk, laundry facilities, dry cleaning services, and on-site car rental. Room amenities include internet access, cable/satellite televisions, minibars, housekeeping, alarm clocks, and hairdryers. .

Some legends say that the Ponte dei Sospiri was called the Bridge of Sighs because it was a rendezvous for lovers; however, the truth tells a much sadder tale. The bridge, in fact was built to convey magistrates to the courts and prisoners to their fates. However, the Baroque bridge, designed by Antonio Contino, still has a very romantic air to it, and remains an important historical landmark in Venice today.

Piazza San Marco is Venice's most famous piazza. What appears to be a rectangle is actually a trapezium, and when you look up at the basilica, the piazza seems enormous, although it is only 175 meters long. On both sides of the piazza are the Procuratie, which housed the procurators of San Marco. The centerpiece of the piazza is the Basilica di San MarcoThe oldest of these (probably built by Codussi) are on your left when you face the basilica; Longhena built the ones on the right later, in 1640. The most recent buildings, commissioned by Napoleon in 1810, lie behind.

Located next to the Basilica di San Marco, the Palazzo Ducale has been the symbol of Venice's political life and public administration for hundreds of years. The building has been continuously evolving into its present form since 1340, even though its foundations date back to the early Middle Ages (10th Century). Considered a masterpiece of the Gothic style, it has been destroyed many times, most notably during the fire of 1106. It was rebuilt by Barbarossa in 1177 and modified over the time by the different Dogi reigning in Venice. More than a palace, the Palazzo Ducale is an extensive infrastructure, comprising the apartments of the doge (often used as an exhibition space), the government quarters and the palace of justice. When visiting the palace, many parts are worth the detour. In the Museo dell'Opera, you will see the remaining pieces of the building's medieval façades as well as a collection of sculptures dating from the 14th and 15th Centuries. Before heading towards the Doge's apartments, you will enter the magnificent courtyard. Take some time to walk alongside the Loggias to enjoy the various angles of the Palazzo. In addition to the Institutional Chambers and the Prisons, take some time to see the great collection of weapons and armaments in the Armoury. The hours of operation may vary according to the months, so please visit the website for further details.

You get a splendid view of Venice and the Basilica di San Marco from the tallest bell tower in Venice. It can be seen from the laguna, and once you have reached the top, the whole laguna can be seen from above. Even though the tower was erected at the beginning of the 20th Century, it is an exact replica of the 15th-century bell tower. In 1609, Galileo Galilei exhibited his telescope here, and during the Carnevale, the bell tower used to serve as a stage for the tight rope-walkers who entertained the doge with their acrobatics.

Started in the 9th Century, Basilica di San Marco's architecture shows an eastern and Byzantine influence: note the golden altarpiece and the 13th and 14th-century mosaics that illustrate the cycles of the Bible. The magnificent domes date from the 12th Century. The Basilica houses the Marciano Museum, which contains the original bronze horses, copies of which are now on the terrace. Other great artworks are located in the Pala d'Oro, along with masterpieces of Gothic gold-smithing, located just behind the altar.

This stunning building was built in the Renaissance, but displays traces of successive interventions up until the baroque period. Scuola Grande Arciconfraternita di San Rocco is often used as a concert hall, and is next to the San Rocco Church with which it is often mistaken. It is dedicated to Rocco, who cured the sick during the 14th-century plague. The interior decoration of the school was entrusted to Jacopo Tintoretto, whose works, such as the Allegories, Life and Passion of Christ, and episodes from the Old and New Testaments can be admired. Among the most famous displays are The Annuciation, The Epiphany, and The Flight to Egypt. It is open throughout the year except for a few occasions. However the open hours may vary according to the months, so visit the website for details.

Mondonovo is not simply, as its name suggests, the new world. In the Venetian sense of the word, it refers to a type of internal floodlight, used by the Chinese for creating shadows, the inspiration behind Guerrino Lovato's concept for this shop. The specialty here is papier-mâché masks made by hand. The origins are as much in the Commedia dell'Arte as in Lovato's imagination. Some of the masks used in the film Eyes Wide Shut were made here. Lovato is also involved in painting, sculpture, set-design, iconography and history of art.

In this little town located on an island of the Venetian laguna, the houses are painted in varied bright colors, giving a picturesque and cheerful character to the setting, which kids always love. Burano is famous for its lacemaking, a skill that has developed here since the 16th Century; various shops offer lacemaking demonstrations. To admire more of this craft, head to the Museo del Merletto which displays all kinds of amazing lacework: tablecloths, fans, collars and shawls. To get there via vaporetto take line LN from the Fondamente Nove. The trip takes approximately 40-50 minutes and makes one stop on Murano.

This market sells fruit, vegetables, groceries and fish. Full of local color, a browse through the stalls is a must, even if you have nothing to buy. Prices are lower than in the shops and the fish is always extremely fresh.

For a long time this was the only way to cross the Canal Grande. There was a bridge here at the end of the 12th Century, but the current one, designed by Antonio da Ponte, was built 1554-1591. There are now lots of shops on the bridge selling all kinds of souvenirs and curiosities. Fresh fruit, vegetable and fish markets line the streets in the bustling neighborhood. A second bridge was built in 1854, this bridge is still an important historical landmark and always a bright spot for tourists.