Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Getting There:
The Bridge of Sighs is around the corner from the Doge's Palace. Walk
toward the waterfront, turn left along the water, and look up the first canal on your left. You
can walk across the bridge (from the inside) by visiting the Doge's Palace.
Thishistoricchurchishometoasometimes-waterloggedcrypt,aBellinialtarpiece,aTintor-
etto painting, and the final resting place of St. Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist.
CostandHours:
Free,€1toentercrypt,€0.50cointolightupBellini'saltarpiece,Mon-
Sat 10:00-12:00 & 16:00-18:00, Sun 16:00-18:00 only, 2 canals behind St. Mark's Basilica.
▲
San Giorgio Maggiore
This is the dreamy church-topped island you can see from the waterfront by St. Mark's
Square. The striking church, designed by Palladio, features art by Tintoretto, a bell tower,
and good views of Venice.
Cost and Hours:
Free entry to church; April-Oct Mon-Sat 9:00-19:00, Sun 9:00-11:00
& 12:00-19:00; Nov-March daily 9:00-17:30. The bell tower costs €3 and is accessible by
elevator (runs from 30 minutes after the church opens until 30 minutes before the church
closes).
Getting There:
To reach the island from St. Mark's Square, take the five-minute ride on
vaporetto #2 (€4, 6/hour, ticket valid for one hour; leaves from San Zaccaria-M.V.E. dock
located east of Bridge of Sighs by equestrian statue, direction: Tronchetto).
Venice'stopartmuseum,packedwithhighlightsoftheVenetianRenaissance,featurespaint-
ings by the Bellini family, Titian, Tintoretto, Veronese, Tiepolo, Giorgione, Canaletto, and
Testosterone. It's just over the wooden Accademia Bridge from the San Marco action.
The Accademia is the greatest museum anywhere for Venetian Renaissance art and a
good overview of painters whose works you'll see all over town. Venetian art is underrated
and, I think, misunderstood. It's nowhere near as famous today as the work of the florescent
Florentines, but—with historical slices of Venice, ravishing nudes, and very human Madon-
nas—it's livelier, more colorful, and simply more fun. The Venetian love of luxury shines
through in this collection, which starts in the Middle Ages and runs to the 1700s. Look
for grand canvases of colorful, spacious settings, peopled with happy locals in extravagant
clothes having a great time.
