What to do and see in Venice, Veneto: The Best Historic Sites

November 12, 2021 Osvaldo Hartline

With its gondolas, canals, amazing restaurants, and unforgettable romantic ambiance, Venice is definitely a city for one's bucket list. Waterfront palazzos, palaces, and churches make drifting down the Grand Canal feel like cruising through a painting. To really experience Venice you must go to the opera or to a classical music performance, nibble fresh pasta and pastries, and linger in the exhibit halls of an art gallery. Label lovers will drool over the high-end shopping in Piazza San Marco.
Restaurants in Venice

1. Ca' Zenobio degli Armeni

Fondamenta del Soccorso Dorsoduro 2596 Palazzo Zenobio - Collegio Armeno Moorat Raphael, 30123 Venice Italy +39 041 522 8770
Excellent
89%
Good
9%
Satisfactory
2%
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5.0 based on 152 reviews

Ca' Zenobio degli Armeni

The beauty of the Sala degli Specchi in Ca’ Zenobio degli Armeni, one of the most fascinating locations in Venice, frescoed by Dorigny and Tiepolo, has always attracted famous artists like Madonna who in 1984 filmed the Like a Virgin video clip. In the prestigious setting of the Sala degli Specchi, sublime expression of Baroque art, the Ensemble Guarneri presents the 2019 concert season

2. Scuola Grande di San Rocco

Salizada San Rocco San Polo 3052, 30125 Venice Italy +39 041 523 4864 [email protected] http://www.scuolagrandesanrocco.org
Excellent
78%
Good
18%
Satisfactory
4%
Poor
1%
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4.5 based on 2,962 reviews

Scuola Grande di San Rocco

The Scuola Grande di San Rocco is a lay confraternity founded in 1478. The popularity of the cult of St. Roch, whose remains had been in the possession of the brotherhood since 1485, contributed to the latter’s rapid expansion to the extent of it becoming the richest Scuola of the city. At that point it was decided to build a new monumental headquarters and engage Tintoretto to decorate it with his most celebrated pictorial cycle, illustrating episodes from the New and Old Testaments. It is the only one of the historic Scuole Grandi to have survived the fall of the republic. It is a unique site, where over 60 paintings are preserved in their original setting in a building that has hardly undergone any alteration since its construction. The confraternity is still active today, carrying out its traditional charitable duties as well as looking after its extraordinary artistic patrimony.

Reviewed By 760billa - Spring Lake, United States

The Scuola Grande di San Rocco is one of those places that I suspect many visitors to Venice have never heard about. But, it should make every tourist's short list of places to see while in Venice. It features the artwork of the Italian painter, and master of the Venetian school, known as Tinteretto. To appreciate the history behind this building and the life story of Tinteretto, I highly recommend using the audio guide which is available for a reasonable charge. The audio guide will lead you through three floors of artwork. You can choose how much or how little detail you care to listen to. Even if you only have an hour, I think this is a must do attraction in Venice.

3. Scala Contarini del Bovolo

San Marco, 4303, 30124 Venice Italy +39 041 309 6605 [email protected] http://www.gioiellinascostidivenezia.it/i-gioielli/scala-contarini-del-bovolo/
Excellent
52%
Good
36%
Satisfactory
9%
Poor
2%
Terrible
1%
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4.5 based on 1,510 reviews

Scala Contarini del Bovolo

The tallest spiral staircase of Venice is a perfect synthesis of different architecture styles (Renaissance, Gothic and Venetian-Byzantine). It was commissioned by Pietro Contarini in late 1400 as a decorative element of the adjacent family's Palazzo. Even today there are several hypotheses about the authorship of the manufacturer. The monument can be considered a unique architectural jewel in the lagoon, the new Renaissance expression that was establishing in the city. The Scala is connected to the palace by three floors lodges. At the top there is the Belvedere with a wonderful view of Venice, from here you can see the domes and the Campanile di San Marco, the Basilica di Santi Giovanni e Paolo, and even the Teatro la Fenice.

Reviewed By JuneJaundoo - Brighton, United Kingdom

Well, this is a little bit off the beaten track, and well worth going to see. Once a private residence many years ago, it's now been restored and is open to the public. Its €7pp to climb the stairs and admire the view. This will become a main tourist stop in a few years. Its amazing to think it was once a private house, and that it's there tucked away down tiny streets, hidden from view, it makes you wonder just what lies behind some of the dull doors of Venice!

4. Ponte dei Sospiri

Piazza San Marco, 1, 30100 Venice Italy +39 041 271 5911 http://palazzoducale.visitmuve.it/it/il-museo/percorsi-e-collezioni/le-prigioni/
Excellent
47%
Good
36%
Satisfactory
15%
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4.5 based on 7,050 reviews

Ponte dei Sospiri

This historic bridge connects the Doge's Palace with its prisons and was named for the condemned prisoners who crossed it to meet their executioners.

