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Ponte dei Sospiri
Some stories tell that the Ponte dei Sospiri was named the Bridge of
Sighs because it was a romantic meeting point for lovers. However, the
truth tells a much sadder tale, the bridge was in fact built to convey
magistrates to the courts and prisoners to their unfortunate fates.
However, the baroque bridge, designed by Antonio Contino, still has
a very romantic air to it and remains an important historical landmark
in modern Venice.
Address: Sestiere di San Marco, Venice 30124
District: Downtown
Tel: N/A
Open: 24 hours a day
Basilica di San Marco - Campanile
This is the tallest bell tower (campanile) in Venice, approximately
91m high; it was built between 874 and 1150, then reconstructed after
it collapsed in 1902. From here visitors are able to get a beautiful
panoramic view of the city. The tower can be seen from the whole of
the lagoon, and once you have reached the top, the whole lagoon can
be seen from above. Although today's tower was erected at the beginning
of the 20th century, it is still an exact replica of the original 15th
century bell tower. In 1609, Galileo Galilei exhibited his famous telescope
here and during the carnival period, the bell tower used to serve as
a stage for the tight ropewalkers who entertained the Doge with their
acrobatic manoeuvres.
Address: Piazza San Marco, Venice 30124
District: Venezia Lido
Tel: 041 522 4064
Open: Daily, 9.30am - 4.30pm
Piazza San Marco
Piazza San Marco or St. Mark's Square is one of Venice's most famous
squares. What appears to be rectangle in shape is actually a trapezium
and when you look up at the Basilica, the Piazza seems enormous, although
in fact it is only 175m long. On both sides of the Piazza, you can find
the Procuratie buildings, which housed the procurators of San Marco.
The oldest of these (most likely built by Codussi) are on the left-hand
side, when facing the Basilica; whereas the buildings on the right were
built by Longhena in 1640. The most recent buildings, commissioned by
Napoleon in 1810, lie just behind.
Address: St. Mark's Square, Venice 30124
Tel: N/A
Open: 24 hours a day
Santa Maria Della Salute
This beautiful baroque church was dedicated to the Virgin Mary to thank
her for stopping a plague, when, it was reported, 50,000 people died.
Since the late 1600s, there has been a solemn procession on November
16th, which starts from Piazza San Marco, to request that the Virgin
keep them in good health. Baldassare Longhena, the architect who designed
and started to construct the beautiful building, died before the church
was completed in around 1687. When entering the church, you will instantly
notice how vast, luminous and tranquil it is. The most noticeable masterpiece
inside is the famous Nozze di Canaa (circa 1551), a beautiful piece
of work by Tintoretto and the ceiling is adorned with a splendid fresco
by Tiziano Vecello.
Address: Campo della Salute
District: Dorsoduro
Vaporetto: Salute
Tel: 041 523 7951
Open: March - November, daily 9.00am - noon and 3.00pm - 6.00pm (5.30pm
December - February)
Entrance: Free admission (a donation is accepted)
Palazzo Dario
This small, but attractive palace can be found on the Grand Canal, at
the corner with Rio della Torreselle. Its asymmetric exterior is decorated
with unique reddish-purple stone and is one of the most important examples
of the early Renaissance period in Venice. However, the building has
been riddled with a curse sine the late 1400s; many of its owners have
experienced losing their fortunes, weird diseases, as well as strange
and bizarre deaths. So well know is the curse, that Woody Allen changed
his mind about purchasing the building for this reason!
Grand Canal
When people think of Venice, one of the major things that comes to mind
would be its intricate system of waterways. The city is in fact a collection
of small islands (approximately 120), connected and disconnect by some
177 canals. The largest being the Canal Grande, which tenderly divides
the historical centre into two and can at times reach more than 70 metres
wide. The canal begins at Piazzetta San Marco and finally reaches its
destination at Longhena's La Salute Church and midway it is crossed
by the famous Rialto Bridge. One of the best ways to experience the
sights and sounds of the Grand Canal is to travel on the vaporetto (Route
No. 1). Along the banks of the canals, you will be able to admire the
beautiful Palazzi, many of which have now been adapted to house museums
and galleries.
Address: N/A
Tel: N/A
Open: 24 hours a day
Fenice Opera House
Italy, and moreover Venice, is synonymous with the opera. The construction
of the world-famous Fenice Opera House began in 1789, despite a law
forbidding the construction of new theatres. Three years later, on the
May 16th, its doors opened for its inauguration during the festival
of Sensa. The theatre has been home to many famous operas, concerts
and shows and is thought to have near-perfect acoustics. This is probably
Venice's premier opera houses; however, unfortunately on the 29th of
January 1996 the great building had to live up to the name it was given
(in English 'Phoenix'), after it was severely gutted by an arsonist
attack. However, after several months, which stretched to years, of
internal and external squabbles, as well as red tape, its refurbishment
has recently been completed and it has been furnished to mirror its
previous stature and décor and respects the original architectural
structure rather than having radically changed the installations. Its
doors finally re-opened to the public in December 2003, for the start
of the new inauguration of its 'rebirth'. The fully restored concert
hall now has a total can now seat more than 1,000 spectators and new
rehearsal and conference rooms have been created below the orchestra
floor.
Address: Palafenice, Isola del Tronchetto
Tel: 041 786 511
Open: Various times
Entrance: Various prices for tickets are available
Venice historical sights
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