One day in Venice

Venice
Are you going to spend a day in Venice and don’t want to miss the most important thing? Do not worry, luckily it is not a very big city, so you will have time to see many things before saying goodbye to it until another time.

Strolling through the labyrinths that form its canals is in itself something that will fill you completely, but if you want to visit the most beautiful of Venice, I recommend you make a list with everything I describe below. The order of visit is chosen by you, but try not to leave anything in the pipeline.

Rialto bridge

Built in 1181, it can be said that it is the oldest bridge in Venice, something that gives it a special charm . It crosses the Grand Canal and it is usually full of people. We could say that it is the most beautiful and touristy, among other things because it offers beautiful views (especially at sunset).

Rialto Market

It is located in Sestiere San Polo, right in the center of Venice. It can be said that it is divided into two clearly differentiated areas : the fishmonger and the greengrocer / greengrocer. Sardines, squid, salmon, lobster or sole sharing space with tomatoes, zucchini, figs or peppers a few meters apart. The fish market is open from 07:00 to 14:00, while the fruit and vegetable market is open from 07:00 to 20:00.

rialto market

St. Mark’s Square

Not visiting this square is a sin. It is the main tourist destination in Venice , a place where pigeons, photographers and cameras mix to appreciate the beauty of the place. It is the center of the city, and also a place known for being the first to flood when it rains more than normal. Being connected to the Grand Canal, when the tide rises the water makes an appearance.

St. Mark's Square

St Mark’s Basilica

It is the most popular building in St. Mark’s Square, and surely also the most popular in Venice. It is the main Catholic temple in the town, a work of Byzantine influence that began to be built in 832 . It was burned in 975, but it was rebuilt in the 11th century thanks to the work of the workers and architects of Constantinople.

Its floor plan is of a Greek cross, there are five domes and the decoration is made of marble. Mosaics are not lacking. Visiting it takes about 10 minutes. You cannot enter with suitcases and it is forbidden to record and take photographs.

You can access the Basilica for free on Sundays and holidays from 2 to 5 in the afternoon. Its usual opening hours are from 9:45 in the morning to 5 in the afternoon. What you will have to pay for is to access the Museo di San Marco, the Pala d’oro and the Treasury.

Ducal Palace

It is located at the eastern end of St. Mark’s Square and is one of the symbols of the city’s glory and power. It is a gothic-style building with a cubic shape that became a prison. It can be visited together with ten other museums in Venice paying 24.50 euros (18.50 euros for children between 6 and 14 years old and students between 15 and 25 years old).

Bridge of Sighs

It is famous for its history. It was built in the seventeenth century and is the one in charge of giving access to the dungeons of the Doge’s Palace. Sighs are not romantic at all. They are sighs of the prisoners who from there saw the sky and the sea for the last time. It is very close to the Plaza de San Marcos.

bridge of sighs

Basilica of Santa Maria della Salute

It is a basilica dedicated to the Blessed Virgin since March 22, 1630, when the Patriarch of Venice, Giovanni Tiepolo, spoke some words that had a lot to do with the plague that was experienced there. More than 80,000 Venetians died and began to build it a year after eliminating the contagious disease.

Bell tower

The Bell Tower of San Marcos is in a corner of the Plaza de San Marcos, very close to the door of the Basilica of San Marcos. It is 98.6 meters high and is basically made of brick. Construction began in the 9th century and was completed in the 12th, but lightning destroyed its wooden top in 1489. It was rebuilt years later, but an earthquake in 1511 took its toll on it again. The same with other rays that fell, until in 1776 they placed a lightning rod.

Walk along the Grand Canal

The Venice water bus is called the Vaporetto . It is the public transport that allows you to get to know the city and reach practically all places. It is advisable to position yourself in a place from which you can see all the buildings. The trip is much more enjoyable.

Gondola ride
Going by gondola is more beautiful, but it is very expensive. Luckily there is a low-cost option called traghetto . They are unadorned gondolas and driven by two gondoliers. The downside is that they only serve to cross the Grand Canal from one side to the other. You cannot choose a personalized route through the more than 150 canals of Venice.

Finally, nothing better than enjoying this video of Venice recorded and edited by Jörg Niggli using the time-lapse technique. The music playing in the background is Chris Haigh’s ‘Heart of Champions’.