5 Days of Enchanting Romance in Venice and Verona

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.

Admire the elaborate 15th-century Gothic facade of this famous building along the Grand Canal.

The fifteenth-century Gothic and Renaissance style building is known as the house of gold because it once covered in gold leaf decoration. Despite the loss of the gilt facade, it is still one of the Venice’s most striking buildings and its best preserved Gothic palace. It can be appreciated from the Grand Canal but for those who want a closer look, it also houses the Galleria Giorgio Franchetti, a small art museum with a lovely restored interior. Just as good as the art is the opportunity to admire the lovely courtyard and to stand on the loggia above the Grand Canal and take in the view.

The Grand Canal

Snaking through the heart of Venice, the Grand Canal is the main artery of Venice. Flanked by Gothic, Renaissance and Moorish palaces, a trip down the Canal is often the highlight of many people's trip. While the Gondola is the most romantic option, many opt for the less glamorous but equally as enjoyable ride on the 3.8 kilometres Water Bus Line 1, which passes some 50 palazzi and passes underneath the famous Rialto Bridge.

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.

'First Walk', Guided Tour in Venice

If you are a first-time visitor to Venice, the best approach is an introductory tour. This 3-hour private guided walking excursion begins with a selection of the “must sees,” including St. Mark's Square, the former political center of the Venetian Republic, with its many famous buildings: the Doges' Palace, the Bridge of Sighs, the Marciana Library, the Bell Tower, and the Clock Tower. You'll end your tour in the Rialto neighborhood next to the famous Rialto Bridge.

Explore the staterooms and masterpieces inside this famous Gothic-style Palace.

Important Note: Entry lines can be very long. We suggest taking advantage of skip the line entry. As the name suggests, the Palace was the official residence of the Venetian rulers, the Doges, and the chief magistrates. The building was founded in the 9th century, but the present one dates from the 14th century. Tour its elaborate staterooms, grand halls and the 24-carat golden staircase before seeking out its collection of priceless masterpieces by Venetian artists including Titan, Veronese and Tintoretto. Be sure to spend some time in the most incredible room of all, the Chamber of the Great Council, the assembly hall where all Venetian patricians gathered to participate in the running of the city - up to 2,500 at any one time. There you will find the Doge's throne and the world's longest canvas painting in the world, Tintoretto's Il Paradiso.

'First Walk', Guided Tour in Venice

If you are a first-time visitor to Venice, the best approach is an introductory tour. This 3-hour private guided walking excursion begins with a selection of the “must sees,” including St. Mark's Square, the former political center of the Venetian Republic, with its many famous buildings: the Doges' Palace, the Bridge of Sighs, the Marciana Library, the Bell Tower, and the Clock Tower. You'll end your tour in the Rialto neighborhood next to the famous Rialto Bridge.

Explore the staterooms and masterpieces inside this famous Gothic-style Palace.

Important Note: Entry lines can be very long. We suggest taking advantage of skip the line entry. As the name suggests, the Palace was the official residence of the Venetian rulers, the Doges, and the chief magistrates. The building was founded in the 9th century, but the present one dates from the 14th century. Tour its elaborate staterooms, grand halls and the 24-carat golden staircase before seeking out its collection of priceless masterpieces by Venetian artists including Titan, Veronese and Tintoretto. Be sure to spend some time in the most incredible room of all, the Chamber of the Great Council, the assembly hall where all Venetian patricians gathered to participate in the running of the city - up to 2,500 at any one time. There you will find the Doge's throne and the world's longest canvas painting in the world, Tintoretto's Il Paradiso.

Observe firsthand one of the world's oldest and most famous traditions of lace making.

Burano is historically a fishing village known for its handcrafted lace and technicolor houses. The legend goes that a sailor was lured to the island by a beautiful mermaid. She splashed her tail and created intricately patterned sea spray which she used as her wedding veil for her upcoming nuptials to the sailor. The village girls were very jealous of her veil and did their best to replicate the airy patterns with needle and thread, thus beginning Burano’s tradition of handcrafted lace. The Museo del Merletto was established in 1978 in the former gothic palace of the magistrate of Torcello. Inside the museum you can observe not only how the famous lace is made, but also learn about its history. You'll see artefacts from the collection of the Lace School of Burano, which occupied the building during the late 19th century.

