Venice, the city of canals and waterways, seems to have come straight out of a painting. With its gondolas gliding silently along the canals, its historic buildings reflected in the water and its narrow, winding streets, it is a place that seems suspended in time.
As soon as I arrived, I was immediately struck by the unique atmosphere of this city. The sound of flowing water, the smell of the sea mixed with that of coffee coming from the numerous bars... everything contributes to creating a magical and unforgettable atmosphere.
But Venice is not just beauty. It is a city rich in history and culture, where every corner tells a story. From its famous bridges, such as the Rialto Bridge and the Bridge of Sighs, to its splendid palaces, such as the Doge's Palace, Venice is a true open-air museum.
In the Venice lagoon, its fascinating islands stand out, Murano and Burano, which are certainly worth a visit. These pearls of the Veneto are famous for their unique beauty, their rich history and their artisan traditions. Prepare to immerse yourself in a world of glittering canals, colorful buildings and hand-blown glass.
This two-day itinerary passes through some of the most iconic locations, offering a taste of its cultural and historical richness and timeless beauty. Whether you are a history buff, an art lover or simply looking for beauty, the Venice lagoon has something to offer everyone.
Here are the unmissable stops on our itinerary.
Day 1: Venice – Canals, Palaces, Historic Squares and breathtaking views
The first day is dedicated to the main attractions of Venice.
Let's start our journey from Rialto bridge, the oldest of the four bridges that cross the Grand Canal. Built in the 16th century, it is a masterpiece of architecture with its stone arches, has a length of 48 meters and consists of a single large arch of 28 metres. Its name means “High Bank” and is home to 24 small shops on both sides. In the center of the bridge, a portico with two arches. From here, you can enjoy a spectacular view of the Grand Canal, with its gondolas and historic buildings.
A curiosity about the Rialto Bridge concerns two capitals representing a man with a clawed protuberance between his legs and a woman crouching in the flames. At the time of its construction no one believed that such an impressive and expensive bridge could have been built. Among the skeptics, a man reportedly said the bridge would be finished when his private parts clawed, and a woman promised to have her belly burned if the bridge was completed. The two sculptures make fun of all the skeptics who did not believe in the project.
Tips for Trips: it is also possible to reach the bridge by vaporetto thanks to the public water transport offered by the ACTV service, by purchasing a single-way ticket for €9.50 (valid for 75 minutes) or by selecting the transport card valid for 24 hours, 48 or 72 hours (at €25, €35, €45), with which you can travel unlimitedly in Venice and its islands during the chosen period.
From here, we get lost in the center and its thousand alleys and arrive at St. Mark's Square, the beating heart of Venice. At one extreme lies the Basilica of San Marco, a masterpiece of Byzantine architecture, in which history and faith, East and West, art and wealth are intertwined. Its beauty is the result of architectural contaminations and artistic.
Opposite is the Bell tower of San Marco which with its 98.5 meters of height is the tallest building in the city. At the top there are five bells which, during the Republic, were used with different functions: the "Marangona", the largest which rang at the beginning and end of the working day; the “Maleficent”, the smallest which announced death sentences; the “Nona”, which sounded at nine; the “Trottiera”, which was used to gather the members of the Maggior Consiglio in the Council Chamber; the “Half third,” which announced a session of the Senate. From its top you can enjoy one of the most spectacular views of the city and the lagoon.
Next to the square the Ducal Palace, a symbol of the power and wealth of the Republic of Venice. We cross the famous Bridge of Sighs, so called because the prisoners were said to sigh at their last sight of Venice before being imprisoned. The bridge connects the Doge's Palace to the Palace of Prisons Nine which you can visit to get an idea of the life of prisoners in the Venetian era.
Let's walk on Riva degli Schiavoni, a lively and crowded seafront that offers spectacular views of the lagoon. As true tourists we don't miss a gondola ride through the city's canals. The experience strikes me a lot, I feel cradled by the movement of the water up and down the canals and the view of the city from here conveys calm and peace.
For those who love books an unmissable stop is a visit to the Acqua Alta bookshop, one of the most unusual bookstores in the world. Books are stored in gondolas, boats and bathtubs to protect them from floods. In this place, old and too damaged books or books that no one buys anymore have a new life by becoming furnishing components or covering entire walls, giving color all around. Don't miss the book staircase in the courtyard, from which you can enjoy a unique view of the canals.
In the San Marco district, near Campo Manin, in a rather hidden corner of Venice, there is the Palazzo Contarini del Bovolo. The peculiarity of the building is the staircase, 26 meters high, designed by the architect Giovanni Candi which gives access to the adjacent loggias present on all four floors of the building. This spiral staircase, with its combination of Gothic, Renaissance and Byzantine styles, offers an amazing panoramic view of the city.
We cross the Accademia Bridge, the southernmost of the four bridges that cross the Grand Canal. From its stairs you can enjoy one of the most romantic and scenic views of the entire Grand Canal. Its history is highly symbolic: it was built in 1933, as a temporary bridge, to replace a previous iron bridge built by the Austrians in 1854 to shorten the transit from Piazza San Marco to the newly built Santa Lucia Railway Station. Over seventy years later, the beautiful temporary bridge is still there. As they say "there is nothing more definitive than the temporary".
