DK Travel : Venice

The uniquely romantic city of Venice was built entirely on water and has managed to survive into the 21st century without cars. Narrow alleyways and canals pass between sumptuous palaces and magnificent churches, colourful neighbourhood markets and quiet backwaters, unchanged for centuries. Few cities possess such an awesome line-up of sights for visitors.

For guided tours around Venice (see Guided Tours)

Palazzo Vendramin-Calergi

This stately Renaissance residence by architects Lombardo and Coducci was home to a string of noble families including the Cretan merchant Calergi in 1589. Another famed tenant was German composer Richard Wagner, who spent his final years here. The palace is now home to the glittering City Casino (see Casinò Municipale, Palazzo Vendramin-Calergi).
Panificio Giovanni Marcato

Delicious slices of pizza smothered with tomato and olives, and bussolà forte , a molasses shortbread with candied fruit and chocolate.
Panificio Sergio

These dry biscuits were traditionally made for seafarers. Pevarini are spicy rings with molasses and aniseed, while Dolce del Doge is spread with a chocolate-hazelnut mixture.
Paolo Olbi

Photo albums and address books in rainbow-coloured marbled paper and leather at reasonable prices, by one of the original craftsmen in Venice.
Paolo Sarpi

When the pope excommunicated Venice for insubordination, involving restrictions on church construction and the refusal to hand over two priests on criminal charges, Sarpi (1552–1623) resolved the rupture. A patriot and theologian, he was an advocate of division between State and Church.
Paolo Veronese

Foremost painter of the Venetian School, Veronese’s (1528–88) huge canvases, teeming with people, are on display in the Doge’s Palace (see Doge’s Palace).
Paradiso Perduto

Call it animated or noisy, but live ethnic music, flowing wine, smoky air and simple seafood are all part of the atmosphere of “Lost Paradise”. Always full to the (low) rafters, the crowd often spills out onto the canalside where tables are set up in spring and summer.
Parco Savorgnan

A well-hidden haven of chirping birds in towering shady trees, signposted from Campo San Geremia and Fondamenta Savorgnan. Part of the park once belonged to Palazzo Savorgnan, now a school, which backs on to it, and boasted statues, citrus trees and Roman stonework.
Pasta con il Nero di Seppia

Usually spaghetti, combined with a rich sauce of tomato and cuttlefish, thoroughly blackened with the ink.
Pasticceria Forin

A pastry shop specializing in biscuits named after St Anthony and studded with pistachios, pine nuts and marsala. The pièce de résistance is a large bun shaped to resemble the town’s domed basilica and flavoured with amaretto (almond liqueur).

Jump to top

Restaurant price categories

For a three-course meal for one with half a bottle of wine (or equivalent meal), taxes and extra charges.
- under €30
- €30-€40
- €40-€50
- €50-€60
- over €60