Venice from Rome: Full Day Small Group Tour by Fast Train

The Grand Canal is the main waterway in Venice (about 4 km long). The Grand Canal has an inverted "S" shape and divides the city into two parts, each of which groups together three districts. The width of the Grand Canal varies from 30 to 70 meters and its maximum depth is 5 meters. The Grand Canal is crossed by four bridges, the oldest is that of Rialto (1591). The other three bridges over the Grand Canal are those of the Scalzi, the Accademia and finally the Constitution Bridge, the latter designed by the architect Calatrava (inauguration 11 September 2008). Follow the course of this famous canal to discover the secrets of a unique city.

The Rialto Bridge is the oldest of the four bridges of the Grand Canal. It is famous for both its architecture and its history. For years it was the fulcrum of Venice's economy. The name "Rialto" comes from "Rivus altus", which in Italian means "deep canal", indicating that it is a flood-free area. The structure of the bridge is similar to the previous ones, collapsed twice and burned on various occasions, and consists of two inclined ramps joined by a portico in the centre. Crossing the Rialto Bridge you will reach the Rialto Market, a colorful place where fruit and vegetables are sold. The Market has ancient origins and has been held in this place since 1097.

San Marco is one of the most fascinating squares in the world, so much so that Napoleon Bonaparte called it "the most beautiful hall in Europe". It was built in the 9th century and paved in 1177, 100 years after its construction. Piazza San Marco is the lowest area of Venice and, therefore, it is the first area to flood with high water. In these cases, the municipality of Venice installs walkways to allow the regular transit of pedestrians. If you are lucky (or unlucky, depending on your tastes), you will be able to see the square full of water. The most important buildings in the square are the Basilica of San Marco, the Palazzo Ducale, the Correr Museum, the Campanile and the Clock Tower.

Originally this building was supposed to be an extension of the Doge's Palace. The first construction of the Basilica of San Marco began in the year 828 and ended in the year 832 to house the body of the Apostle Saint Mark brought from Alexandria as protector of the city. The construction of the current basilica began in 1063 in Byzantine style to represent the power of the prosperous Venetian Republic. This basilica was built respecting the model of two basilicas of the ancient imperial city of Byzantium with a central plan in the shape of a Greek cross, five large domes and a particular blend of ancient and oriental art. The result is a splendid and successful combination of styles.

The Ducal Palace was probably built between the 10th and 11th centuries on the basis of a central fortified nucleus. The first renovation was carried out in the 12th century with Doge Sebastiano Ziani who transformed the fortress into an elegant palace. Between 1339 and 1342 during the reign of Bartolomeo Gradenigo, the palace began to take on its current form. Doge Francesco Foscari extended the palace in 1424 until it reached the Basilica of San Marco. In the early 17th century, the architect Antonio Contin added the New Prisons across the canal, connecting them to the palace with the Bridge of Sighs, where the inmates passed on their way to the new prisons. In 1797, after the fall of the Republic of Venice, the palace was adapted to house the administrative offices.

The Campanile of San Marco is one of the symbols of the city of Venice. Venetians affectionately call him "El parón de casa" (The master of the house). At 98.6 meters high, it is one of the tallest bell towers in Italy. It stands majestically in Piazza San Marco in front of the basilica. Simple in shape, it consists of a fluted brick barrel, having a side of 12 meters and approximately 50 meters high, above which is the arched belfry. The bell tower is in turn surmounted by a die, on whose faces two walking lions and the female figures of Venice (Justice) are alternately depicted. Everything is completed by the pyramid-shaped spire, on top of which, mounted on a rotating platform to function as a weather vane, is the golden statue of the archangel Gabriel. The base of the building is embellished, on the side facing the basilica, by Sansovino's Loggia.

The Bridge of Sighs is located in the historic center of Venice, right behind Piazza San Marco, it is the only bridge in the city that is completely closed. Nowadays it is also known as the "lovers' bridge": legend says that to declare eternal love, you must kiss under the bridge during a gondola ride. The true history of the Bridge, however, is very different: the fact that it connected the Palazzo Ducale and the Palazzo delle Prigioni is no coincidence! In fact, it served as a security passage to move prisoners from the Court to the Prisons and vice versa.