We go as far as Punta della Dogana, thin triangular point of division between the Grand Canal and the Giudecca Canal which was once the customs of Venice, which is almost sunset. We sit and enjoy a 360 degree view of the lagoon. After a very hot and full day this view refreshes us and fills our eyes with beauty.
We end our day at Margherita field, full of places and lively, ideal for consuming the very Venetian ritual of spritz and cicchetti, an essential part of the authentic aperitif. Venetian cicchetti are typical traditional appetizers, small morsels made from slices of bread or polenta stuffed with fish, cured meats and cheeses.
Day 2: Murano and Burano – The pearls of the lagoon
On the second day, we take the vaporetto to the island of Murano, famous for its centuries-old tradition in glass manufacturing. It is in turn made up of 5 small islands divided by a central canal called "Canal Grande", just like that of Venice, and is characterized by colorful houses, small water canals and lots of little bridges to move from one bank to the other. On the island there are many laboratories where you can admire the original technique used in the glass-blowing process, handed down through entire generations of craftsmen.
Tips for trips: It is possible to reach Murano thanks to the public water transport offered by the ACTV service which allows you to connect the historic center of Venice with all the other islands of the lagoon by means of vaporettos and boats. From Venice to Murano there are 4 lines (numbers 3, 13, 4.1 and 4.2).
We get off the vaporetto at the first stop, Colonna, and walk along the Foundation of the Glassmakers, the street that runs along one side of the Grand Canal and enters the heart of the island. The street is full of numerous shops where you can buy various glass souvenirs of every shape and type, all very colourful!
At the end of the Fondamenta dei Vetrai, just before the Longo bridge, on the right is the Church of San Pietro Martire. Crossing the opposite bank and after walking through Riva Longa you find it Giustinian Palace, which houses the Glass Museum. 700 years of glass history are contained here, with wonderful Venetian glass produced from the fourteenth century to the present day. We pass in front of the Murano Cathedral, dedicated to Saints Maria and Donato, an example of Venetian-Byzantine art.
Let's continue with the Glass Cathedral of Saint Clare, a splendid furnace for glass processing. This structure is one of the oldest on the island. It was built even before the Doge's decree which in 1291 forced all the master glassmakers to transfer their furnaces to Murano. Originally inhabited by a group of Augustinian monks, the Cathedral was deconsecrated, and after a restoration, opened to the public. We arrive at Murano lighthouse which stands out towards the sky despite the low houses that surround it. The lighthouse we see today was built in 1934, has a typical cylindrical shape and is made entirely of Istrian stone, hence the pure white colour.
From here we take the boat to Burano, second stop of our day. The island of Burano it is a small archipelago of four islands located at the northern end of the Venice lagoon, famous for lace-making and for being the most colorful city in Italy. It is characterized by houses of a thousand colors and balconies colored with flowers that are reflected in the green waters of the canals. According to legend, fishermen painted their houses in order to recognize them from afar during long periods of absence due to fishing.
Tips for trips: From Venice you can reach Burano thanks to the public water transport offered by the ACTV service. It is necessary to go to Fondamente Nove from which the ACTV vaporettos leave with regular trips, approximately every 30 minutes, which stop at the Murano lighthouse and reach first Mazzorbo and then Burano.
Once we get off the vaporetto we find ourselves in a large meadow where a sculpture by the artist Remigio Barbaro "Waiting for Peace" stands out. Continuing we enter the heart of the island, we let ourselves be captivated by the artisans' shops selling lace and souvenirs of all types. Let's get to the Cavanella foundations, the most picturesque street in Burano overlooked by the famous Rainbow Houses. These lively houses are an icon of the island and offer an incredible spectacle, I am fascinated by the thousand colors of the houses and the balconies colored with flowers that are reflected in the green waters of the canals.
Let's cross"Three Bridges” of Burano which are not three distinct physical bridges but is the name of an area of the island where three canals intersect, creating a characteristic panoramic view. Let's walk Rio Giudecca until we look up Piazza Baldassarre Galuppi, the only one on the island. In the same square there is the Podesta's Palace – seat of the town hall – il Lace Museum and the Church of San Martino Vescovo – a small masterpiece of architecture which houses some important works inside – . At the back of the church is the Crooked bell tower of Burano – the best position to admire it is the Terranova bridge or the Riva della Giudecca – built in the 17th century, which has a square shape and Renaissance and neoclassical architectural features. In the center of the square there is a well, dating back to the 16th century, made entirely of Istrian stone with a small fountain from which drinking water comes out.
We go down the street full of shops, restaurants and cafes where we take a break and treat ourselves to a fresh citron on the banks of the canal, immersed in the lively atmosphere of the island.
We then retrace our steps and take the boat back to Venice. From here we take the car and return.
I leave Venice totally in love, struck by the view of the city emerging from the waters of the simply breathtaking lagoon, fascinated by its intricate labyrinth of streets and canals, enchanted by the sensation of sailing silently through the canals and observing Venice from a different, magical and unforgettable perspective.
These sensations are just a taste of what you can feel when seeing Venice for the first time. Each person can have different and unique experiences; the atmosphere, architecture and history of this fascinating city leave an indelible mark on the memory of those who visit it.