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One of the six sestieri of Venice
Photo: joergens.mi, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
San Marco is the central district of Venice. It is home to many of Venice's major points of interest, and consequently can be extremely crowded with tourists, especially during the day when cruise ships unload their passengers.
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Palazzo Ducale
Don't miss the guided tour named Secret Itinerary, which will let you discover the part of the palace where the city's administration worked, as well as Casanova's jail and the wonderful five hundred year old roof structure. A MUVE museum.
Campanile di San Marco
The current tower dates from 1912; an exact replica of the previous tower which collapsed in 1902. The top of the tower offers great views of Venice and the lagoon.
Torre dell'Orologio
Having been closed for restoration for many years, the restored astronomical clock is now visible. The fascinating tour of the clock mechanism (and rooftop bell) can only be visited on a guided tour, in English: M-W at 10:00 and 11:00, on other days at 14:00 and 15:00, in French M-W at 14:00 and 15:00, advance reservation required online or by phone at +39 041 5209070. A MUVE museum.
Rialto Bridge
The bridge has become one of Venice's most recognizable icons and has a history that spans over 800 years. Today's Rialto Bridge was completed in 1591 and was used to replace a wooden bridge that collapsed in 1524.
Basilica di San Marco
Saint Mark's Basilica is on the Piazza San Marco and is one of the highlights of a visit to Venice. As with most churches in Italy, you must be dressed appropriately to be allowed in; this means no short skirts or bare shoulders. You are not allowed to carry large bags or rucksacks inside, sometimes even small daypacks may need to be deposited. Storage is available just around the corner from the main entrance (free of charge). Filming and photography is forbidden so be prepared in advance. The visit within the basilica lasts ten minutes. Waiting for entry into the basilica can last up to five or so hours and it may be wise to use a ticket service to reserve your visit (reservation costs €3). Once you have a reservation you can take the group entrance on the left, where you hand in the printout of your reservation.
Designed by Andrea Palladio and build 1566-1610. Very nice views of Venice from the bell tower.
Includes the tomb of Caterina Cornaro, Queen of Cyprus (1454-1510).
Museo Correr
Interesting collection of globes, starting from the 16th century. There is also an only library hall, an archeological museum of Roman antiques and an important picture gallery. The museum offers a tour of Venetian history. Remarkable painting gallery with masterpieces of the 14th to 16th centuries from Venice, works of the Venetian sculpture Canova, studies on urban development and social life. At the end of your visit, don't miss the museum art cafe, with their tables on the San Marco Square. A MUVE museum.
Contemporary art museum. Temporary exhibitions from François Pinault's Collection.
Collection of paintings and lamps. A MUVE museum.
Centre dedicated to telecommunication technology. The building complex includes an adjacent church with important works of art, the Refectory (which is a conference hall today), Renaissance cloisters and a small museum focusing on the evolution of the telephone in the last 100 years.
A cylindrical tower with a spiralling series of arches, among the most characteristic examples of Venetian architecture at the period of transition from Gothic to Renaissance styles. From the top there are great panoramic views of the city.
Museo della Musica
Beautiful church, collection of musical instruments, Venetian Baroque paintings. Interpreti Veneziani, the creators of the Music Museum, also offer concerts in the nearby San Vidal church.
Museo Archaeologico Nazionale
Collection of ancient Greek and Roman sculptures, Egyptian, Assyrian and Babylonian artefacts.
Basilica di San Marco -Museo
Visit the famous bronze horses.
Sala Monumentale della Biblioteca Nazionale Marciana
Buildings by Sansovino, most important collection of books in Venice.
Fondazione Giorgio Cini
Multi-functional centre in an old Benedictine dormitory, the heart of the Foundation's library complex
Teatro La Fenice
One of the best opera houses in the world. The theatre is an identical reconstruction (rebuilt in 2003) of the previous theatre building that burned down in 1996. Tickets for opera, ballet, and symphony performances are available at the theatre, various locations around the city, or by phone +39 041 2424. You can visit this historic theatre with an audioguide (good explanations in several languages).
Teatro Goldoni
Classical concerts.
Classical concerts by Interpreti Veneziani. They also run the nearby Music Museum in the nearby San Maurizio church.
Opera and concert performances.
A bistro
Cozy restaurant with a terrace serving fish dishes and sea food pasta
Italian dishes.
An Italian restaurant
A luxury restaurant, favorite among the famous names of culture and business, the Antico Martini also attracts expert gourmets and famous personalities since the 1800s who come to enjoy unforgettable flavors. Beautiful detail and restaurant decor, romantic atmosphere. The site has been a restaurant since 1720, with the venue being open since 1952.
Historical place near St. Mark's Square, known since the 1960s, it has become a must if you like traditions. Offers some typical dishes and a large selection of wines. From May to September service is in a traditional courtyard.