Take a walk through Venice's most colorful island and enjoy the unusual sight of its brightly-painted flourescent houses.

Burano is filled with colorful houses famous for their fluorescent shades. The colors are heavily regulated in Burano (you have to write for permission before painting) and their origins disputed. Some say the houses were painted brightly so fisherman returning from the sea could spot their houses through the thick fog. A less romantic version say the houses were painted distinctively so fishermen could find their way home after a night on the town.

Murano & Burano

Explore the intricacies of two famed Italian handicrafts with a day trip from Venice to the nearby islands of Murano and Burano. Stop by a glass factory or two and watch a live demonstration of glass artisans at work on the island of Murano, before hopping over to Burano, known for its brightly colored buildings and lace making, a tradition that dates back to the 16th Century.  Both quiet islands offer a peaceful retreat from the often tourist filled squares of Venice's mainland. You can easily reach them by taking a guided tour or simply by catching the Vaporetto. It only takes about ten minutes to reach Murano from the F.te Nove stop, and another 30 minutes to reach Burano. Once arrived you will surely enjoy the laid-back island havens, both with their own Grand Canals, colorful buildings and a host of fascinating workshops, showrooms, and picturesque sidewalk cafes.

See a superb collection of Venetian glass inside the Museum of Glass, and then stop by one of the island's workshops for a live demonstration.

Primarily known as the island of glass-making, Murano has sat at the epicenter of creative glassmaking for centuries. In the late 13th century Venice's Government deemed it too dangerous to have open furnaces in the city, as they posed a huge fire risk to a confined island city whose buildings were often made entirely of wood. Glass production was moved to the nearby island of Murano, and here the industry prospered. The Museum of Glass is housed inside an ancient palace and boasts a large collection of Murano glass, including world-class masterpieces by artists as Venini, Zecchin and Carlo Scarpa. Meanwhile, many of the island's workshops have belonged to the same families for centuries. Several furnaces are open to the public and you can watch short demonstrations. Be aware many also follow with a hard sales pitch, but you are never obligated to buy anything. A few tips: 1) The farther away from the Colonna Waterbus stop you walk—toward the glass museum and the Basilica of Santi Maria e Donato—the better the values. 2) Some glass houses—especially Barovier & Toso, Moretti, Pauly, Seguso, and Venini—command higher prices than others because of the quality of their work and the long tradition behind their names.  3) Shipping delicate pieces home can prove both costly and hazardous. If you do, don’t forget to get the seller’s email address, record the tracking number, and insure, insure, insure.

Be sure not to miss this oft-overlooked historic square surrounded by beautiful buildings.

Lined by notable buildings and historic palaces, this public square is often overlooked by tourists. That is a shame as it is not only one of the most historic spaces in the city, but also one of the most elegant. Lining the square you'll see a number of buildings intricately tied to the city and its historic governance, such as the courthouse and the Scala Family Palace. In the center of the square you'll discover a monument of Dante, who spent seven years in Verona during his exile from Florence.

Stand in a first century Roman amphitheatre that is so well preserved that it hosts concerts even today.

From gladiators to grand summer operas, this magnificent first-century Roman Arena, sitting in the heart of the city, has seen it all. In its heyday (circa 130-1100 AD), the arena could seat 30,000 spectators and was one of the biggest of its kind in the world. These days it hosts one of the most famous opera festivals in the world between June and September. While there’s little to see inside except the impressive stonework, it is quite an experience to visit a Roman arena that is still a thriving concert venue. Indeed, for many, the arena is more memorable than even the ruins of the Colosseum in Rome, simply because it is so intact. Indeed, when stepping inside the arena, you can truly feel as if you are experiencing the same venue that specators visited two thousand years ago. If you climb to the top, you’ll also enjoy great city views.

Climb to the top of the 275 feet (84m) high medieval tower overlooking the heart of historic Verona.

The Torre dei Lamberti is Verona's tallest Medieval tower, built by the Lamberti family in 1172. The red-brick clock tower dominates the Piazza delle Erbe that sits below, and defines Verona's medieval skyline. As such it is a popular tourist attraction, with visitors heading to the top of the tower to admire the 360-degree panoramic views over the city and the 13th-century bells in the belfry. The Piazza delle Erbe, meanwhile, is one of the most beautiful squares in the city. What used to be a Roman forum and later a medieval marketplace, the square is now home to a number of cafes, souvenir stalls, and the Madonna Verona fountain, which dates back to the time of Roman rule.

