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)

San Basilio Port Zone

The vast docks occupy a good part of the northwestern continuation of the Zattere waterfront, and are usually crowded with trucks and cars queueing up to board the ferries to Greece. The modern terminal also handles the increasing cruise liner traffic, whereas the former industrial structures such as the cotton mill and cold stores are being converted for use by Venice University (see Historic Conversions). The outstanding 17th-century pastel portrait artist Rosalba Carriera (see Portraits by Rosalba Carriera) was born in the San Basilio parish and returned there to die, destitute and totally blind, in 1757.
San Cassiano – Ca’ Favretto

Right on the Grand Canal, but hidden away in the maze of alleyways close to Rialto, is a 16th-century palace, converted into a hotel named after a 19th-century artist. Elegant rooms with all mod cons.
San Francesco del Deserto

A short distance from Burano, this attractive island of cypress trees is home to a Franciscan monastery. According to legend it was founded by St Francis in person, on his way back from preaching missions in Egypt and Palestine in 1220. In May, clad in their brown habits and sandals, the monks attend the Vogalonga in their heavy-duty boat, to the delight of the Venetians (see Vogalonga).
San Giorgio

The island of cypresses is separated from the main body of Venice by St Mark’s Basin and retains a quiet meditative air, unconcerned with the bustle in the city. An ancient vineyard and salt pans were replaced by a landmark church by Andrea Palladio, adjoining an elegant Benedictine monastery. It is now a scientific and cultural foundation and conference centre. At the rear is the open-air amphitheatre Teatro Verde, revived by the Biennale for performances of contemporary dance and music (see Biennale Art Exhibition).
San Giorgio Maggiore

Palladio’s harmoniously proportioned church (1566–1610), inspired by Greek temple design, stands across the water from Piazza San Marco. The interior is offset by two dynamic paintings by Tintoretto from 1594, The Last Supper and Gathering the Manna , on the chancel walls. The bell tower offers views over Venice. Don’t miss the monks’ Gregorian chants every Sunday at 11am.
San Giorgio Monastery

The monks on San Giorgio island welcome guests to their peaceful premises. A simple breakfast is provided and self-catering is available.
San Lazzaro degli Armeni

Venice made a gift of this erstwhile leper colony to the Armenian monk, the Venerable Mechtar, forced out of the Peloponnese during one of his country’s diasporas. Intent on fostering the Armenian culture and language, he founded a religious community here and set up a printing press which operated until 1994, publishing works in 36 languages. Multi-lingual monks instruct visitors in their history and lead guided tours through a small museum and an impressive library of more than 100,000 volumes and precious illuminated manuscripts.
San Leonardo Market

In the morning and late afternoon this area functions as a lively open-air produce market. In autumn the air is thick with the aroma of roasting chestnuts.
San Marco

The Byzantine church is the most beautiful spot of Venice. It's one of the few symbols left of the history and culture of the old Ducato di Venezia.
San Michele

San Michele became the city cemetery in 1826, in the wake of a hygienic Napoleonic decree that the dead should be buried far from the dwellings of the living. Entry to the cemetery is via a lovely Gothic portal surmounted by St Michael at odds with a dragon, and through the monk’s colonnaded cloister. But don’t neglect to visit the pretty marble-façaded church next door, designed by Mauro Coducci in 1469. On All Souls’ Day (2 November), the place is crowded with relatives paying a visit to their dear departed. However unless you’re a famous resident like Ezra Pound, Stravinsky or Diaghilev, your bones are dug up after 10 years and placed in an urn to make room for someone else.

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