Explore Venice and its islands

The city of Venice is a little over an hour and a half from Bologna, the capital and largest city of Emilia Romagna. Known for its canals and gondolas, it is also home to many historical monuments. Not forgetting the small islands that are close to the city. Discover Venice and 3 of its islands in the following article.
 
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Venice

Stroll along the small streets along the canals of Venice or take a ride in one of the famous gondolas that sail on the water. Embark for 30 minutes onboard one of the city's emblems or opt for a guided tour of between 2 and 4 hours depending on the chosen itinerary. You will find various offers on the internet. Let's discover the main places to visit.
 

• Saint Mark's Square

It is the most famous square where the Basilica of Saint Mark, the Doge's Palace, the Coger Museum, the Clock Tower and the Campanile stand. Its construction began in the 9th century and today it is the only large square in the city.
 
At the entrance to the square, there are small shops, but above all, there are two huge columns that cannot be missed, one of Saint Mark and one of Saint Theodore.
 

• Saint Mark's Basilica

 
Like the square, the basilica was built in the 9th century to house the body of Saint Mark. The interior of the monument is mainly gilded and contains mosaics and sculptures. It is possible to visit some parts of the building freely but some of them require an entrance ticket, including the Pala d'Oro (golden altarpiece), the Museum and Horses and the Treasury (gold and silver looted in Constantinople).
 

• The Clock Tower

 
The clock predicts a lot of information such as the time, the zodiac sign of the moment, the position of the sun, the seasons and the phases of the moon. They were very useful to sailors and travellers. The lion of St. Mark's is also to be found enthroned above the clock.
 

• The Doge's Palace

 
This imposing building is an ancient fortress that can be visited. Its golden stairs will lead you to different rooms such as the prison, the armoury and the polling room. In the Sala del Maggior Consiglio you will have the chance to admire the decoration of the walls and ceilings which consists of sumptuous paintings. The Palace also houses temporary exhibitions in its museum. The museum offers themed tours to visit the "Secret Itineraries" and "The Doge's Hidden Treasures".
 
 

• The Bridge of Sighs

 
Juxtaposed with the Doge's Palace, this 17th century partitioned bridge connects the building to the prison. It bears this name because one can imagine the complaints of the prisoners who crossed it.
 

• The Rialto Bridge

 
Classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it was the only way to cross the Grand Canal until two centuries ago. This 16th-century bridge was built by Antonio da Ponte following several collapses of the wooden bridge that stood there. It is easily recognisable by its architecture and will lead you to the market of the same name.
 
Around Venice are Burano, Murano and Torcello which are the most famous islands around Venice.

Burano

To get to Burano from Venice you have to take a small boat called Vaporetto and in three-quarters of an hour, you will arrive on this colourful island. Several theories have been developed to explain the bright colours of these fishermen's houses. Some believe that it is to keep away mosquitoes, others that they were used as landmarks by fishermen in the fog. The small island of 4,000 inhabitants is also known for its lace, you will find small shops there. It is an ideal place to take unforgettable pictures and is very popular with photographers at sunset.

Torcello

Once an important shopping centre, this small, historic island can be reached by vaporetto from Burano in just 5 minutes. Once ashore, seeing its rural landscape you will feel as if you have travelled back in time. Torcello is a rather quiet island with Roman remains of its glorious past. The Basilica of Santa Maria dell'Assunta is one of the main attractions on the island. But there is also the Museo dell' Estuario, a museum focused on the archaeology of the island, and the church of Santa Fosca.

Murano

Like Burano, Murano is known for its craftsmanship. You can also take a vaporetto from Venice which will take you to the island in less than 20 minutes. The island specialises in glassmaking and designs various objects. You can find glass sculptures as you walk through the streets and it is also possible to visit the glass-blowing factory and its shop. Stroll along the canals and cross the many small bridges before settling down on the terrace of one of the cafés to sample Italian gastronomy.
 
If you wish to visit the 3 islands you can easily reach them by vaporettos. One or two days are sufficient as the islands are relatively small and can be visited in 2 or 3 hours. There are also organised excursions that you can find on different sites.
 
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