Verona

Fair Verona, located just to the east of Lake Garda, is renowned for its beauty, its numerous buildings of immense artistic and historic value, and, of course, for its legendary story of Romeo and Juliet. There is more to Verona than just the Shakespearean tale, however. It is also home to one of the best preserved first-century amphitheaters in the world, as well as to a bustling historical center full of markets, boutique shops, and some fantastic eateries in which a stop for a taste of the regional wine is a must. Verona is an easy trip, as the fastest trains reach Verona in less than 75 minutes, and the historical heart of the city is only 1.2 miles (2 km) from the train station. There is a bus that connects the station to the central square, Piazza Brà. Verona's Old Town is surrounded by the River Adige on three sides, and many of its key attractions are located within a tightly-bound area of pedestrian-only streets. This makes exploring the city on foot very easy, which is a good thing since there is no public transport in the historical center.

Take a break in one of Verona's most beautiful and historic gardens.

A litle ways from the center you'll discover an enchanting and relaxing retreat, the Giardino Giusti. These gardens are named after the Giusti family, which first used the property for wool dyeing in the 15th century. In the 16th century, the now quite wealthy family decided to use part of the property for more refined purposes, and a formal Renaissance garden was laid out, with maze-like short hedge rows, cypress trees, fountains, and grottoes.

Visit the fictional setting of Shakespeare's tale of the star-crossed lovers Romeo and Juliet.

Shakespeare never set foot in Verona, yet his legendary tale lives on. The restored medieval building with its 1930s balcony opens into a courtyard of giggling teenagers and chattering tourists. Its bronze statue of Juliet is kept shiny by hundreds of thousands of hands who touch her right breast for good luck. Inside the house, period furniture and cinematic memorabilia are often overlooked by the hordes of tourists in line for the must-have "balcony" photograph.

See some of Venice's historic ships and grand vessels inside what was once a workshop to build and store oars.

Located next to the Naval Museum, the ‘Padiglione delle Navi’ (Ships Pavilion) is a must visit too. Inside what was once an oars workshop and storage facility you'll find a collection of some of Venice's impressive ships and vessels that were manufactured in Venice in the Arsenal located close by.

Visit the gate to what is known as "one of the oldest factories in the world" - Venice's historic shipyard.

The Arsenale is one of Venice's major landmarks and one that has so much historical significance. The gigantic shipyard was where the Venetian Republic built their warships and commercial ships for trade. The Arsenale is closed to the public but you can see the great main gateway, in the form of a triumphal arch (The Porta Magna) one of the earliest works of Venetian Renaissance architecture in the city.

Arsenale & Castello

The Venetian navy once ruled the waves in the Adriatic Sea. You can find out more about the Venetian navy's rich and colorful history at the Naval History Museum beside the great naval dockyards at the Arsenale. These mammoth shipyards constructed the Venetian Republic's fleet, which at one time was unrivaled in tonnage, fire-power, and efficiency. Its payroll numbered 16,000, and in the 16th-century wars against the Ottomans a new galley left its yards every morning for 100 days. This helped to secure victory in the decisive Battle of Lepanto, which was the last great sea conflict fought by galleys and which proved crucial to stopping the Turkish advance into Europe. The rest of the Castello District has some wonderful gems hidden away in its back alleys and canals. It is one of the least visited parts of the city, meaning it is a great place to head if you want to avoid the crowds. It even has Venice's first public park (Giardini Pubblici), which was created by order of Napoleon. Four convents were razed to make room for it, but now it is a favorite spot for locals. It is also the venue of the famous Biennale Arts Festival venue. Established in 1895, the Biennale has an attendance today of over 500,000 visitors at the Art Exhibition.

Explore the numerous collections of naval artefacts inside this historic naval museum.

Apart from relating the history of Venetian naval power and displays of armaments produced in the Arsenale and captured by Venetian forces, this fascinating museum features exhibits of naval weaponry from the First and Second World Wars and over 25,000 maritime objects and artefacts.