Venice and its islands
Venice is universally considered one of the most beautiful cities in the world and is listed, together with its lagoon, among the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Visiting Venice is an experience not to be missed. The beauty of the nature in which it is built and the excellence of its architecture completely capture the visitor’s attention, immersing them in a magical atmosphere. Its centre consists of no less than 118 small islands joined together by bridges of various sizes. Consequently, Venice can only be visited on foot by walking along the calli, as the streets are called in this enchanting city, crossing small bridges and bridges, among which the four largest crossing the Grand Canal are worth mentioning: the Accademia Bridge, the Scalzi Bridge, the Constitution Bridge and the Rialto Bridge. The latter is the oldest and most famous. The current construction in a single stone arch dates back to 1591. It housed then, as now, numerous shops where precious objects and fabrics can be found. At its foot is the historic city fruit, vegetable and fish market, a real treat for the tourist’s eyes and taste buds! In Venice you can also move around by appropriate boats, which can be ferries, to cover longer distances, and taxi-boats, for those in a hurry or with a lot of luggage to carry.
For those who instead like to discover the city from the water, in complete tranquillity, there are the typical Venetian boats: the gondolas. Moorings can be found in all the central areas of Venice. Waiting for the tourist are the gondoliers, happy to row for the people who want to enter the heart of the city like ancient aristocrats of the 18th century. The origins of Venice date back as far as 800 BC. It soon became a place of refuge for the people of the hinterland, attacked at various times by the peoples of northern Europe, and later became one of the most important commercial seaports during the Byzantine Empire. It was one of the Maritime Republics, La Serenissima, whose emblem was St Mark’s lion, a symbol that tourists can still find today on the walls of Venetian calli or historical buildings, as well as on the flags of Venice. Over the years, however, the city’s most recognisable symbol in the world has become St Mark’s Basilica, an imposing monument, unique for the majesty of its façade and interior, located at the city’s most central point: St Mark’s Square. The Basilica is named after the Christian Saint whose relics it houses. Its interior reflects the close link with Byzantine culture recognisable in the sumptuous mosaics that tell the stories of St Mark, but also episodes from the Old and New Testaments. Over the centuries, the Basilica has become a splendid workshop in which great Italian and European artists have worked. Together with the many Venetians, they have been able to donate an enormous vastness of artistic, iconographic and religious contents and a multiplicity of historical implications all united in a single, great monument that today becomes an indispensable historical testimony to visit, of the past millennia.
Next to the Basilica is the Doge’s Palace, a masterpiece of Venetian Gothic architecture that accompanies the tourist towards the opening of St. Mark’s Square on the Grand Canal. It was the historical seat of the Doge and the Venetian magistracy during the Serenissima, and also housed the city’s prisons. Since 1923 it has been a public museum and is today the seat of the Fondazione Musei Civici di Venezia, a network of no less than 11 museums in the city. The monumental complex of the Gallerie dell’Accademia is part of the Polo Museale Veneziano. It is of particular importance as it houses the richest collection of Venetian and Veneto paintings, from the Byzantine and Gothic 14th century to the artists of the Renaissance: Bellini, Carpaccio, Giorgione, Veronese, Tintoretto and Titian to Giambattista Tiepolo and the vedutisti of the 18th century: Canaletto, Guardi, Bellotto and Longhi. Artists who influenced the entire history of European painting. For tourists who are passionate about Renaissance painting, a visit to the Basilica dei Frari is a must, where you can admire two works by Titian, one of which The Assumption was defined by Canova as ‘the most beautiful painting in the world’, and a triptych by Giovanni Bellini. The Basilica is also an exceptional monumental complex in terms of architecture and interior sculptures. A splendid work by Veronese, The Adoration of the Shepherds, can also be admired in the Basilica of Saints John and Paul, a temple that dates back to the Middle Ages and soon became the burial place of many doges. It is a large monumental complex containing paintings, sculptures and architecture of marvellous beauty. Located on two islands not far from the heart of the city are the three churches built by the Vicenza architect Andrea Palladio, a citizen of the Serenissima and representative of the Italian Renaissance.
The Church of Santa Maria della Presentazione, commonly known as the Church of the Zitelle, and the Basilica del Santissimo Redentore, better known simply as the Church of the Redentore, are located on the island of Giudecca. The latter is traditionally the focus of the great Redentore Festival. In addition to admiring its white marble façade, one of the most admirable examples of the classical inspiration that made Palladio so famous, directly from the water on which the Basilica overlooks, its interior displays works by Tintoretto, Paolo Veronese and other illustrious painters. On the Island of San Giorgio Maggiore stands the imposing Basilica of San Giorgio Maggiore, part of the monastery of the same name. The church overlooks St Mark’s Basin. It is one of the most remarkable architectural complexes of Renaissance architecture for religious buildings. The elegance and beauty of its interior is made absolute during the ceremonies held on 31 December or 1 January with mass in Gregorian chant and the monks wearing magnificent period costumes.
How to get there:
Venice is only 15 km from Jesolo. It can be easily reached either by public transport or by your own vehicle, either by going directly to Venice to Piazzale Roma, where there are many car parks, or from Punta Sabbioni by parking your vehicle in one of the guarded car parks and taking the ferry to Venice, which is available every half hour.
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Visiting Murano, Burano and Torcello
To the south is the long beach, to the north the lagoon. And in the background an unmistakable skyline: that of the city of Venice. In fact, only a tongue of lagoon separates the seaside town from the most beautiful city in the world. Once you reach the Punta Sabbioni terminal, either by car or by bus of the public Atvo line, it is only a 40-minute boat ride to the historic centre of Venice. In this way it is possible to combine a relaxing holiday with an unforgettable cultural enjoyment. In just a few minutes’ journey it is thus possible to stroll around St Mark’s Square or the Rialto Bridge. But also between the Biennale and Accademia galleries. Then visit churches and museums or more simply lose yourself in the countless calli of the most unique city in the world, thus treating yourself to a magical experience, literally suspended between the water and being enthralled by the wonders and all the peculiarities, including the food and wine, that Venice offers.
From Punta Sabbioni it is also possible to embark on a boat trip to the islands of the northern lagoon: Burano, Murano and Torcello, ancient places full of charm as well as centuries-old culture. Punta Sabbioni is located at the end of the Cavallino Treporti coastline near Jesolo.
