Lido Island (Italy) - description, history, location. Exact address, telephone, website. Tourist reviews, photos and videos.
- Last minute tours to Italy
If, when you're in Venice, you're trying to avoid the more touristy (and expensive) places with all the noise and hubbub that comes with them, you'll love Lido Island. This is one of Venice's underrated gems, more residential, more "local" and more fashionable than the traditional areas of the city. There are, however, narrow canals, plenty of places for a pleasant dinner, and impressive views of the city across the lagoon. At the same time, Lido is a kind of analogue of Palm Beach in Florida: expensive housing, historical architecture and a feeling of slight superiority of the “islanders” over the inhabitants of the mainland.
Besides, Lido is a beach. In 1920, he was generally the most famous in Italy due to his aristocratic atmosphere (it has not completely evaporated to this day). Here Thomas Mann wrote “Death in Venice”, here Visconti filmed the film adaptation of this book in 1972. By the way, some fragments of “The English Patient” and a scene from the Bond series “Casino Royale” were filmed here.
“The English Patient” was filmed in the building of The Hotel Des Bains, one of the most remarkable mansions on the Lido, built in the Liberty style.
Lido is designed to relax and indulge in divine laziness. Most of the beach here is privately owned by various hotels, but there is also a public beach (at the end of the Gran Viale, in the center). It's very nice, but quite crowded. The island protects the lagoon from the Adriatic Sea, so it is somewhat windier here, and the sea itself is not as calm as on the mainland. In addition to the beach, the Lido has plenty of opportunities to play golf and tennis. In addition, here is the Alberoni oasis, an area protected by WWF.
The Lido is also famous for its film festival, which takes place every year from the end of August to the first week of September.
The best way to explore the Lido is to rent a bike from one of the shops on the same Gran Viale. And the best time on the Lido is 17:00. Seriously: at this time the atmosphere here is definitely local: islanders dressed like workers return from work across the lagoon. The many bars and eateries have a pleasant, homey, "everyone knows everyone" atmosphere; locals hug and chat enthusiastically with each other as they unwind after a day's work.
San Lazzaro degli Armeni
San Lazzaro
Just a couple of hundred meters from the Lido, on the mainland side, lies the tiny square islet of San Lazzaro degli Armeni. In the Middle Ages, there was a colony for lepers here, and since 1717, a Catholic Armenian monastery appeared on the island. It became the headquarters of the Benedictine Armenian Order of Mekhitarists and, moreover, one of the most significant centers of Armenian culture and Armenian education outside Armenia in the world. And from 1789 until the beginning of the 20th century, the island was the center of Armenian painting.
San Lazzaro has attracted cultural and artistic figures for several centuries. Lord Byron lived here from 1816 to 1817, translating from Armenian. The room where he worked is still carefully preserved by the monks. Other famous visitors to the island include Alfred de Musset, George Sand, Richard Wagner and Ivan Aivazovsky, whose older brother worked at the monastery in 1840.
Currently, on the island you can see a church with a neo-Gothic interior and a high bell tower topped with an onion dome. There are also residential areas, a library, a museum, an art gallery, a manuscript repository, a printing press and a beautiful garden. Nearby stands a memorial erected in 1960 in memory of the Armenian genocide.
Today the monastery has a huge collection - about 150 thousand books, magazines, artifacts, as well as the third largest collection of Armenian manuscripts in the world (about four thousand pieces). The earliest manuscripts date back to the 8th century. The library contains, in particular, one of ten existing copies of Urbatagirk, the first known printed Armenian book, published in Venice in 1512.
The monastery library deserves attention not only as a repository of spiritual treasures, but also in itself. Its vaults were painted by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo.
One of the treasures of the monastery is an Egyptian mummy, which was sent to San Lazzaro in 1825 by Boghos Bey Yusufian, an Egyptian minister of Armenian origin. Using radiocarbon dating, the mummy is dated to 450-430. BC BC, and most likely represents the remains of Namenkhet Amun, a priest of the temple of Amun at Karnak.
Souvenirs
A special souvenir that can be brought back from the monastery (and which can no longer be found in Venice) is rose jam, which is traditionally made by Mechtarist monks. Jam is made from the petals around May, when the flowers are in full bloom. In addition to roses, the recipe includes water, sugar and lemon juice. The jam is called “vardanush”, and five thousand jugs of it are prepared annually. The monks eat jam for breakfast, and tourists can buy it at the island's souvenir shop.
Practical information
You can get to the Lido after landing at Marco Polo Airport from the Alilaguna water bus station. Lido boats make several stops along the way. If you're coming from the city itself, use the ACTV water buses to reach the Lido in 10 minutes. Please note that early morning and late afternoon are peak times on this route.
Lido Island is an 11-kilometer-long strip of land that separates the Adriatic Sea from the Gulf of Venice. It is famous for its magnificent sandy beaches, which are protected from the sea by breakwaters. The resort area is located just three kilometers from the famous St. Mark's Square.
The Lido has long been popular among the Venetians: back in the Middle Ages, wealthy families built country houses here. But almost nothing of those buildings has survived. The buildings that we see now were erected at the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th centuries. They are characterized by Art Nouveau and Neo-Byzantine styles, which gives the Lido a special atmosphere.
