Top 10 tourist attractions in Venice

Venice, a dream city floating on the water, attracts tourists from all over the world with its winding waterways, ancient buildings and unique history and culture. Next, Travel Diary will sort out the top ten tourist attractions in Venice for you, let's take a look.

1. St. Mark's Basilica

By far the most epic church in Venice, this Roman Catholic cathedral is set in the heart of San Marco Square. Its architecture is impressive, and the marble staircase is filled with incredible detail. Inside, the opulent Renaissance style, gold mosaics and stunning marble sculptures are trademarks of Venetian history.

2. Piazza San Marco

Set at the heart of the San Marco neighbourhood, this bustling area is often packed with tourists, so visit early in the morning or late evening to avoid the crowds. It’s a place to peruse the small streets, poke through the shops, grab an espresso or watch a live jazz band on a restaurant patio.

3. Grand Canal

The Canal Grande is the main channel of Venice. Along 3800 meters (width from 30 to 70 m, average depth of 5 m), divided into two parts the old town by drawing an "S" that goes from the Ponte della Libertà to the Bacino di San Marco. Public transport is provided by vaporetti and water taxis, and many tourists ride the canal by gondola.

4. Rialto Bridge

The Ponte di Rialto is one of four bridges, in addition to the Accademia Bridge, the Ponte degli Scalzi and Constitution Bridge, crossing the Grand Canal in Venice. Of the four, the Rialto Bridge is the oldest, the most famous and one of the architectural icons of Venice. The Rialto Bridge is an arched stone bridge lined with arcades on each side.

5. Scuola Grande di San Rocco

The Scuola Grande di San Rocco is a magnificent edifice, devoted to one of the greatest schools or fraternities of Venice. It is truly rich and extraordinary, and one can scarcely conceive how an association of almost one hundred private citizens could lavish so much wealth in erecting perfect museum of the fine arts.

6. Palazzo Ducale

This 18th-century Gothic building is a formidable courthouse with a chequered floor. It was once the administrative heart of the city, but it was more than just a legal center; it's also home to dozens of classical artworks, including paintings by Tintoretto, Bellini, and Capaccio. It's a huge space, so one could easily spend a day perusing its elegant corridors.

7. Basilica di Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari

Originally built in the mid-13th century, Santa Maria Glorisoa dei Frari (St. Mary of the Friars) houses many masterpieces of Venetian Renaissance art, notably Giovanni Bellini's triptych "Madonna and Child with Saints," the "Assumption" and the "Pesaro Madonna" by Titian, Saint John the Baptist by Donatello.

8. Saint Mark’s Campanile

Saint Mark’s Campanile is the bell tower of the St. Mark’s Basilica, and is located in the Saint Mark’s Square. The bell tower is one of the most recognizable landmarks of Venice and one of the most famous symbols of Italy. Over the centuries, the bell tower collapsed many times and was rebuilt each time, better and more solid than before. The last time it collapsed was in 1902, and was reconstructed in its present form in 1912.

9. Peggy Guggenheim Collection

This wonderful collection is an absolute joy to wander around as it houses many masterpieces by some of Europe and America’s most renowned artists. The modern art museum is located in a beautiful 18th-century palace on the Grand Canal. Its permanent collection includes some delightful Cubist, Expressionist and Surrealist works of art.

10. Teatro La Fenice

This world famous opera house, burned to the ground in 1996, has been rebuilt amongst much scandal and drama: its modern beauty and complex history ensure its place among the most celebrated monuments in Italian history.