History, Traditions and Curiosities
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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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The Arsenale of Venice: from Dante to the Biennale
Related Tours Contemporary artOff the beaten pathBoat tour Every year, visitors from all over the world come to the Giardini and the Arsenale for the Biennale, the international exhibition of contemporary art and architecture which has taken place in Venice since 1895. But, what is the Arsenale? Dar al-sina, the house of the art… -
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The Ancient Pharmacies of Venice
Related Tours Off the beaten path The Venetian Republic was famous for its advanced healthcare system, which included the establishment of Public Health Officers and the creation of the first lazzaretti (plague hospitals). Apothecaries were an important element of this system as well, and traces of their ancient activity can still be found around the… -
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Wooden Jewels in Venice
Related Tours Murano, Burano and TorcelloMuseums and ChurchesOff the beaten path Wood has always been one of the most widely used materials in Venice; from the foundations of its buildings to the “altane” (rooftop terraces) above them, the functionality and beauty of wood is everywhere on display. Many artistic treasures in the city are also… -
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Klimt and Japanese Art in Venice
Did you know that Venice has one of the most important museums of Asian art in Italy? Did you know that one of the Austrian painter Gustav Klimt’s masterpieces is in Venice? The Museum of Oriental Art and the painting “Judith II” by Klimt are located in the same venue, the baroque palace Ca’ Pesaro.…
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Along the Silk Road with Venetian Painters
Related Tours Museums and Churches Many Venetian paintings of the Middle Ages and Renaissance give us the chance to observe details of life in past centuries: architecture, glass, food, animals, and of course fashion. The splendid fabrics depicted in the works of the Italian masters of the Gothic and Renaissance periods show mesmerizing patterns and… -
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Ridotti and casini: the secret retreats of 18th century Venetians
Related Tours Off the beaten path Venice in the 18thcentury was a fashionable destination for nobles from all over Europe, and while they certainly enjoyed the beauty of the city, they enjoyed its licentious social life even more. Besides the cafés, the theatres, and, of course, the Carnival celebrations, Venice became famous in the 17thand… -
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Our Favorite Tintorettos in Venice
Related Tours Museums and ChurchesOff the beaten path A Venetian by birth, Jacopo Tintoretto lived and worked in his city for his entire life, and many of his works are still visible in the churches and museums of Venice. To celebrate the 5th centenary of his birth (sometime between late 1518 and early 1519), special… -
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Contemporary Architecture in Venice
Related Tours Contemporary artOff the beaten pathBoat tour For most visitors, a trip to Venice is an immersion in history: every corner of the city seems to have remained unchanged for centuries, like it’s caught in a magic spell. Yet, the city that hosts the Architecture Biennale is also home to some contemporary architecture projects…
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