Venice Art & History Tours

Written by Viator, December 2010

RECOMMENDATION Keywords:

Cultural Experience, Photography, Church / Cathedral, Museum

Any town with a couple of canals can claim to be the Venice of the North, the Venice of the East or the Venice of Minnesota. But there will only ever be one Venice.

The incomparable architecture and unique waterways of Venice are artwork in themselves. But over the centuries the home of Vivaldi, Casanova and Tintoretto has also given the world countless musical, literary and artistic treasures.

You could spend a lifetime exploring La Serenissima, but a well-planned itinerary will ensure you see at least the highlights. These include the dazzling gold mosaics of St Mark’s Basilica, the gothic arches of the one-time power center Doge’s Palace and the parade of sumptuous private residences lining the Grand Canal, the city’s showcase thoroughfare.

But the most modest side canal can also boast cultural riches. It really doesn’t take long before you can leave the crowds behind and suddenly you have a chapel full of sacred artworks all to yourself. Some of Italy’s most famous artists were active in Venice, including Canaletto, Veronese and Tiepolo, and their works can still be seen in museums and churches all over the city.

The history of Venice is written in stone everywhere you look, from the oriental flourishes which recall the city’s trading empire to the opera houses and saloons where Venetians took their minds off the city’s long, graceful decline. There’s nothing like a knowledgeable and engaging guide to bring alive the Doges, Marco Polo and other great figures of Venice, a city whose proud independence lives on in spirit, if not in law.

Naturally the best way to see Venice is from the water, so make sure you get out on the canal. And it doesn’t have to be in a gondola; even from the public ferries you will see sights that will put any other commute in the world to shame.

Latest Replies All Venice Art & History Tours Reviews »

Add Review or Reply