Venice & the Veneto - Italy - page 707

Calle Larga Gallina leads over a bridge, after which turn left for a glimpse of heaven at Venice's
small wonder, the marble-clad Chiesa di Santa Maria dei Miracoli ( Click here ). Backtrack over
the bridge to browse through Campo Santa Maria Nova to Salizada San Canciano, which you'll
follow to skinny Chiesa di San Bartolomeo , lined with souvenir stalls. To the right is Ponte
di Rialto OFFLINE MAP GOOGLE MAP ; stay on the right as you cross and duck towards happy-hour
central, Campo Cesare Battisti , and continue along the Grand Canal to Venice's tastiest

campi: produce-piled Campo Rialto Mercato and the covered seafood market, Pescaria

( Click here ).
Turning left along Calle dei Botteri and then onto boutique-lined Calle di Cristi, you'll come to
Campo San Cassian , the site of the world's first public opera house. Cross the bridge to Calle della
Regina, then head right to cross another bridge to sociable Chiesa di Santa Maria Mater
Dominii , with its cafes and ancient neighbourhood well. Turn left down Calle Lunga and over a
bridge until it dead-ends, then jog left to Rio Tera Seconda and right again onto Calle del Tentor.
Straight ahead, you'll see a medieval church, San Giacomo dell'Orio , and your pick of Italy's

best natural-process wines at Al Prosecco ( Click here ). Cin-cin!

Activities
A gondola ride is anything but pedestrian, with glimpses into palazzi courtyards and hid-
den canals otherwise invisible on foot. Official daytime rates are €80 for 40 minutes (six
passengers maximum), and it's €100 between 7pm and 8am, not including songs (negoti-
ated separately) or tips. Additional time is charged in 20-minute increments (day/night
€40/50). You may negotiate a price break in low season, overcast weather or around mid-
day, when other travellers get hot and hungry. Agree on a price, time limit and singing in
advance to avoid surcharges. Gondole cluster at stazi (stops) along the Grand Canal, at the
train station ( 041 71 85 43), the Rialto ( 041 522 49 04) and near major monuments
(eg I Frari, Ponte Sospiri and Accademia), but you can also book a pick-up at a canal near
you (

041 528 50 75).

Tours
From April to October, APT ( www.turismovenezia.it ) tourist offices offer guided tours ranging
from the classic gondola circuit (€40 per person) to a penetrating look at Basilica di San
Marco (€21 per person) and a four-hour circuit of Murano, Burano and Torcello (€20 per
person).

Laguna Eco Adventures

SAILING TOUR