The main attraction of Lido Island is the Church of St. Nicholas. Some of the relics of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, which the Venetians brought to the city after the first crusade in the 11th century, are kept here. There is also an ancient Jewish cemetery on the island. The main tourist areas of the Lido are the Santa Maria Elisabetta Boulevard, as well as the Santa Maria Elisabetta Riviera, which runs along the sea. The area has many cafes and shops, as well as a church that bears the same name. At the intersection of the boulevard and the street there is a pier from where water buses leave for Venice; they moor at the embankment of the Venetian harbor (Fondamenta Darsena). The famous Venice Film Festival also takes place on the island of Lido, in its northern part.
Of the islands surrounding Venice itself, perhaps the most famous among tourists isLido Island. This is the main island of the Venetian archipelago. And at the same time, a completely unique phenomenon in Venetian life: there is very little antiquity here, there are cars and regular buses, almost the entire island consists of hotels and villas, there are a lot of different shops, cafes and restaurants, parks and green spaces, a casino and the Film Festival Palace , this is where guests of Venice have the opportunity to lie in the sunon a well-maintained beachand swim in the sea. Not in the lagoon, but in the sea. Resort.
Traveled around Venice and shares his impressions
On the other hand, despite all of the above, onLido no Venetian pandemonium, crowds and stampedes. It’s free on the streets here, it’s much easier to breathe. And again, the historical quarters of Venice are only15-20 minutes by vaporetto. Not to mention the other islands in the lagoon.
From the history of Lido
"Lido" - translated from Italian means "Coast", "seaside", "beach". A chain of sandy islands stretches11 kilometersand protects the lagoon from the Adriatic Sea. Since ancient times, the Lido has been an outpost of Venice. But since the Middle Ages, the inhabitants of the Most Serene One have chosen the Lido as a place for country holidays.
Initially the island wasname of Saint Nicholas, patron saint of sailors. Since the 11th century, in the northern part of the island there has beenBenedictine Abbey of St. Nicholas. It contains the relics of the saint, which the Venetians brought from the First Crusade.Church of St. Nicholas- one of the attractions of Lido today.
Villas and country houses grew around the abbey. Later, the Venetian Doge moved his residence to the island, it was located in the villageMalamocco.
About MalamoccoIn general, it’s worth mentioning separately.City of Metamauco(Roman name Malamocco) on the island there wasfounded during the Roman Empire. It was a port on the Adriatic Sea. After the Huns' raid, when the islands of the lagoon began to be quickly populated by refugees from the mainland, the city's population increased sharply. In the 7th century Malamoccobecame the seat of the episcopate, and in the VIII-IX centuries evenmanaged to be the capital of the Venetian state. Today it's prettylarge and quiet villagewith a population of over 17,000 people, where, while walking, you can find the remains of its former greatness: ancient churches (though reconstructed and rebuilt), the remains of a port, ancient masonry.
In the southern part of the island you can findold fort of San Nicolo. In the southern part there is now the village of Alberoni.
At the end of the 14th century, in the northern part of the island, a small area was allocated for a Jewish cemetery. These days, the cemetery has been reconstructed and is open to the public.
In the 17th century, a new one was built on the Lido, on the lagoon side.Church of Santa Maria Elisabeth, around which new villages and towns are founded and developed. By the end of the 19th century, Lido was already a resort of world significance. However, not a trace remains of the ancient villas and buildings. The oldest buildings today date back to the end of the 19th – beginning of the 20th century. But they didn’t come and come here for the sake of architecture. Baths andbeaches - that's what attracted us to Lidodifferent people at different times. Famous guests of the resort include George Gordon Byron,Sergei Yesenin, Thomas Mann.
Things to do on the Lido
If you came to Lido, then you are primarily interested inbeach holiday.
Be sure to remember that according to Italian law, swimming at night is strictly prohibited! Violating the ban will not get you off with just a fine.
Beaches occupy almost half of the island's southern coast. Most of them -private property of hotels. For an outsider, getting to the beaches of high-class hotels is a rather difficult task. It is necessary to pay for a booth, that is, a place to change clothes and, so to speak, a sign of belonging. This, firstly, is quite expensive, and secondly, it will take a lot of time to find someone to pay.
There is an option to searchamong hotel beachesthose where the price for services for guests is displayed in front of the entrance. Such beaches often hold promotions with discounts; you can, for example, pay for a bungalow with all the beach amenities50 euros for half a day(these prices are for the second line of bungalows, the first is more expensive) and enjoy the sun and sea. An example of such a beach:Spiaggia des Bains.
How to find a public beach
So, if you are not a guest of a hotel that has its own section of beach on the Lido, feel free to goto the public beach. You will get to it if, after leavingwith the vaporetto, you will go straight into the islandalong Granviale Santa Maria Elisabeth. The length of the street is only 700 meters.You will simply run into the beach.However, in high season it is crowded.
For services(shower, toilet, changing cabin) you have to pay1 euro. A sun lounger with an umbrella costs about30 euros, but then all other services are free. The easiest thing to do isWhat do the locals do:Lie down on your own blankets or towels.
