10 Venice’s Best Monuments

Venice leaves no one indifferent with its beautiful islands, its iconic bridges and its representative monuments.

I recommend you to visit mainly the Doge's Palace, a building full of history and art, but without forgetting St. Mark's Basilica, one of the most famous sacred buildings, not only in Italy, but in all of Europe. I wouldn't be surprised if you had to take several breaks to rest and eat in Venice, as there are many more monuments to see, photograph and enjoy.

One of the most beautiful and easily recognisable buildings in Europe is the Doge's Palace (Palazzo Ducale). It was not only the centre of government during the Republic of Venice, but also the residence of the Doge (the highest authority of the former Republic of Venice).

Initially the building was rather humble architecturally; however, after several fires and reconstructions, the castle became a Byzantine-style palace.

The Ducal Palace has façades dating from 1309-1424, designed by Giovanni and Bartolomeo Buon. The palace, first built in the 9th century, several times rebuilt, and completed in the Renaissance, is part of that great urban planning project that took place in the Italian Renaissance.

Be sure to step back and admire the façade, but do not overlook the individual columns, the beautiful carved capitals of the building, the sculptures that decorate the façades overlooking the Grand Canal and the Piazzetta, and the interior of the Palazzo Ducale. In addition, and as a reminder of the palace's dark past, you will find two columns (the ninth and the tenth) made of red marble, between which death sentences were pronounced.

You must book a ticket for the Doge's Palace to see it from the inside. Here is also a post about the entrance fees to the palace.

• Opening hours: Every day from 8.30 to 17:30 (until 19:00 from April to October).
• Prices: Adults : 25€. Children between 6 and 14 years old: 13€.

St. Mark's Basilica is the most important religious temple in the city of Venice and one of the most beautiful cathedrals in Europe and the world. This huge building is located in St. Mark's Square (Piazza San Marco), next to the Doge's Palace.

St. Mark's Basilica has always been the centre of public and religious life in Venice. Today, this basilica welcomes hundreds of thousands of visitors every year. The building has a very special historical interest since it was here that the Dukes of Venice were consecrated.

Entering the interior you will see that it presents a religious and Christian style, however, if you refine a little you will see that it still conserves some oriental aspects of its origin that will leave you amazed by its particularity and splendour; without a doubt the Basilica of St. Mark is a combination of architectural and artistic styles.

Moreover, it won't take you long to realise that it is a living monument that tells of the wealth and power of the Serene Republic of Venice, as well as of the reckless adventures of its inhabitants in the Mediterranean as merchants and conquerors.

Entrance to St. Mark's Basilica is free, but the entrance line is usually very long, so I recommend you book a guided tour of the Basilica to avoid unnecessary queues and enhance your experience.

There are also several places to eat near the basilica if you feel like taking a break or - continue to see the façade from one of the restaurants in the area.

• Opening hours: Every day except Sundays from 9.30am to 5pm. Sundays: from 14:00 to 16:00 hours.
• Prices: Free admission.

Of the many beautiful palaces that decorate and adorn the city of Venice, the Ca d'Oro Palace is one of the most elegant. As its name suggests, "Golden House" is a reflection of a building that expresses luxury and power. Look up and you will see that its façade is the most striking and elaborate of all the palaces on the banks of the Grand Canal.

The Ca d'Oro palace now houses a rich collection of art. It is a Venetian Gothic style building with a unique charm thanks to the extraordinary subdivision of the architectural elements inspired by oriental art. While you are there I would recommend you to take a look at its beautiful courtyard with loggias and beautiful mosaics.

It currently houses a collection of sculptures, paintings and a large section of ceramics.

For more information about Ca' d'Oro visit the following official website.

• Opening hours: Monday from 8.15 am to 2 pm. Tuesday to Saturday from 8.15 am to 7.15 pm. Sundays from 10.00 am to 6.00 pm.
• Prices: Young people from 18 to 25 years of age from the EU: 7,5€ Under 18 and over 65 years of age from the EU: Free admission. Other cases: 12,50€.

The Monument to Vittorio Emanuele II is known by Venetians as "The Monument" and is a symbolic statue made in 1887 by the great Roman sculptor Ettore Ferrari. This Venetian statue is located in Riva Degli Schiavoni, in the Castilian district of Venice, and is the most important statue in the whole city.

This bronze statue was made to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the death of Vittorio Emanuele II, the first king of the Kingdom of Italy, and one of the most representative figures in the history of Venice. You will see that the statue stands on a very striking pink granite base and**, depending on where you look at it from**, it has one meaning or another. The back of the statue represents subjugated Venice; the front, triumphant Venice; and the sides represent two important events in Venice: the Battle of Palestroand the triumphal entry of Vittorio Emanuele II into Venice.

