Italy Travel Guide, About Italy Tourism & Tourist Information

It's located just behind the Doge's Palace. Going down the inside stairs of this Doge's Palace, you can cross the "Bridge of Sighs". If you'd like to take a photo, go south side of the bridge, till the "Ponte Paglia" along the port.
The white marble "Bridge of Sighs" is completely surrounded by walls and roofs. It has only small lattice windows. This bridge was linking an interrogation room in the Doge's Palace and the old prison. The underground prison in the Doge's Palace was flooded with water at high tide.

It's said that prisoners said goodbye with sighs to the beautiful scene of Venice from these small windows of the bridge. But it's a just legend. Now, the local people say if lovers kiss on a gondola at sunset under the bridge, their eternal love is promised.

This is the largest canal, which crosses the mainland of Venice. This S-shaped canal is called "Canal Grande" (3800 m length). It's also a symbol of the town, lined with beautiful villas and palaces.
One of the most attractive cruise lines in Venice is vaporetto line 1, which is running through the Canal Grande. The water bus is cheaper and the normal price (5 euros for 1 ticket of 90 minutes). It's ideal to enjoy the beautiful scenery of Venice with a map.
Vaporetto No.1 starts at the Piazzale Roma, south of the railway station. Let's get a good seat and enjoy your vaporetto cruise all means!

Rialto Bridge located in the commercial center area was initially wooden drawbridge and was called "Bridge of Wealth". However it got caught fire and collapsed several times. Then it had been converted into a stone bridge at the end of the 16th century. At the time of recruitment of the bridge design proposals from the public, also Michelangelo joined to the other public competitors. At the end the work by Antonio da Ponte was adopted. Arched bridge permits larger boats to come and go under the bridge.
Until the 19th century this Rialto was only bridge over the Canal Grande. Still now it's a main bridge. Since it's located in the center and on the way to the St. Mark's Square from the central railway station, streets near the bridge are major shopping area now. There are many jewelers like Ponte Vecchio in Florence. You may also enjoy the shopping, walking slowly.

Ca' Pesaro, reflecting the elegant baroque mansion style on the surface of Canal Grande, was built in the 18th century by Pesaro Family, one of the most powerful nobles in Venice. Pesaro Family was also a magistrate and made a fortune in the transportation industry in the 13th century.
On the second and third floor there is Museum of Modern Art (Galleria d'Arte Moderna). Here the works of the Venice Biennale are displayed. In addition, there are masterpieces of Klimt "Judith II", Chagall, Klee, and Matisse.

The fourth floor is Museum of Oriental Art (Museo Orientale). Ivory, pottery, paintings and costumes brought from Asia, Japan and China are on display.
This is the second stop of vaporetto from the Rialto Bridge.

"Ca' D'Oro" means "Golden House". It was completed in 1440, and was gilded totally. Marino Contarini Lord wanted a building the most beautiful and eye-catching Palace. Ca' D'Oro is actually celebrated as one of the best Venetian Gothic architectures. Fine decorations symbolize the splendor of Venice at the time.

The internal is currently Franchetti Museum (Galleria Franchetti) and opened to the public. You can also fully enjoy the beauty of the building as well. Particularly dock entrance is very beautiful. The floor is covered with fine mosaics.

Ca' Rezzonico was built in the 18th century. It's called also "Museum of the Ancient Venice". Inside there is "Museum of the 1700's Venice (Museo del'700 Veneziano)". You can know the life style at the time from furniture and furnishings.

There are also paintings. Ex. Canaletto "Capriccio with Portico" Pietro Longhi "Chocolate in the morning". It' worth to see the internal beauty of this palace.

Here is also one of the most famous tourist attractions together with the St. Mark's Basilica. This museum has plenty of works of Venetian schools and Tuscan schools between 14th-18th century.

You can see masterpieces of Giorgione and Giovanni Bellini. If you are interested in the Venetian school paintings, here would be a must see museum.
※ I think reservation is not necessary. On high season please go early morning in order to enter soon.

This is a church with a beautiful Gothic facade, located 500 meters northeast from the Rialto Bridge. In the square front of the church, there is a famousstatue of "Colleoni" by Renaissance artist Verrocchio.
This church was built between the 13th-15th century and conserves the precious stained glass of the 16th century. It's considered the only remaining stained glass made in Murano. When the sun light comes inside, it's very beautiful.

Opening hours: 9:00 to 18:00 Sunday 13:00 to 18:00

Famous work
Bellini "Altarpiece of St. Vincenzo Ferreri"
Rosary Chapel (Cappella del Rosario)
Veronese "Annunciation (Annunciazione)", "Adoration of Shepherds (Adorazione dei pastori)", "Assumption (Assunzione)"

"Salute" means "health". This church was built in 1630 in order to appreciate to St. Mary, when the epidemic of plague subsided. It's a beautiful baroque building with a large characteristic dome.
It's situated southwest from the St. Mark's Square and 500 meters east from the Galleria dell'Accademia. Please get off at the stop of vaporetto No.1, "Salute". The dome seen from the other side becomes a landmark of Venice. Indeed this church has been painted in many well-known pictures.

Opening hours: 9:00 to 12:00, 15:00 to 18:00, Sunday: 13:00 to 17:00
On November 21, "Virgin Festival offertory (Festa della Salute)" is held. Only on that day, to get to the church of Santa Maria della Salute, a floating bridge is passed on the Canal Grande. People keep a candle in hand and follow after from the St. Mark's Basilica.