All beaches on Lido have fine white sand, a gently sloping bottom and clear water of the Adriatic Sea.
Bicycle rental and other active recreation
Lido- an island stretching 11 kilometers in length, so it is veryI recommend renting a bikeand explore the island. Here are a couple of bike rental companies:www.venicebikerental.com And www.lidoonbike.it . Both of them are located on Granviale Santa Maria Elisabeth.
In general, Lido is simply intendedfor those who can't sit still:
- diving, including rental of catamarans, canoes, windsurfs and paddle surfs www.freetimediving.it
- sailing www.associazionevelicalido.com ,
- tennis www.tennisclubcadelmoro.it, www.tennisclubvenezia.com,
- golf www.circologolfvenezia.it,
- Horseback Riding www.facebook.com/circoloippico.venezialido
It's all here, just ask.
Keep in mind that almost all of these establishmentsthere are programs for children, So you can have an active holiday with the whole family.
About shops, cafes, casinos and clubs
Granviale Santa Maria Elisabethwill make you feel like a real tourist. On this streetlots of cafes and bars, shops and shops. For shopaholicsLido- a heavenly place: it’s calmer here than in Venice, andlower prices.
There are casinos, discos, and nightclubs on the Lido. And if you come herelate August-early September, you will be able to watch the world famous and very prestigiousVenice International Film Festival. It takes place on the Lido, where a special Film Festival Palace is built.
Where to eat on Lido
If you read the articleWhere to eat in Venice, then you can safely go to the Lido: the same rules apply here. The island has many supermarkets, cafes and bars, restaurants and trattorias with osterias. There are many of them on Granviale Santa Maria Elisabeth alone.
But if I have to recommend something specific, it would be"Ristorante Valentino": http://www.ristorantevalentinovenezia.com/home.php . Venetian and Mediterranean cuisine, wine selection, service - the list of recommendations among the reviews can be continued for a long time.
Restaurant "Gran Viale": http://www.ristorantranviale.it/- located in the very center, not far from the vaporetto stop, on the same Granviale Santa Maria Elisabeth.
On the same street you will find quitemany pizzerias and simple cafes. All you have to do is walk down the street yourself and choose a cafe or pizzeria to suit your taste and budget.
Where to stay on the Lido
This article will help youWhere to stay in Venice. There are many hotels of different calibers on the Lido, it is important to remember that this is a fairly popular island among tourists, soearly booking will come in handy.
Although pricesfor housing, both in hotels and in apartments and apartments,slightly lower than in Venice itself, you need to have time to book and order accommodationin advance. The closer to the high season, the faster prices rise.
Inexpensive hotel on Lido
Can I recommend some inexpensive hotels?"Hotel & Residence Venezia 2000": http://www.hotelvenezia2000.com/en/ .
However, any search engine will give you a fairly large list of hotels on the Lido; you just need to indicate the name of the island in the filters in the “Area” column. The same story with apartments and apartments.
How to get to Lido
- From Marco Polo Airport going to the Lido red vaporetto line.
- From Veniceyou will get there on routes No. 1, 2, 5.1, 5.2, 6.1, 6.2, 8, 20.
- Route No. 17 connectsTronchetto(seaport and car parking) with Lido Island,
- on number 18 you will reach Lidofrom Murano or Sant'Erasmo.
In the article Transport in VeniceThere is a map of Vaporetto routes.
Sp-force-hide ( display: none;).sp-form ( display: block; background: #d9edf7; padding: 15px; width: 100%; max-width: 100%; border-radius: 0px; -moz- border-radius: 0px; -webkit-border-radius: 0px; background-size: auto; ).sp-form input ( display: inline-block; opacity: 1; visibility: visible;).sp-form .sp-form-fields-wrapper ( margin: 0 auto; width: 470px;).sp-form . sp-form-control ( background: #ffffff; border-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 1); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; font-size: 15px; padding-left: 8.75px ; padding-right: 8.75px; border-radius: 19px; -webkit-border-radius: 19px; width: 100%; label ( color: #31708f; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold;).sp-form .sp-button ( border-radius: 17px; -moz-border-radius: 17px; -webkit-border-radius: 17px; background-color: #31708f; width: auto; font-weight: 700; font-style: normal; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; box-shadow: none; -moz-box-shadow: none; -webkit-box-shadow: none;).sp-form .sp-button-container ( text-align: left;)
By uploading their photographs to the Your Italy website, users accept the following terms and conditions:1. All users who fill out the form indicating their last name, first name, contact information and description of the photo are allowed to participate.
2. The photo must be original, and the rights to it must belong to the user.
3. Uploaded photos must not contain:
3.1. recognizable people, unless they have given permission to publish their photographs on the Your Italy website;
3.2. logos and trademarks, unless their copyright holders have granted Your Italy the authority to publish them;
3.3. naked bodies, unless we are talking about works of art, obscene, immoral, unacceptable images;
3.4. any objects that violate the rights of third parties;
3.5. By posting a photo in the photo gallery, users agree to its placement in this gallery and in site materials with an explicit indication of the author of this photo, as well as in publications on social networks associated with this site.
4. Users also agree that they may be contacted by representatives of Your Italy to discuss possible other uses of the photo provided.
