Category / Introduction to Venice / Off the beaten path
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The History of the Gondola
Related Tours Off the beaten path The gondola is for sure the most famous boat in Venice; its unique and elegant design is almost a symbol of the floating city. For centuries, Venetians have used rowing boats to move around the canals, but gondolas have not always looked like the ones we can see nowadays.… -
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Escapes from the Venetian Prisons
Related Tours Introduction to Venice Anyone visiting the Doge’s Palace in Venice will also experience its famous prisons. The former jail is connected to the stately halls of the Palace by the Bridge of Sighs, a covered passage built across the Rio di Palazzo, the canal that flows between the two buildings. The Bridge of… -
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Ruskin’s Stones of Venice, today
Related Tours Venice 101Museums and Churches Many writers, poets, and artists of the past centuries were enthralled by the beauty of Venice and depicted this unique city in their works. Probably none of them, however, dedicated more time and passion to describing the “Paradise of all cities” than John Ruskin. Born in London in 1819,… -
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On the Trail of Marco Polo in Venice
Related Tours Venice 101Museums and ChurchesOff the beaten path Marco Polo: a name that everyone associates with travel and discovery. A lot of research has been conducted on the fabulous account of his journey to China in the 13th century, but not so much is known about Marco himself. Venice, his homeland, has named its… -
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The Venetian Lion Explained
Related Tours Venice 101Off the beaten path When visiting Venice, it is hard not to notice the many lions adorning the doors and facades of the buildings, especially around Saint Mark’s Square. Let’s take a closer look at this symbol of Venice to discover some of the lesser-known aspects of the history of the Serenissima.… -
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The Heart of a Doge in Saint Mark’s Basilica
Related Tours Venice 101 The history of Venice and its Republic can't be understood without discussing the figure of the doge, its most important public figure. The doge was strictly chosen among the members of the noble class, and elected by the Maggior Consiglio or Major Council through a complicate political rite designed in order… -
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Coffee in Venice
Related Tours Venice 101Food and wine tours When you sip a cup of coffee in Venice, you are drinking in the very history of this beverage. No matter whether you are seated in one of the luxury cafés in Saint Mark's Square or standing at the counter of a tiny bar: you are in the… -
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A Mall with a History: the Fondaco dei Tedeschi in Venice
Related Tours Venice 101Boat tour On October 1st, 2016, the Fondaco dei Tedeschi in Venice reopened to the public after a long closure and a much-discussed restoration. Now a luxury shopping mall, in the previous centuries the building was used by the customs agency, the fiscal police, and finally the post office. But what was… -
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The Rialto Bridge as you have never seen it
Related Tours Venice 101Boat tour An icon of Venice, the Rialto Bridge is currently undergoing a complete restoration. Let's discover more about its long history and the present conservation project. In the beginning there was Rivoalto. Meaning either "deep river" or "high ground", in the 9th century Rivoalto was the name of the area which…
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