Reviewed By Erfurt - Jupiter, United States

The Bridge of Sighs is world renown, it is packed with tourists coming and going, there is a lot of pushing and chaffing going on, everyone wants to take a photo of this scene, and the once who take " selfies " really jam up this beautiful sight best seen from the bridge where this photo was taken..The Bridge of Sighs is made from white limestone passes over the Rio di Palazzo and connects the New Prison to the interrogation rooms in the Doge's Palace. A MUST see...

5. Doge's Palace

Piazza San Marco, 1, 30124 Venice Italy +39 041 271 5911 [email protected] http://palazzoducale.visitmuve.it
Excellent
71%
Good
24%
Satisfactory
4%
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4.5 based on 26,297 reviews

Doge's Palace

A masterpiece of Gothic architecture, the building and its sculptural decoration date from various periods. The interior, with works by artists such as Titian, Veronese, Tintoretto, A.Vittoria and Tiepolo, includes vast council chambers, superbly decorated residential apartments, and austere prison cells. Along the facades of the Palace run loggias that overlook St. Mark’s Square and the lagoon. The combined entrance ticket to the St. Mark’s Square Museums grants access to the Doge’s Palace, Museo Correr, Museo Archeologico Nazionale and Monumental Rooms of Biblioteca Marciana.

Reviewed By I5778HMtrevors - Kidderminster, United Kingdom

As part of a tour through viator including Basillica. Doges Palace is superb with beautiful Paintings everywhere Did tour including dungeons so walked over Bridge of Sighs All amazing Suggest earliest Guided tour available to beat the crowds

6. Campanile di San Marco

Sestiere San Marco 328, 30124 Venice Italy +39 041 2708311 http://www.basilicasanmarco.it/basilica/campanile/?lang=en
Excellent
66%
Good
27%
Satisfactory
6%
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4.5 based on 9,064 reviews

Campanile di San Marco

Originally built as a lighthouse to assist navigation in the lagoon, visitors can be whisked by elevator to the top of St. Mark's Campanile or bell tower to savor incredible views of Venice, the lagoon and the Alps in the distance.

Reviewed By chicago90Phoenix

If you love priceless views including the multiple domed roof of St. Marks Church, this is the place to be. You will appreciate the beauty and how special and unique Venice is when you have this birds eye view perspective of this empire.

7. Peggy Guggenheim Collection

Just East Accademia Along Gran Canal, 30123 Venice Italy +39 041 240 5411 http://www.guggenheim-venice.it
Excellent
64%
Good
25%
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8%
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4.5 based on 8,434 reviews

Peggy Guggenheim Collection

This satellite gallery of the famous Guggenheim in New York occupies the 17th-century Customs House in Venice, featuring modern and contemporary works of art.

Reviewed By MarlsGo

This is well worth a visit for any fans of surrealist art! Married to Max Ernst - Peggy Guggenheim collated a fantastic art collection - Magritte, Mondrian, Pollock, Dali and Miro to name a few are all amongst the notable collection.

8. Arsenale di Venezia

Campo San Biagio Castello 2148, 30122 Venice Italy 41 2441 399 http://arsenale.comune.venezia.it/
Excellent
48%
Good
41%
Satisfactory
9%
Poor
2%
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4.5 based on 967 reviews

Arsenale di Venezia

In 1473, the Senate in Venice ordered the building of the Arsenale Nuovissino, in order to have a safe shed to store weapons and boats that would always be available in case of war.

Reviewed By 227ianc - London, United Kingdom

One of the two main venues for the Biennale the Arsenale comes alive with a huge variety of international contemporary art. In many ways the immense volumes of the former industrial buildings provide more flexible spaces for showing innovative art installations than the static pavilions in the Giardini. There are also external installations on the dockside and a free shuttle water bus taking visitors across to the other part of the Arsenale which has exhibitions related to the Biennale and Lorenzo Quinn's amazing sculptural installation 'Building Bridges'. All this of course will disappear when the Biennale closes at the end of November.

9. Chiesa di San Zaccaria

Campo San Zaccaria Castello 4693, 30122 Venice Italy +39 041 522 1257 http://events.veneziaunica.it/it/content/chiesa-di-san-zaccaria
Excellent
55%
Good
36%
Satisfactory
7%
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4.5 based on 636 reviews

Chiesa di San Zaccaria

Reviewed By saibot - Huntersville, United States

We stumbled upon this place after coming back from Murano via the boat dock of the same name. Nice square to get a little bit of breathing room. Lots of good dining options around there too! The church itself was very interesting, & a great no cost attraction to see some amazing architecture & art. Worth the visit!

10. Basilica dei Santi Giovanni e Paolo (San Zanipolo)

Campo SS. Giovanni e Paolo, 30122 Venice Italy +39 041 523 5913 [email protected] http://www.santigiovanniepaolo.it
Excellent
62%
Good
32%
Satisfactory
5%
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4.5 based on 962 reviews

Basilica dei Santi Giovanni e Paolo (San Zanipolo)

Reviewed By massimoswitz - Opfikon, Switzerland

Beautiful and large basilica in Italian Gothic style, where there are monuments of various Venetian doges and a masterpiece by Bellini, not to forget the stained glass window with Murano glass.

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