Lido di Jesolo is not the most fashionable resort in Italy, but next to it are two of the most romantic cities in the world - Venice and Verona. It is for them that it is worth visiting these parts at least once.
Lido di Jesolo is a resort coast on the Adriatic Sea near Venice. It is located in the very north of Italy. Lido di Jesolo is a continuous strip of wide sandy beaches with a smooth, gently sloping coastline and small towns along the coast. The resort became popular among tourists quite recently - in the 60s of the last century.
A strip of beaches on Lido di Jesolo, Italy
Mostly families with children relax here and those who want to combine a beach holiday with a visit to Venice, Verona, and the famous mountain lakes of Italy - Como and Garda. The resort has several good amusement parks, well-developed infrastructure and very reasonable prices.
Aqualandia Park in Lido di Jesolo, Italy How to get to Venice and Lido di Jesolo?
Lido di Jesolo has an excellent transport network; local buses run along the entire coast, connecting the resort with the cities of Padua, Milan, Venice and others. The easiest way to get to Lido di Jesolo is from Venice. If you do not plan to visit other regions of Italy, then you should buy a direct flight to Venice (Marco Polo Airport).
Venice from a bird's eye view. Italy There are regular direct connections with Moscow, carried by Aeroflot and Alitalia. You can view the Aeroflot flight schedule. Venice is also connected by regular year-round flights to other European cities. You can fly to Venice from Rome and Naples, but such a flight will most likely cost you more than a direct flight. You can see the full list of airlines and routes to Venice.
Marco Polo Airport in Venice, Italy There are several ways to get from Marco Polo Airport to Venice or nearby areas (including the coast of Lido di Jesolo). The simplest and most expensive is a taxi. You can place your order directly at the airport at special counters or call the phone number provided, however, in this case you must have excellent command of English.
Lounge at Marco Polo Airport, Venice. Italy There is a bus service. You can reach Venice itself, Lido di Jesolo, Lignano, Bibione and the Dolomites. Find a detailed schedule. Tickets can be purchased at special kiosks and offices directly in the airport building, or from the bus driver (not for all routes).
Map of the location of kiosks and ticket machines at Venice Marco Polo Airport Another type of transport is a water bus. It will take you to Venice or its islands of Murano, Burano and Lido. The ticket can be purchased at the boat station or directly on board the water bus.
To find the station, you need to exit the arrival hall through the central door, on the left you will see a long covered walkway that will take you straight to the pier. There you will also find many small private companies providing water taxi services.
Water bus from Venice, Italy If you wish, you can rent a car right at the airport. If you plan to vacation directly in Venice or on its islands, then there is no need for a car, since Venice is a pedestrian city, and a car will be of little use to you.
If you are going to the coast of Lido di Jesolo and are planning not only a beach holiday, but also an active excursion holiday, then it makes sense to think about renting a car.
Bus at Venice Marco Polo Airport, Italy Pros and cons of holidays in Lido di Jesolo
Lido di Jesolo is a typical beach resort. This is a continuous strip of hotels, beaches and all kinds of entertainment for tourists. Here you will not find historical quarters or quiet romantic places.
Holidays here are more reminiscent of the Black Sea coast at the height of summer: carcasses of vacationers on the beach, sleepy tourists, children's squeals and other joyful vacation fuss.
Beach at Lido di Jesolo, Italy But from Lido di Jesolo it is very close to Venice, Verona, the Dolomites and Lake Garda. If you wish, you can get to Padua, Florence and Milan relatively quickly, or swim to Croatia or San Marino (only 150-170 km by ferry).
Promenade in Lido di Jesolo, Italy Prices for Lido di Jesolo are incredible. Holidays here can be called economical in comparison with other regions of Italy. If you are used to premium holidays, then Lido di Jesolo is not your option; Venice itself or the Lido Island (see below) would be more suitable for you. But for those who are ready for a moderate level of service for reasonable money, Lido di Jesolo is ideal.
Street in Lido di Jesolo, Italy An important feature of Lido di Jesolo is its very short summer season. Unlike other beach areas in Italy, Lido di Jesolo can be quite cool in May and September, with frequent rain and wind.
In June there are more sunny days, but sometimes there are cold snaps, especially at the beginning. The most suitable months for a summer beach holiday are July and September. It is at this time that Lido di Jesolo has the most comfortable water and air temperatures, but these same months mark the peak influx of tourists.
Lido di Jesolo at night, Italy Pros and cons of holidays in Venice. Where to stay in Venice – the center or the surrounding area?
You can stay directly in Venice if you are planning only an excursion holiday, or combine your trip to spend a few days in Venice and then head to the coast.
Spending two or three nights in Venice itself will allow you to see things that you would never see on a formal sightseeing tour.
Venice, Italy In terms of the number of architectural masterpieces, Venice ranks one of the first places in the world. The historical buildings and neighborhoods here are in excellent condition, so you will see Venice exactly as Petrarch and Goethe, Casanova and Princess Tarakanova, Gumilyov, Bunin, and many others saw it.
Moreover, Venice during the day and Venice at night look like two completely different cities. During the day, it is a vibrant and dynamic city, filled with the sounds of street trading, the splash of gondoliers' oars, and the noise of the crowd. It seems that this is not a city, but an anthill, in which movement does not stop for a minute.