Opposite Caffè Florian, with similar prices.
Restaurant, cultural and enogastronomical meetings.
A traditional English style pub with a very fun atmosphere. It is located near the Rialto Bridge and tucked into a small alley near the Disney Store.
On the extravagant side there is Caffè Florian, on Piazza San Marco. It claims to be the oldest coffee house still in operation, established in 1720. The interior is about a century newer, and brings an exclusive setting for a cup of coffee, even if sitting outside overlooking the entire piazza and its surroundings may be a better choice on a nice summer day. The café has its own outdoor orchestra playing an assortment of Italian music. Just sitting down at the table costs €6 per seat (for the orchestra it says on the menu) and the rest on the menu is at least twice the price you would have paid at home. Light lunch or dinner 12:00-15:00, 19:30-22:00, afternoon tea 15:09-18:00, great choice of semifreddo (parfaits) (€14), lemon ice cream with soda (€15), great choice of tea and coffee specialities; espresso €6.50. music charge €6.
The Bellini-cocktail was invented here. Ernest Hemingway was one of the most famous guests. Very pricy!
Completely restructured in 2003, in the characteristic Campo San Maurizio.
As close as it gets to Piazza San Marco, but on the second and third floor, so it still is quiet at nights. Clean and nice rooms, TV, aircon, very friendly staff.
An 18th-century building which has been carefully restored.
2-star hotel. It has Wi-Fi at a fee and rooms from €70.
A small, quiet establishment in a five hundred year old building. Both shared and private rooms are available, no curfew-lockouts, including free Wifi, coffee/tea, and light breakfast.
In a building overlooking the Grand Canal and Rialto Bridge.
Completely refurbished at the start of 2007 and is a one-minute walk from the Piazza San Marco.
3-star hotel close to Basilica San Marco.
Its 26 bedrooms are divided in single, double, triple and superior. All with en suite services, shower, telephone, satellite TV and air conditioning.
Classic Venetian styled rooms starting at €100 a night. Near the Rialto Bridge. Wi-Fi.
A refined example of contemporary design, located close to Saint Mark's Square. Doubles from €90.
A 5-10 minute walk from San Marco's Square. The hotel has over fifty clean, basic, air-conditioned rooms all with shower and WC. The 24-hr reception is English speaking. There is an area for leaving baggage after you've checked out. Single rooms are €70-85 and doubles are €100-110 including breakfast.
Eggs and broiled tomatoes with cheese for breakfast. Rooms were a typical size but clean, comfortable and quiet. They have turndown service at night, a pleasant surprise.
Run by the same family since 1924 in a 17th-century building close to St Marks Basilica. Comfortable and stylishly decorated rooms with a double somewhere in the region of €150.
Has rooms decorated in an 18th-century Venetian style.
This 18th-century hotel enhanced by the most modern amenities, charming atmosphere and impeccable service. Single rooms from €70, doubles €110 and triples from €170.
On a side street of Piazza San Marco, and offers bright and comfortable rooms.
Just in front of Piazza San Marco, three star rooms decorated in the grand Venetian style. Double rooms are usually around €140.
3-star superior rooms and services one hundred yards from the entrance to Basilica San Marco.
The hotel is between Campo Sant'Angelo and Campo Manin in an antique Gothic palace bought by Mariano Fortuny.
3-star hotel behind Piazza San Marco and the Basilica.
According to their website, there is a €10 per night discount for booking directly with them.
Has 9 rooms featuring original furniture and tapestries from both the Mediterranean and the Far East.
First Italian hotel designed by Philippe Starck, the only one in Venice. In the centre, near the Basilica dei Santi Giovanni e Paolo. Saint Mark's Square is a short walk away.
Four-star luxury hotel.
In a picturesque little ‘cortile’ (courtyard), which is a short walk from Piazza San Marco.
4-star hotel in an ancient Venetian palazzo.
Corte di Gabriela is a 4-star boutique hotel in Venice in an elegant nineteenth-century building, overlooking the canals of the San Marco district. It has a few suites, each different from the others.
Historic luxury hotel facing the Grand Canal. Hotel Bauer has been around since 1880.
Housed in the Palazzo Pisani Gritti, facing the Grand Canal, this hotel was once the private residency of a 16th century dodge. It has been a hotel since 1895
High end Scarves & Shawls
Fine velvets and silks of every imaginable color are woven into delicate evening bags, scarves and pillows. The Company Venetia Studium produces in the Island the worldwide famous Fortuny Lamps
Galleria T Fondaco dei Tedeschi
Luxury duty-free shopping centre, housed in the historic Fondaco dei Tedeschi building where German merchants had there trading post for centuries.
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