ITALY – Venice
piazza san marco
One of the greatest public spaces in the world.
Basilica di San Marco
The interior is coated in shimmering golden mosaics that completely cover the top half of the basilica.
Doge’s Palace
Right off of St Mark’s Square, this palace was the former home of the Doge (leader of old Venice) and is now a museum.
Some famous haunts like Harry’s Bar and Florian are in and around St. Mark’s Square
And lots of pigeons.
grand canal
The main canal that runs through Venice.
Boats race down it during the Regata Storica on the first Sunday in September.
You can hop on a gondola almost anywhere. There are lots near the Rialto Bridge and St. Mark’s.
rialto bridge
Famous arched stone bridge with some shops on it. Tourist central.
carnevale
Venice’s version of Mardi Gras. While the actual event takes place right before Lent, you can find Carnevale masks for sale year round.
museo di storia naturale
Natural History Museum.
san zan degola
Not so famous church in a quiet campo (small piazza – literally “field”).
san giacomo dell’orio
Another not so famous church, in a bigger square with some shops and a cool drinking fountain.
san stae
There’s a temporary installation out front this church of hand painted wooden eggs.
chiesa di san giorgio maggiore
Famous church designed by Andrea Palladio in the 16th century. I learned about him in architecture class. Never thought I’d get to see his church in person. It’s on the little island of San Giorgio Maggiore, which you can see from the port in St Mark’s Square.
getting lost in venice
Some of Venice’s streets get pretty narrow.
Other times, streets are made entirely of water.
lido
A long, skinny island to the east of Venice proper.
It’s like a little beach town. Lido means “seashore” in Italian.
Explore more of Venice
or take the train to the Oktoberfest in Germany