Venice street Italy At night, Venice seems mysterious and mystical. Street lighting, reflection of numerous lights in canals, blurred boundaries of embankments create a feeling of loss in space, everything becomes unsteady and floating. The atmosphere of the daytime bustle in numerous cafes and on the embankments changes to romance and lazy fatigue.
Venice at night, Italy It should be noted that Venice is one of the most expensive holiday destinations. The cost of accommodation, dinner in a restaurant or travel around the center by transport here will be many times more expensive than in neighboring cities.
If you wish, you can find places to eat and travel options at a relatively inexpensive price, but there are inevitable queues and not very comfortable conditions, so in terms of price-quality ratio you still have the feeling that you have overpaid a little for the service.
Pier in Venice, Italy The second feature of Venice is water. Of course, Venice is famous for the fact that it is the only city on the water. The romance of gondoliers, the beauty of local canals, charming old houses and beautiful medieval palazzos - all this has been sung in literature and advertising brochures more than once, and this is what attracts us so much to Venice.
Entrance to Hotel Danieli, Venice, Italy But you will have to put up with the damp smell in the rooms, the aromas of flowering water in the canals (this phenomenon occurs periodically, especially in spring and early summer), and the crowded sidewalks.
On a stuffy night, you are unlikely to open the window in your hotel room. In addition, sometimes houses are so close to each other that leaving windows open is simply not comfortable.
Street restaurant in Venice Italy At the height of the tourist season, Venice can look quite dirty. Due to the influx of tourists, city services simply do not have time to restore order (however, this remark is typical for all cities in Italy, so garbage can be considered a local feature and not bother with this issue.)
Canal in Venice, Italy Despite all of the above, Venice is definitely worth seeing at least once in your life. No little things or everyday inconveniences can spoil her charm and beauty.
If you want to combine a beach holiday with frequent sightseeing, you can stay on Lido Island - here you will find beautiful sandy beaches, an excellent guesthouse, and the center of Venice can be reached at any time in just 20 minutes by speedboat.
Lido di Venice Italy Celebrities and local wealthy citizens like to relax on the Lido. During the Venice Film Festival (in September), the bulk of the guests and stars of the festival live here, so booking anything to stay at the Lido in early autumn is simply unrealistic - all local hotels traditionally reserve places for visiting celebrities.
And relaxation during the festival cannot be called comfortable - prices here skyrocket, many cafes and restaurants are closed for individual service.
Hotel Excelsior, Lido Island, Venice, Italy Main attractions of Venice
Piazza San Marco
San Marco is the central square of the city. The remaining squares of Venice are called campo and campiello (clearings and areas). San Marco can be called the calling card of Venice. The square acquired its modern appearance in the 17th century, but some of the buildings here are much older.
For example, the pavement was laid in the 13th century, and the clock tower was built at the end of the 15th century.
Napoleon called St. Mark's Square "the living room of all Europe." In terms of the number of attractions, St. Mark's Square is the main place in the city.
Piazza San Marco, Venice, Italy St. Mark's Cathedral
The Basilica of San Marco is the main cathedral of Venice. It was founded back in the 10th century, when the Venetians literally stole the relics of St. Mark from Egypt and decided to build a separate temple to store them.
The act, of course, was unseemly, but the goal was noble - to save sacred Christian relics from the hands of the infidels, the Muslim Saracens, who at that time owned Alexandria.
In general, it must be said that in the Middle Ages, European city-states quite actively practiced theft of the relics of various saints in order to save them from destruction, and at the same time raise the status of their city in the eyes of other Christians and the Roman Church.
St. Mark's Cathedral in Venice, Italy St. Mark's Cathedral served as the starting point for the Crusades for many centuries. Venetian doges were crowned there and historical (by the standards of Venice) masses were held there.
The square in front of the Cathedral hosted the main celebrations and festivities of the Venetian Republic, including the famous Venetian Carnival. In terms of the beauty and richness of its interior, the cathedral fully justifies its status.
Interior of the Basilica of San Marco in Venice Italy The Cathedral of San Marco was originally built as the main church of the city, so the best architects of the time were brought in for construction, including Byzantine architects, who had no equal in skill in the early Middle Ages.
San Marco was built in the image and likeness of Hagia Sophia in Constantinople. True, in subsequent centuries it was expanded and completed several times, but the main elements of the Byzantine style are clearly visible even now.
Domes of St. Mark's Basilica, Venice, Italy The main altar of the Basilica of San Marco, which houses the relics of St. Mark, is covered with gilding and precious stones, and its frame is made of silver, decorated with enamel and inlays.
There is so much marble, gilding, precious and semi-precious stones in the decoration of the interior of the temple that the Cathedral of San Marco used to be called “golden”, and in terms of the richness of its design it had no equal in Europe.
Main altar of St. Mark's Basilica, Venice, Italy Doge's Palace
The Doge's Palace is the residence of the Venetian rulers and one of the most recognizable buildings in Venice. Its architecture so skillfully intertwines Gothic and Moorish styles that the building, despite its strict geometric contours and rather impressive dimensions, seems to float above the embankment.
