Hours: 9:45 - 5:00:  2:00 - 4:00 on holidays 

Tickets: Basilica is free: Museum: 4€: Pala d'oro: 2€: Treasury: 3€

Attire: Dress modestly (exposed shoulders mean you must purchase a piece of cloth to cover them).

    St. Mark’s Basilica is an excellent representation of Byzantine architecture.  Located in Piazza San Marco, this basilica is actually attached to the Doge’s Palace.  The current basilica was consecrated in 1094.  The Horses of Saint Mark, which can be seen in the center of the balcony facing the Piazza San Marco, were installed on the basilica in 1254, and some believe these horses actually date back to Ancient Roman times where they adorned the Arch of Trajan. 

Hours: 9:00 - 7:00pm

Tickets: 8€

    St. Mark’s Campanile is the bell tower of St. Marks.  The tower is made of brick and the current tower was actually finished in 1912, after the old tower collapsed in 1902.    For a small fee the tower can be climbed to attain a spectacular view of Venice. 

    The Doge’s Palace is attached to the St. Mark’s Basilica and was the residence of the Doge (Duke) of Venice.  It was constructed between 1309 and 1424.  It is currently used as a museum which hosts works by Paolo Veronese, among others. 

    The Rialto Bridge is one of three that spans the Grand Canal in Venice, Italy.  It is the oldest of the three and has become a symbol of Venice.  The bridge was completed in 1591 and hosts shops along both sides of the bridge. 

Address: San Polo, 3052 (just a short walk from the San Toma vaporetto stop)

Hours: March 28- Nov. 2: 9:00am- 5:30pm; Nov. 3- March 27: 10:00am- 5:00pm

Tickets: €7,00 includes audio guide, €5,00 up to 26 years old; FREE for children under 18

    Referred to as “Venice’s Sistine Chapel,” the Scuola Grande di San Rocco was founded in the 15^th century as a brotherhood dedicated to helping those infected with the plague.  It holds over 60 works from the artist Tintoretto.

Address: 701 Dorsoduro

Hours: 10:00am- 6:00pm, closed Tuesdays

Tickets: €10, €8 seniors, €5 students under 26

    The Peggy Guggenheim Collection is located in her former home, Palazzo Venier dei Leoni, and showcases Peggy Guggenheim’s personal collection of 20^th-century art.  The collection includes Surrealism, Cubism, and abstract art, including artists such as Picasso, Klee, Braque, and Dali.  Guggenheim’s ashes remain in a corner of the garden of the palace, which was begun in the mid-18^th century by architect Lorenzo Boschetti. 

Address: Dorsoduro 1050, Accademia vaporetto stop

Hours: 8:15am- 7:15pm, closes early at 2:00pm on Mondays

Tickets: €6,50, €3,25 discounted rate

    Known as the “Accademia,” it  was founded in 1750 by Venice’s Senate as a school for painting, architecture, and sculpture. The museum today contains works from before the 1800s, most notably Leonardo da Vinci’s drawing, Vitruvian Man. With 24 rooms, this collection of art is one of the largest in Italy and has occupied multiple locations in its existence. 

Address: 4685 Calle dei Fabbri San Marco (between St. Mark’s and the Grand Canal)

Hours: Noon- 3:00pm, 7:00pm- midnight

    This charming restaurant serves dishes from recipes dating back to the 14^th century. Pasta dishes run around €10, while the secondi dishes cost closer to €20, and the menu offers 200 wines, most Italian and French labels. 

Flights: Aeroporto Marco Polo (VCE) is Venice’s main airport and it handles European destinations.  Take the ATVO shuttle, which will take about half an hour to get into Venice.

Trains: Backpackers arriving by train will enter Stazione Santa Lucia, which connects with Florence (3hr), Bologna (2hr), Rome (4.5hr), and Milan (3hr).

Public Transportation: Traghetti (gondolas) run throughout the canals and stop at seven locations including St. Mark’s.  Vaporetti (water buses) also run throughout the canals and operate 24hrs.  Tickets for the Vaporetti are €3.50 and €5 for the Grand Canal. 

Address: Calle Vallaresso San Marco 1323

    If you don’t mind a pricey tourist trap, visit the place that Hemingway frequented during his stays in Venice.  Harry’s Bar is home to the Bellini, a cocktail made from champagne and peace juice-- very tasty, but expensive here (€13 for a small glass).  A good stop for those who enjoy sharing space with the who’s who of Venice (meaning stylish clothing is the norm), but not necessarily for those looking for superb food. 

Address: Fondamenta della Misericordia, Cannaregio 2540, San Marcuola vaporetto stop

Hours: Thur.- Mon. 6:00pm- 2:00am

   “Paradise Lost” fills with students and artsy Venetians, sitting close together at tables.  The music is diverse and eclectic, and the food and wine are inexpensive and plentiful.