If you're like me, you've always dreamed of going to Venice. I made that dream come true last year.
If you're planning your first trip to Venice, please let me guide you on what you should do.
For being such a small town, there is a lot to see and do ! And very easy to get lost, some roads just end and you're at one of the canals and have to turn around.
Day 1
La Basilic Saint Marc is an 11th century basilica and is a Byzantine/Roman/Gothic style.
This Basilica is free to enter but you have to pay to go into certain rooms, like the room with the four original bronze horses from the sack and looting of Constantinople in 1204 (the horses date to the 2nd or 3rd century).
Also included in this, you get to go on the roof for an awesome view of St. Marc's Square. You even get to get closer to the golden mosaics that cover the ceilings. For me, this was worth the money.
Visit Saint Marc's Square - I had the most expensive coffee in my life in St. Marc's Square. To me, this was not worth it. Go enjoy a FREE walk around the square. Do not buy coffee, just enjoy the scenery here.
La Basilic de Saint Marc is attached to the Doge's Palace, making this an obvious next choice of where to go. The Doge was the leader of Venice from 726 to 1797. This was the residence of the doge of Venice.
If you're like me and enjoy free things, go see the Bridge of Sighs instead of touring the Doge's Palace. The Bridge of Sighs is so named because after prisoners were tried and found guilty, they would cross this bridge and have one last look at freedom and sigh as they went to prison.
But if you want to do a tour, it can be found here.
Day 2 Take a water taxi to Burano for the day.
I know Murano is famous for it's glass and a lot of tourists go there for that reason, but go to Burano instead ! This town is so beautiful with its colorfully painted houses. Before we got to Burano, we stopped in Torcello. Because it's not a big tourist destination, this island was mostly empty. I loved it. We sat and had a drink in a beautiful, empty garden. Try a Select Spritz.
Or you can visit all three here.
Day 3 Go to the Acqua alta bookshop. The acqua alta happens every year in Venice, where the sea rises and Venice gets flooded. Make sure to avoid this time when traveling to Venice or go prepared ! You'll see people walking around with bags on their feet.
It got so bad one year that they even built platforms for people to walk on. This library was almost destroyed, many of the books were damaged. Now, it is a huge tourist attraction, at the back of the library, you step outside, and you can see many of the damaged books. You can even walk over some of the books.
While you're here, you have to try the polpette di carne. They are so good. But make sure you have cash, some places only accept cash.
Day 4 Pont di Rialto - another free thing to do in Venice. This bridge traverses the Grand canal, there are many canals in Venice, but this is the biggest, so this bridge is famous. Walk across it, enjoy the views from both sides of the bridge.
Pont dell'Accademia - this bridge also traverses the Grand Canal. Not only is this a beautiful wooden bridge, but there is also a beautiful view of the canal.
Basilique Santa Maria della Salute - you have a beautiful view of this basilica from the Pont dell'Accademia, so once you cross that bridge to the other side of the canal, take a short walk to see this basilica. The basilica was built in 1631 after a devastating outbreak of the plague in Venice in 1630.
*This post contains affiliate links which give me a little bit of money at no extra cost to you !
Comments