Like St. Mark's Basilica, the Doge's Palace was built so that the power and might of the Venetian Republic was visible throughout. There is also a lot of gilding and marble, and everywhere you can see figures of a winged lion - the symbol of St. Mark, the patron saint of Venice.
The walls are decorated with frescoes by Titian, Veronese and Tintoretto, as well as paintings by Hieronymus Bosch. A unique world map of the famous Venetian Marco Polo is kept here, on which the territory of modern Russia is designated as Great Tartary, stretching from the Pacific Ocean to the Caspian Sea.
Doge's Palace, Venice, Italy In addition to the ceremonial halls, the Doge's Palace has secret rooms - rooms for torture and detention of state criminals, who in the Middle Ages were tried and interrogated by the “council of ten” - the Venetian analogue of the court of the Holy Inquisition.
Among others, among the prisoners of the secret rooms are Giordano Bruno, burned at the stake by the Inquisition, and the famous Casanova - by the way, the only prisoner who managed to escape from prison; before him, escaping from the Doge's Palace prisons was considered impossible.
Prison in the Doge's Palace, Venice, Italy Excursions to the Doge's Palace can be booked. The Doge's Palace is open to the public all year round from 8:30 to 19:00 (from November to the end of March, opening hours are reduced to 17:30), the ticket office closes an hour earlier. On Catholic Christmas and New Year (December 25 and January 1), the Palace is closed to visitors.
Interior rooms of the Doge's Palace, Venice, Italy Bridge of Sighs
Despite the beautiful name, the Bridge of Sighs has a rather sad history. The bridge connects the Doge's Palace with the premises of the former casemate. After the trial, those sentenced to imprisonment were taken to their cells along this bridge.
Here the prisoners could look out the window at the sunlight for the last time, since the conditions in the local prison were so harsh that almost none of the prisoners lived to see the end of their sentence.
Therefore, when taking a farewell look at Venice, the unfortunate ones let out a deep sad sigh. They say that here you can still hear the sighs of the unfortunate who said goodbye to life many centuries ago.
Bridge of Sighs, Venice, Italy Currently, the sad history of the bridge is somewhat brightened up by a new, more romantic legend. It is believed that a kiss between lovers on the bridge at midnight will make their love able to overcome any obstacles.
And if you merge in a kiss while sailing under a bridge, then the lovers will certainly get married and live a long, happy life in marriage. In the evenings, on the canal leading to the Bridge of Sighs, there is a huge queue of gondolas in which lovers are sitting.
Wedding photo shoot near the Bridge of Sighs, Venice, Italy Church of Santa Maria della Salute
Santa Maria della Salute is located opposite the Doge's Palace. People call it “plague”, as it was built in honor of ridding the city of the plague, which killed a third of the population of Venice in the 17th century. The name of the church is translated as Holy Mary the Healer.
Church of Santa Maria della Salute, Venice, Italy The church took more than half a century to build - the building was designed so grandiosely that the builders could not strengthen the foundation sufficient to support the massive structure of the church.
As a result, over one hundred thousand beams made from valuable tree species were used to build the foundation. Taking into account the luxurious interior decoration, the construction of the temple cost the city a very large sum.
Interior of the Church of Santa Maria della Salute, Venice, Italy Every year on November 21, on the Catholic day of the Blessed Virgin Mary, a kind of floating bridge is built from gondolas tightly fitted to each other, along which local residents organize a procession from St. Mark's Square to the church in honor of the miraculous deliverance from the epidemic.
Celebration of the Day of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Santa Maria della Salute, Venice, Italy Correr Museum
The Correr Museum is the private art collection of the Venetian Teodoro Correro, which he bequeathed to his city after his death in 1830. The collection is a rich treasury of works of art, antiques and artistic canvases.
Along with the collection, Correr also bequeathed the ancient palace of San Zan Degola. Subsequently, the exhibition was expanded through donations of valuable items from other townspeople and monasteries.
Carrer Museum, Venice, Italy In the 19th century, a separate building was built for the Correr Museum in Piazza San Marco. Today the museum's exhibition is one of the most impressive in the world.
The museum has many thematic rooms, including an exhibition of Venetian costumes, an art gallery with works by Titian, Dürer, Bellini and others, the history of the Venetian Republic, a collection of weapons and armor, and much more.
Entrance to the Correr Museum, Venice, Italy The museum is open from 10:00 to 19:00 (in winter until 18:00), ticket offices close an hour earlier. The entrance ticket for adults is 16 euros. Discounts are provided for pensioners, schoolchildren and students. You can purchase tickets, as well as learn more about the museum’s exhibition.
Work by Francesco Guardi in the Carrera Museum, Venice, Italy Grand Canal (Grand Canal)
The Grand Canal is, one might say, the “main street” of Venice. A walk along the Grand Canal is included in the mandatory excursion list when visiting the city. The buildings built along the banks of the canal date back to the period of the 12th-17th centuries.
For the most part, these are the houses of the most famous and wealthy citizens, which is why the largest number of palaces are concentrated on the banks of the Grand Canal.
Grand Canal, Venice, Italy To see the Grand Canal in all its splendor, it's worth taking a gondola. This pleasure is not cheap, but visiting Venice without a gondola ride is unforgivable. Please note that many gondoliers are not just carriers.
