Area Activities
WALKING SIGHTSEEING TOURS ARE ARRANGED FOR THE
FOLLOWING PLACES
VENICE*S GHETTO
THE OLDEST GHETTO IN EUROPE HAS FIVE SYNAGOGUES,
A JEWISH MUSEUM, AND A KOSHER RESTAURANT.
MURANO, THE GLASS ISLAND
IN 1296, THE GLASSBLOWERS OF VENICE MOVED TO AN
ISLAND CALLED MURANO.
SEVEN HUNDRED YEARS LATER, THEIR DESCENDANTS ARE
STILL TURNING SAND INTO GOLD.
PIAZZA SAN MARCO
NAPOLEON CALLED IT *THE FINEST DRAWING ROOM IN
EUROPE,* BUT HOW MANY LIVING ROOMS HAVE PIGEONS
AND OUTDOOR CAFF TABLES
ST. MARK*S BASIN, SALUTE CHURCH, THE ISLAND OF
GIUDECCA, AND OTHER VENICE LANDMARKS.
SAN LAZZARO DEGLI ARMENI
35 MONKS, SEMINARIANS, AND ARMENIAN STUDENTS LIVE
ON A MONASTERY ISLAND THAT ONCE SERVED AS A LEPER
COLONY.
THE VENETIAN LAGOON
VENICE ISN*T JUST PALACES, CHURCHES, AND ART
MUSEUMS.
THE CITY SITS IN THE MIDDLE OF A LAGOON THAT IS
RICH IN WILDLIFE AND TRADITION.
VENICE TO CHIOGGIA
CHIOGGIA, A BUSY FISHING PORT AT THE SOUTHERN TIP
OF THE VENETIAN LAGOON, IS AN HOUR AND A HALF
FROM VENICE BY BUS AND FERRY.
CHURCHES
MADONNA DELL*ORTO
*VENICE*S FINEST GOTHIC CHURCH* IS A GREAT
STARTING POINT FOR A WALKING TOUR THROUGH ONE OF
THE CITY*S MOST PLEASANT BUT LEAST TOURISTED
NEIGHBORHOODS.
SANTA MARIA DELLA SALUTE CHURCH
AS YOU STARE UP AT THE SOARING DOME OF THIS
MAGNIFICENT BASILICA, REMEMBER THAT IT OWES ITS
EXISTENCE TO PLAGUE-RIDDEN FLEAS.
OTHER STRUCTURES
BRIDGE OF SIGHS
LORD BYRON ROMANTICIZED THIS ELEVATED CORRIDOR
FOR CRIMINALS, AND YOU CAN CROSS IT AS A PAYING
CUSTOMER RATHER THAN AS A PRISONER.
CAMPANILE DI SAN MARCO
VENICE*S 325-FOOT BELL TOWER ISN*T WHAT IT
APPEARS TO BE, BUT THE VIEW FROM THE TOP IS
UNSURPASSED.
DOGANA DI MARE
VENICE*S MARITIME CUSTOMS HOUSE WAS BUILT IN THE
17TH CENTURY.
ITS WEDGE-SHAPED PROMENADE OFFERS GREAT VIEWS
ACROSS THE GRAND CANAL AND ST. MARK*S BASIN.
RIALTO BRIDGE
IT ISN*T JUST A BROOKLYN BRIDGE WITH BOUTIQUES.
AFTER 500 YEARS, THE PONTE DI RIALTO IS STILL
VENICE*S MAIN TRAFFIC ROUTE ACROSS THE GRAND
CANAL.
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