What to see in Venice
Venice is an open-air museum, a labyrinth of alleys (“calli”) and canals where every corner tells a thousand-year-old story. From the masterpieces of Venetian Gothic to world-famous modern art collections, the city offers unmissable stops that will take your breath away. Here is our selection of the absolute wonders not to be missed during your stay at the Best Western Hotel Tritone.
St. Mark's Square, the Basilica, and the Bell Tower
The monumental heart of Venice, St. Mark’s Square is one of the most famous and fascinating places in the world, once defined by Napoleon as “the finest drawing room in Europe”. Surrounded by elegant porticoes, historic cafés, and iconic palaces, it has represented the center of the cultural and political life of the Serenissima for centuries.
Dominating the square is the majestic St. Mark’s Basilica, a masterpiece of Byzantine art famous for its golden mosaics, domes, and precious architectural details that tell of the historical link between Venice and the East. Next to the basilica rises the famous St. Mark’s Bell Tower, standing nearly 100 meters tall and considered one of the most recognizable symbols of the city.
Fun fact? The current bell tower is a faithful reconstruction of the original, which suddenly collapsed in 1902. Today, climbing up to its panoramic terrace, you can admire a spectacular view over the roofs of Venice, the lagoon, and the surrounding islands.
Doge's Palace and the Bridge of Sighs
Overlooking the elegant setting of St. Mark’s Square, the Doge’s Palace is one of the most famous symbols of Venice and its ancient maritime power. For centuries the seat of the Doge and the political center of the Serenissima, the palace still surprises today with its Gothic architecture, monumental halls, and the works of art preserved inside.
Next to the palace is the famous Bridge of Sighs, one of the most photographed spots in the city. This evocative white stone bridge once connected the Doge’s Palace to the ancient Venetian prisons. According to tradition, its name comes from the “sighs” of the prisoners who, crossing it, looked at Venice for the last time before their imprisonment.
Between history, art, and legend, this is one of the unmissable stops to discover the most iconic and timeless charm of the lagoon city.
The Rialto Bridge and Historic Markets
Among the most iconic symbols of Venice, the Rialto Bridge has for centuries represented the vibrant and commercial heart of the city. With its unmistakable stone structure overlooking the Grand Canal, it offers one of the most famous and photographed views of Venice, amidst gondolas, historic palaces, and the continuous movement of lagoon life.
At the foot of the bridge lies the historic Rialto Market, one of the most authentic places in the city, where Venetians and visitors still gather today among stalls of fresh fish, fruit, spices, and typical local products. A place full of colors, scents, and traditions that tells of Venice’s deep connection with commerce and the sea.
Fun fact? For a long time, the Rialto Bridge was the only permanent connection between the two banks of the Grand Canal, and today it remains one of the most lively and representative spots in the city.
Venice's Civic Museums and Historical Treasures
Strolling through Venice means stepping through centuries of history, art, and culture preserved inside historic palaces, museums, and residences overlooking the city’s canals. The Venetian civic museums allow you to discover the most authentic soul of the Serenissima through itineraries that narrate its past, its traditions, and its extraordinary artistic heritage.
Among the unmissable stops, the majestic Doge’s Palace stands out—the ancient seat of Venetian power overlooking St. Mark’s Square—along with the Correr Museum, which chronicles the history, art, and daily life of the city. Also not to be missed are Ca’ Rezzonico, an elegant palace on the Grand Canal dedicated to 18th-century Venice, and the Natural History Museum, housed in one of the city’s most fascinating buildings.
Visiting Venice’s civic museums means experiencing an immersive journey through masterpieces, iconic architecture, and timeless atmospheres, discovering the deepest history and identity of Venice.
Art Galleries and Contemporary Collections
Venice has always been a city deeply intertwined with art and culture, capable of bringing together timeless masterpieces and contemporary experimentation in places of extraordinary charm.
Overlooking the Grand Canal, the Peggy Guggenheim Collection houses one of the most important collections of modern art in Europe, featuring works by Picasso, Dalí, Kandinsky, and Pollock. A short distance away, the Gallerie dell’Accademia instead showcases the great Venetian pictorial tradition through masterpieces by Bellini, Giorgione, Tintoretto, and Tiziano.
For lovers of contemporary art, Venice also offers iconic spaces such as Punta della Dogana and Palazzo Grassi, hosts of major international exhibitions, while Ca’ Pesaro houses modern art collections comprising paintings, sculptures, and decorative arts.
Fun fact? Peggy Guggenheim chose Venice as her permanent home, and her historic residence on the Grand Canal is today one of the most visited museums in the city.
Murano, Burano, and Torcello: The Islands of the Lagoon
Among the most fascinating experiences to enjoy during a stay in Venice is discovering the islands of the lagoon, each with its own unique characteristics, traditions, and atmospheres.
Murano is world-famous for the ancient art of glassblowing: strolling through its alleys (“calli”), you can visit historic furnaces and artisan workshops where master glassmakers still work glass using techniques passed down for centuries. Fun fact? In the past, Murano’s glassmakers enjoyed special privileges but were not allowed to leave the Republic of Venice, in order to guard the secrets of this precious craftsmanship.
Burano, on the other hand, wins you over with its brightly colored houses and the authentic atmosphere of a fishing village. According to tradition, fishermen painted their homes in vivid colors to be able to recognize them even on the foggiest days. The island is also famous for its refined lacemaking, a symbol of local artisan tradition.
Quieter and deeply evocative, Torcello represents the oldest soul of the Venetian lagoon. Here, time seems to slow down amidst natural landscapes, small canals, and historic monuments like the Basilica of Santa Maria Assunta, famous for its precious Byzantine mosaics.
An island hopping tour is the perfect itinerary to discover the most authentic, artistic, and panoramic side of the Venice lagoon.
The Historic Sestieri (Neighborhoods)
Visiting Venice means losing yourself among its historic sestieri, each with a unique identity, distinct atmospheres, and views capable of telling the city’s most authentic soul.
From San Marco, the monumental heart of Venice with its famous basilica and the Doge’s Palace, to Cannaregio, with its quiet canals and corners still deeply tied to daily Venetian life. From Dorsoduro, a lively artistic neighborhood filled with galleries and museums, to Castello, the most authentic and residential sestier, ideal for those wishing to discover a quieter and more genuine Venice.
And then there is San Polo with its historic Rialto market, and Santa Croce, where tradition and daily life meet far from the busiest tourist routes.
Strolling through the sestieri means experiencing Venice slowly, crossing alleys, bridges, and small squares (campielli) where every corner holds centuries-old history, art, and traditions.