Among them there are real “showmen” who will give you a short excursion during the voyage, tell you interesting facts about history, sing a couple of songs and will certainly tell you at least one of the local legends. So when choosing a gondola, choose a smarter driver - you won’t regret it.
Gondoliers on the Grand Canal, Venice, Italy Murano Island
Murano is one of the island districts of Venice, on which the museum of the famous Murano glass is located. Since the 12th century, this particular island was set aside for glassblowing workshops, since glass production was extremely fire hazardous. To protect the city from accidental fires, all glassblowers had to practice their craft here.
Murano glass making process, Venice, Italy There is a museum on the island about the history of Murano glass making. The museum is open every day except Wednesday. You can find out more about the museum's opening hours and exhibitions. In the numerous craft shops on the island and in the museum store you can find amazingly beautiful handmade Murano glass products.
Murano glass decoration, Venice, Italy Burano Island
Venice has become famous for its lacemakers since the 16th century. It is believed that local fisherwomen mastered the skill of lace weaving by weaving nets for their husbands. Venetian lace was so highly valued in Europe that the best royal houses ordered it to decorate the ceremonial clothes of royalty.
Craftswomen of Burano at work, Venice, Italy Burano is definitely worth a trip for two reasons. Firstly, for the sake of purchasing unique handmade lace products (the craftswomen of Burano weave not only napkins and tablecloths from lace. You will find exclusive wardrobe items, evening dresses, stoles, wall panels, curtains and much more. And believe me, the jackets and dresses of local craftswomen Any fashion house will be the envy of you; this is not your “grandmother’s joy.”
Lace from the island of Burano, Venice, Italy Secondly, a walk through the cramped streets of Burano is a special pleasure. All the houses here are painted in bright holiday colors. The tradition began several centuries ago, when sailors, upon entering the harbor, looked for the way to the house, focusing on its colors. Now there is no need for this, but the local residents jealously honor this rule.
Colorful houses on the island of Burano, Venice, Italy And the local municipality can even fine the owner of the house for inappropriately bright coloring. Another interesting point: you can paint the house not anyhow, but in strict accordance with the color palette approved by the municipality.
Burano Island, Venice, Italy Other attractions in Venice
Castello Quarter- the largest district of Venice, in which the Doge's tomb is located, exhibitions of the Biennale - a museum of modern art, the majestic church of San Zaccaria from the Renaissance, Campo San Zaccaria - a place that several centuries ago was a haven for the most notorious criminals (it still operates here today medieval ban on building new houses and settling new families, so as not to increase crime).
Castello quarter in Venice, Italy Torcello Island– the oldest district of the city, where Venice originates. Among the local attractions, we can mention the throne of Attila, an ancient bridge without railings (these were built in Venice in the early Middle Ages), and the ancient church of Santa Fosca.
Torcello Island, Venice, Italy San Michele Island- This is, in fact, a cemetery. In Russian fashion, the island and the churchyard of the same name are named after Archangel Michael, and there is also a chapel in his honor. In San Michele there are the graves of many famous people, including Russians: Diaghilev, Brodsky, Stravinsky, as well as members of eminent noble families who left Russia after the 1917 revolution.
Island of San Michele, Venice, Italy P. Guggenheim Museum- a small collection of early 20th century art that belonged to Solomon Guggenheim's niece Peggy. The exhibition includes works by Dali, Modigliani, Picasso, Kandinsky and many others.
Peggy Guggenheim Museum, Venice, Italy Rialto Market- Venice food market, which has existed for more than 10 centuries. Even if you are not going to buy anything, it is worth a visit here for the atmosphere, an excursion among the many stalls and stalls with all kinds of fish and local delicacies. There are also several restaurants on the market, the oldest of which is Poste Vecie, which dates back to 1500.
Rialto Market, Venice, Italy Riva degli Schiavoni promenade- the main promenade of Venice, the name of which translates as “coast of slaves”. Since the 9th century, there was a huge slave market here, where Slavs, among others, were traded. Nowadays, there are numerous cafes and souvenir shops on the embankment.
Riva degli Schiavoni promenade, Venice, Italy Cannaregio Quarter- the place where the world's first Jewish ghetto was founded. The old part of the quarter is a medieval city with terribly cramped streets and tiny houses in which Jews evicted from the main part of the city huddled. Poor townspeople and non-noble newcomers were also evicted here.
Cannaregio Quarter, Venice, Italy Islands of San Giorgio and Giudecca- another refuge for exiles and wanderers. Michelangelo lived on San Giorgio for a long time, expelled from Florence. These neighborhoods are interesting for their authenticity. There are very few tourists here and the life of ordinary Venetians opens up as it is, without a tourist boom and unnecessary fuss.
Island of San Giorgio, Venice, Italy La Mercerie street– the main place for shopping. There are many boutiques, souvenir shops and craft shops here, where you can buy anything from branded clothing to unique handicrafts. If you are interested in outlets, then you should go shopping in the Mestre area, where several modern shopping complexes are located.
