The Flavors and Culture of Venice: An Escape to the Floating City

Step inside this inconspicuous Gothic 15th-century church to discover some of Venice's most famous tombs and artwork.

The relatively austere brick Gothic Church of Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari holds many surprises. It has the second tallest campanile in Venice after St Mark's, and contains numerous masterpieces of painting and sculpture by the likes of Titian, Bellini and Donatello, plus a number of important doges' tombs, as well as Titian's tomb. Titian's majestic painting of The Assumption in the sanctuary, with its dramatic movement and coloring, is the work that established Titian's reputation as one of the greatest of all Italian painters. Even if you feel you've seen too many churches already, this one is definitely worth visiting and we recommend investing in the audio guide to get the best out of your time here.

Visit this underrated art museum featuring works by the famed Renaissance artist Tintoretto.

Next door to the Frari, one of the most magnificent of Venice's charitable associations, The Scuola Grande di San Rocco is one of the most magnificent of Venice's charitable associations. The building was completed in 1560, and Tintoretto won a competition held to select an artist to decorate the interior. Over the next 23 years, he executed an incomparable series of paintings that cover the walls and ceilings. According to the writer Jan Morris, "no collection of sacred pictures is more overwhelming of impact than the immense series of Tintorettos in the Scuola [...] - often dark, often grandiose, often incomprehensible, but culminating in the huge masterpiece of the Crucifixion, which Velazquez humbly copied, and before which, to this day, you may still see strong men moved to tears."

Walk over or ride under the most famous bridge on the Grand Canal.

The 16th-century Rialto Bridge is the most iconic bridge in Venice. With a width of other 75 feet (23m) and span of over 100 feet (31m), the wide stone footbridge crosses over the Grand Canal and connects the San Marco and San Polo districts. It stands on the spot of an earlier wooden drawbridge which collapsed under the weight of a crowd gathered on it to watch a wedding procession. It took almost 150 years before the current Rialto bridge was built, this time in stone, and thus still stands as a symbol of the city. Surrounded by tourist shops and pricey restaurants, it sits on 12,000 wooden pilings and will be forever immortalised in millions of photographs as the backdrop to the classic Venetian photo shot, which captures the city's gondolas as they ferry lovers around the Grand Canal. While for many a gondola ride is a must-do experience in Venice, it's also possible to admire the bridge on foot. For a less-pricey way of seeing it from the water, you can always take the Number 1 local Vaporetto (water bus) and see the bridge as you pass underneath. 

Experience the sights, tastes, and smells of Venice's historic "Pescaria" fish market, as well as the fresh produce market.

Located close to the Rialto Bridge stands the Rialto Market, "the incomparable fish market of Venice, a glorious wet, colorful, high-smelling concourse of the sea, to which in the down hours fleets of barges bring the day's supply of sea-foods" (Jan Morris). Established well before the bridge was built, Venice's iconic market is a sight to behold, with colourful vegetable stalls and loud market vendors touting for business. It is a great spot for photographs and of course for a taste of the freshly caught fish with a host of appetising snacks on offer. Adjacent to the fish market you'll find a produce market, which is also important for a city which demands fresh ingredients for its cuisine. Keep in mind that the markets close at 1pm, and both markets are closed on Sundays (the fish market is also closed on Mondays).

See the rich collection of 20th-century art inside one of Europe's most important museums.

The Peggy Guggenheim Museum is one of the top sights in Venice, not just for art lovers. Housed in the Palazzo Venier dei Leoni, this was the former residence of the flamboyant copper heiress Peggy Guggenheim from 1949 until her death 30 years later. It houses masterpieces ranging from Cubism and Surrealism to Abstract Expressionism from artists such as Magritte, Picasso, Ernst and Miro.

Acquaint yourself with Venetian art of the 18th century and get a taste of what it was like to live in a fabulously ornate palace.

Ca' Rezzonico is one of the most important 17th-18th-century palaces in Venice, abd it now houses the Museo del Settecento Veneziano, the city's collection of 18th-century art. Apart from some wonderful paintings by Tiepolo in addition to his ceiling frescoes, the museum also contains Venetian scenes painted by the brilliant landscape artist, Canaletto. Of course it is not just the art hanging on the walls that visitors come for, but the artistry of the building itself. The beautifully decorated interior, including colorful frescoes and ornate marble staircases, is well worth seeing in its own right.

Catch the iconic photo of the Grand Canal from the this attractive wood and metal bridge.

As one of only four bridges to span the Grand Canal, the Ponte dell'Accademia bridge, located right next to the Gallerie Dell'Accademia, is an important pedestrian thoroughfare and a popular spot for taking the iconic Grand Canal photograph. 

See the incredible masterpieces held within Venice's most renowned art gallery.

Filled with some of the very best 13th- to 18th-century Venetian artwork, this is one of the most important art galleries in Italy. Here you can see masterpieces by Giovanni Bellini, Carpaccio, Titian, Tintoretto, Veronese, and Giambattista Tiepolo. There are too many masterpieces to list here, but if time allows you should definitely rent the audioguide and spend some serious time acquainting yourself with Venice's glorious art heritage. The galleries occupy the former church and convent of Santa Maria della Carità and the adjoining Scuola Grande della Carità, which was the oldest of the six "scuole grandi" – lay confraternities dedicated to charitable works. Dating back to 1343 AD, the Carità was mostly destroyed by fire, but two of its richly decorated rooms can still be seen. The other scuole grandi were also important art patrons and collectors, and many of their greatest works have also ended up in the Accademia. 

Watch the sun set from the steps of this beautifully decorated 18th-century church.

The Church of Gesuati, or Santa Maria del Rosario, sits directly on the large Giudecca Canal and its steps are a favorite spot to catch the last of the sun's rays. Located on the waterfront area known as the Zattere, its a lively scene with several vaporetto stops and many nearby al fresco cafes. The interior gives you a good opportunity to acquaint yourself with the best known and successful of Venice's 18th-century painters, Giambattista Tiepolo, who frescoed the ceiling and painted the scene on the first south altar. Almost all its sculpture and paintings were created within a thirty-year period, making it an excellent time capsule of the mid-1700's. Construction began in 1725, the church was consecrated in 1743, and the last sculptural decoration was in place by 1755. Its highlight is the preserved ceiling paintings and the four large sculptures on the exterior facade, that represent Prudence, Justice, Fortitude and Temperance. 

See the rich collection of 20th-century art inside one of Europe's most important museums.

The Peggy Guggenheim Museum is one of the top sights in Venice, not just for art lovers. Housed in the Palazzo Venier dei Leoni, this was the former residence of the flamboyant copper heiress Peggy Guggenheim from 1949 until her death 30 years later. It houses masterpieces ranging from Cubism and Surrealism to Abstract Expressionism from artists such as Magritte, Picasso, Ernst and Miro.