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)

Bar Matteo

An unbeatable range of sandwiches. Eat in or take away.
Barbara Boutique

Eye-catching window displays of sophisticated ladies’ fashion. Good range of stock changing from season to season.
Barchessa Valmarana

Formerly guest quarters, these are extant “wings” of a 17th-century villa, whose main body was demolished in 1908. Close by are locks on the Brenta waterway, excavated over centuries to divert the river away from the lagoon and eliminate silting.
Barovier & Toso

The world’s oldest family of glassmakers, the Baroviers trace their ancestry back to the 13th century. They still produce stunning contemporary pieces.
Bartolomeo Bon

Gothic sculptor and architect Bon’s (1374–1464) designs were the basis for the church and Scuola di San Rocco. With his son Giovanni, he was also responsible for the Ca’ d’Oro (see Ca’ d’Oro).
Basilica del Santo

Popularly referred to as “il Santo”, Padua’s revered site of pilgrimage was built in the 13th century to safeguard the mortal remains of St Anthony, a Franciscan monk and miracle worker from Portugal. Worshippers visit his gleaming tomb, encircled by burning candles, but his tongue is guarded in an intricate reliquary in the Treasury, recently recovered after being stolen. In architectural terms the basilica blends Romanesque, Gothic, Islamic and Byzantine elements with elegant arched loggias, minarets and domes, and is a treasure trove of art works by Sansovino, Tiepolo and Titian (see Titian (Tiziano Vecellio)).
Basilica San Marco

(see Basilica San Marco).
Basilica San Marco

Venice’s fairytale cathedral is pure Byzantine in essence, while its façade and interior have been embellished with resplendent mosaics and exquisite works of art through the ages (see Basilica San Marco).
Beads

All manner of beads, from frosted glass, ceramic or the traditional colourful murrhine mosaic-style, can be found.
Bel Sito & Berlino

A well-placed 3-star hotel facing the Baroque wonders of the Chiesa di Santa Maria del Giglio (see Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari). The decor is old style and the atmosphere is warm.

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Hotel price categories

For a standard, double room per night (with breakfast if included), taxes and extra charges.
- under €100
- €100-€150
- €150-€250
- €250-€350
- over €350
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