Would you like to see a special monument on your trip to Venice ?
Indeed, some of the most beautiful buildings must be seen at least once in your life.
Today, I'd like to take you on a tour of these monuments.
Monument in Venice: article summary
Monument in Venice: Saint Mark's Square
Visit Piazza San Marco is one of Italy's most beautiful squares and represents the heart of the city. Before the remains of San Marco n the early days of Venice, the square was a field crossed by a canal, which was later filled in. Today, however, it's an extremely elegant square surrounded by luxurious bars.
The open space is formed by the main square and its southern extension. Piazza San Marco joins the sea and lies between the Palazzo Ducale and the National Library. At the end of this area, there are two columns that are named San Marco and San Todaro.
Saint Mark's Basilica
Piazza San Marco is also home to the Saint Mark's Basilica. Built in the 19th century, it houses the body of the saint stolen from Alexandria in Egypt.
Two Italian merchants in Alexandria, Egypt, fearing that the body of Saint Mark would be desecrated, decided to steal his remains and take them to Venice.
Almost a century and a half after its construction, the building was destroyed by fire and in 1063. The basilica was demolished to build the structure we see today. It was inspired by the Church of the Twelve Apostles in Constantinople.
Inside the basilica, on the main altar, is the Pala d'OroA table covered with sacred images, gold and precious stones, inside which are the remains of San Marco.
Monument in Venice. San Marco bell tower
Opposite the Basilica of San Marco is the Campanile di San MarcoWith a height of 99 meters, it is the tallest building in the Serenissima. However, the bell tower we see today was not the first to be built.
Work on its construction began in the 11th century, when it was used as a watchtower and lighthouse. In 1902, due to some renovation work, the historic bell tower collapsed. However, reconstruction work began almost immediately. Ten years later, in 1912, Venice's new bell tower is inaugurated.
Doge's Palace
The Palazzo Ducale was the seat of the Doges during the Venetian Republic, and during Napoleon's reign it became the seat of his administration. Over the centuries, it has undergone various renovations due to three fires in 1483, 1574 and 1577, and for this reason the style of the building has changed several times.
Inside the Doge's Palace, you can visit the Opera Museum. You also have access to the loggias, the Doge's apartment, the prisons, the armory and the institutional rooms.
Monument in Venice: the Rialto Bridge
Visit Rialto bridge is one of the symbols of Venice, and until the 19th century, it was the only bridge linking the two banks of the river. Grand Canal. In 1181, a first wooden version was built, but it collapsed several times.
It wasn't until 1592 that the bridge was built in stone by the sculptor Antonio da Ponte. The bridge is still visited by millions of tourists today. Some ten thousand wooden posts were used to build the bridge. to support the bridge and were sunk into the canal floor.
From the outside, the Rialto Bridge features a large central arch and six smaller arches on either side. Walking along the Rialto Bridge, on the other hand.., you pass several stores.
Accademia Bridge and Scalzi Bridge
Two other bridges connect the banks of the Grand Canal:
- Visit Ponte dell'Accademia a wooden structure built in 1933
- the Ponte degli Scalzialso known as the railway bridge, because it faces the Santa Lucia station.
Monument in Venice: the Bridge of Sighs
This structure links the Palazzo delle Prigioni Nuove to the Palazzo Ducale. Built in 1603, it only acquired its name in the 18th century, during the Romantic period. It was used as a passageway for prisoners. from court to prison cell.
According to popular legend, the prisoners, looking out over the city from the bridge's windows, sighed at the thought that from that moment on, they would no longer be able to see the outside world. Visit pont des Soupirs can be visited during a tour of the Doge's Palace.
The Basilica of the Frari
The Venetian artist Tintoretto painted episodes from the Old and New Testaments inside the Basilica dei Frari.
The Basilica dei Frari is about 5 minutes' walk from the Scuola Grande di San Rocco. It's a simple-looking Gothic building, built with few architectural elements. The decision to build a "poor" basilica was probably due to the disciples of Saint Francis who arrived in Venice in 1227.
In front of the Basilica is the bridge of the same name, built of bricks and stones and with only two coats of arms of the Franciscan Order.
Venice landmark: La Fenice Theatre
Visit Teatro La Fenice is one of the best-known and most prestigious theaters in the world. In 1996, two electricians working on the theater's maintenance set what must have been a small fire in order to avoid paying the penalty due to the delay in the work, and which, on the contrary, caused the theater's destruction.
During its long history, which began in 1792 with the inauguration, it has seen works by famous authors such as Verdi, Bellini, Donizetti and Stravinsky staged. Until just before the start of a performance, it is possible to enter the theater as a visitor to admire its architectural beauties and immerse yourself, albeit partially, in the opera's atmosphere.
There are plenty of monuments to visit when you're in Venice. Of course, I'd advise you to give priority to the ones I've described in this list. Then you'll see Venice's main monuments.
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