Shopping street in Venice, Italy Padua
Padua is located just 40 km from Venice. In Italian the name of the city sounds like Padova. Padua is famous primarily for its ancient university, one of the first in Europe (founded in the 13th century). The University of Padua was perhaps the most progressive for its time. Astronomy and philosophy were taught there by Galileo Galilei and Nikolai Kopenik, who were persecuted by the church for having too unconventional views on the world order.
Padua, Italy The world's first anatomical theater was founded at the University of Padua, and the local faculty of medicine was so advanced that pathological experiments were carried out here.
In those days, dissection was considered a heretical activity and was brutally suppressed by the church. In the 17th century, the first female student appeared among university students, while in the rest of Europe science remained a purely male privilege for a long time.
Classroom at the University of Padua, Italy Another attraction of Padua is the Scrovegni Chapel. The walls of the chapel are painted by the great Italian artist Giotto. The uniqueness of the painting lies in the fact that for the first time the images of saints were made as realistically as possible. In the 14th century, when the chapel was being built, biblical characters were depicted as textbook figures, seated in the same pose on royal pedestals.
Scrovegni Chapel in Padua, Italy Giotto depicted them as living people, whose faces express emotions, and whose figures most accurately correspond to the proportions of the human body.
For that time, this was undoubtedly a bold act, the first step towards the Renaissance, which would come only 200 years after Giotto’s death. In addition, Giotto's painting creates an optical illusion, significantly enlarging a small room.
One of Giotto's frescoes in the Scrovegni Chapel, Padua, Italy In general, Padua is a very cozy and beautiful city. There is not such a tourist rush as in Venice, but there are quite a lot of interesting places, historical buildings and magnificent views.
Prices in Padua are sometimes several times lower than in Venice; there are many inexpensive and decent hotels of different star levels in the very center of the city. Cafes and restaurants delight with the quality of service and price tag.
Night Padua, Italy Padua can be a great place to stay if you don't want or can't spend significant amounts of money on a hotel in Venice. At any time of the day, you can travel from Padua to Venice in just 30 minutes.
Life here is much calmer and more comfortable, the atmosphere is completely different, and there are no fewer attractions and beauties than in other cities in Italy.
Padua, Italy Verona - the capital of all lovers
Verona is separated from Venice by only 120 km of roads. You can get there either by rented car or by public transport - by train or intercity bus.
Verona, Italy Of course, the main thing why tourists come to Verona is Juliet's house and Romeo's house. Shakespeare's touching story about two unhappy lovers excites our minds and hearts so much that it is difficult to resist the temptation to see the very balcony on which young Romeo climbed to his beloved.
Juliet's Balcony, Verona, Italy For the sake of fairness, it is worth saying that Romeo and Juliet never existed in reality, Shakespeare invented them. But the prototypes of the Capullet and Montague families really lived in Verona, were at enmity with each other, their houses are currently called Romeo's house and Juliet's house (in reality, the families bore the surnames Del Capello and Monticoli).
"Romeo and Juliet", still from the film by F. Zeffirelli The Monticoli House remains to this day a private property, closed to tourists and can only be viewed from the outside. But the Del Capello family handed over their house to the municipality, and now there is a small museum dedicated to Shakespeare’s heroes. It recreates the interiors of the 16th-17th centuries, collects ancient costumes, as well as the sets of several films that were filmed here.
Interior of Juliet's house. Verona, Italy Giuletta's house is located at Via Cappello, 23, 37121 Verona, you can enter the courtyard for free at any time of the day, you can get inside the house from 8:30 to 19:30 for 6 euros (on Mondays the museum opens at 13:30) . For a fee, upon pre-registration, wedding registration or a wedding photo shoot can be held on Juliet's balcony.
Romeo's House, Verona, Italy Every year, thousands of lovers visit Juliet's house to experience the most romantic story of all time. Many people leave notes on the walls of the patio and on the way to the house.
From time to time, the local municipality tries to fight pasted messages, as they seriously damage the appearance and walls of a historical building. But tourists with enviable stubbornness sculpt more and more new leaves.
Notes on the walls of the arch near Juliet's house. Verona, Italy Another object of worship that gives the municipality a lot of trouble is the statue of Juliet in the courtyard of the house. It is believed that if you rub your palm over Juliet's right breast, all your heart's desires will come true, and your loved one will be with you forever. The right chest of the statue is so carefully polished by visitors that the sculpture has already had to be taken away for restoration several times.
Tourists near the statue of Juliet. Verona, Italy The museum has created a “Juliet Club”, in which volunteers write answers to messages left for her by tourists from all over the world. The team is international, so the answer comes in their native language. You can send a letter to Juliet from anywhere in the world to the address Club di Giulietta, Corso Santa Anastasia 29, 37121 Verona Italia, or electronically through a special form on the club website.
Here, according to legend, Romeo and Juliet died. Capuchin Monastery, Verona. Italy Another place in Verona is associated with the name of Juliet - this is the Capuchin monastery, where, according to legend, the young people got married, and in the basement of which the final tragedy of the play took place. You can find the monastery at Via del Pontiere, 35, 37121 Verona, entrance costs 4.5 euros. Tourists constantly write notes near Juliet's tomb, and if they have a return address, the Capuchin monks will certainly answer the message.