Venice

The uniquely romantic city of Venice was built entirely on water and has managed to survive into the 21st century without cars. Narrow alleyways and canals pass between sumptuous palaces and magnificent churches, colourful neighbourhood markets and quiet backwaters, unchanged for centuries. Few cities possess such an awesome line-up of sights for visitors.

Top 10 Must-See Sights

1. Basilica San Marco
Venice’s fairytale cathedral is pure Byzantine in essence, while its façade and interior have been embellished with resplendent mosaics and exquisite works of art through the ages.

2. Doge’s Palace
This was the powerhouse of the city’s rulers for nearly 900 years. Passing through a maze of rooms gives visitors an insight into the sumptuous lifestyle that so often accompanied state affairs.

3. Piazza San Marco
Elegance and opulence sit side by side in what Napoleon named “the drawing room of Europe”. This magnificent square is adorned with monuments that give testimony to Venice’s glorious past.

4. Grand Canal
The city’s majestic watercourse swarms with all manner of boats, while its embankments boast a dazzling succession of palaces dating back as early as the 13th century.

5. Accademia Galleries
An unsurpassed collection of Venetian paintings, with masterpieces by Titian, Bellini and Giorgione. A must, not only for art lovers.

6. Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari
A Gothic interior with grandiose works of art lies in store behind this church’s brick façade.

7. Rialto Market
This Mediterranean fresh produce market has enlivened this quayside since medieval times and is arguably still the best market in the world.

8. Torcello
Escape the crowds in the city with a ferry ride over the vast expanse of the lagoon to this peaceful, lush island, the site of Venice’s original settlement.

9. Campo Santa Margherita
A wonderful square, bustling with life day and night thanks to its market stalls and outdoor cafés. An added bonus is its many architectural styles.

10. Peggy Guggenheim Collection
Italy’s leading museum for 20th-century European and American art, the collection is housed in a one-floor palace on the Grand Canal.

Discover more to see and do in Venice at www.traveldk.com/venice.

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