Venice in a nutshell: the 10 most important facts

Venice enchants

From of our editorial team

Venice is not a city that you simply visit. Venice happens to you.

Between glittering canals, crumbling plasterwork and singing gondoliers, it's easy to lose track of time - and sometimes even of your bearings. Anyone who thinks Venice is just Carnival, St Mark's Square and an overpriced gondola ride has only scratched the surface. Behind the tourist hustle and bustle lies a centuries-old cultural metropolis with corners, edges and a lot of character.

Here are the 10 most important facts about the lagoon city - for everyone who wants more than selfies on the Rialto Bridge:

Snapshots in Venice

• Why Italians call their beach Lido
• The top 10 rip-off traps in Rome

• Venice consists of 118 islandswhich are separated from each other by around 150 canals and connected by over 400 bridges.

• The city is car-free - There are no cars in the historic centre, and even cycling is prohibited. People get around on foot, by boat or gondola.

• The Grand Canal is the main waterway that runs through the city in an S-shape and is spanned by just four bridges. It separates the six districts of Venice and is a central transport hub.

Ad

🏖️💶 Travelling safely on the beach: Looks like sun cream, but is a clever hiding place for keys, cash or small valuables! ➔ [Discover the beach safe on Amazon here]

• The Rialto Bridgebuilt at the end of the 16th century, is the oldest and most famous bridge over the Grand Canal and an important historical trading centre with small shops.

• St Mark's Basilica (Basilica San Marco) is the city's most important religious building with unique Byzantine architecture and numerous works of art. It is located on St Mark's Square, the central square in Venice.

The Rialto Bridge in Venice

• Italy's new trend region Calabria
• Dolce Vita for beginners: the basic rules

• The St Mark's Tower (Campanile di San Marco) is the tallest building in Venice at 98.6 metres. It was rebuilt true to the original after collapsing in 1902 and offers a spectacular panoramic view over the city and the lagoon.

• The Bridge of Sighs (Ponte dei Sospiri) connects the Doge's Palace with the former prisons. Its name comes from the sighs of the prisoners who took their last look at Venice here.

• Venice is known for the "Acqua Alta" flooding phenomenonwhere seasonal floods inundate the streets and squares. The city is preparing for this with wooden footbridges and other measures.

Ad

🧢🇮🇹 Italy in your heart - and on your head! This red and green cap with boot embroidery is the ultimate must-have for fans of pasta, sun and football! ➔ [Discover now at Amazon]

• What Italians really do on the beach
• The 10 basic rules for restaurants in Italy

The Doge's Palace in Venice

• Venice is famous for its arts and craftsin particular the handmade lace from the island of Burano and the glass from Murano, which are famous the world over.

• The Doge's Palace (Palazzo Ducale) was the seat of government, court and prison of the Republic of Venice for centuries. Today it is a museum and one of the most visited sights in the city.

• The big Mangiare quiz: How good is your Italian flavour?
• Five Italian everyday rituals that make life better