This famous building and monument in Venice tells the story of Venice from its near destruction during the plague to its growth and popularity during the Renaissance. I highly recommend you visit this building as inside you will see the mixture of religious and artistic in its walls, vaults and pillars.

This building was built in 1478 as a confraternity formed by Venetian citizens in order to assist citizens in times of plague. Over time, it became a sacred building, as it was the only hope for Venetian citizens to survive the tragic disease. With the Renaissance, artists wanted to get away from all the melancholy and made structural improvements to the building along Renaissance lines.

While it is possible to see some artwork inside the building featuring Renaissance artists who lived there, it is not considered a museum, but a building that shows the history of Venice in an artistic way. If you are interested in learning about the history of Venice, the Scuola Grande di San Rocco is the place to go.

• Opening hours: daily from 9:30 am to 5:30 pm.
• Prices: General admission: 10 € Children under 26 and over 65: 8 €.

Venice's Clock Tower is located on the north side of St Mark's Square and marks the entrance to the Mercerie leading to the Rialto.

The building dates back to 1496 and contains a clock with a gold and blue enamel dial. The best thing is that it is not only a beautiful ornament, but a functional clock. It is also equipped with a chime mechanism that is activated on the days of the Epiphany and Ascension, opening the compartment to let the Three Wise Men out at Christmas time in Venice.

Immediately below, on the high façade of the Tower, is the Lion of St. Mark, the symbol of the Republic of Venice!

• Opening hours: Every day from 12:00 to 16:00
• Prices: Children from 6 to 14 years old, students from 15 to 25 years old, over 65 years old and residents of Venice: 7€ Other cases: 12€

The tower of San Giorgio offers an incredible panoramic view of the city and its lagoon. The island where this tower is located is isolated from the rest of Venice and all the noise pollution. I personally think the panoramic views from here are the best in Venice and, although the bell tower is not a hidden secret, it receives far fewer visitors than the bell tower of San Marco.

If you want to be alone and meditate under the incredible views that the tower offers, get up at seven in the morning (when it first opens), you will see how comfortable you will be.

From the tower of San Giorgio Maggiore you can see some of the main bridges of Venice andthe most important areas of Venice such as the Doge's Palace, the Bridge of Sighs, the Grand Canal and the Basilica of San Marco.

• Opening hours: daily from 9.00 am to 12.30 pm and from 2.30 pm to 5.00 pm.
• Prices: Admission is free, but to climb to the top you have to pay an entrance fee of 3€.

In a hidden corner of Venice, in a small courtyard, Corte del Maltese, lies one of the jewels of Venice: Palazzo Contarini del Bovolo.

The building dates back to the 14th century, its main façade overlooks the beautiful Rio di San Luca; however, its fame derives from the famous staircase at the back of the building - the famous spiral staircase!

The Scala del Bovolo (the staircase), added at the end of the 15th century, was designed by the architect Giovanni Candi in a Gothic-Renaissance style. It is 26 metres high and is distributed over 4 floors. Going down these curious and striking stairs is one of the best things to do with children in Venice, they are sure to be amazed.

If you are on your lucky day you may be able to attend one of the exhibitions held on the first floor of the building. Also at the top of the building there is a wonderful panoramic view: the domes of St. Mark's Basilica, the bell towers and the roofs of glittering Venice.

• Opening hours: Thursday to Sunday from 10.00 am to 6.00 pm
• Prices: Adults: 7€ Children under 12 years: Free admission

For a breathtaking view of St. Mark's Square, the rooftops of Venice, the lagoon, the Grand Canal cruises and the gondola rides you must climb St. Mark's bell tower. A building almost 100 metres high.

This building was built for the purpose of serving as a lighthouse for the sailors in the lagoon; yes, the original bell tower in Piazza San Marco was built on Roman foundations and intended to serve as a watchtower.

After several changes and transformations over the centuries, the present form of the Bell Tower of St. Mark's Square in Venice is in line with 15th century architecture.

Looking up, you will see that it has four faces, featuring the Lion of St. Mark's and the slender bronze spire with a golden statue of the Archangel Gabriel at its tip acting as a weather vane.

Since 1902 the bell tower has been the main building in Piazza San Marco, nicknamed "The Paron'', the bell tower gave its name to the Venetian wine glass "Ombra" (as it used to be drunk in the shadow of the bell tower).

• Opening times: Every day from 10:00 to 17:40
• Prices: Adult: 10€ Children under 7 years: Free admission

Ca' Rezzonico is one of the most important buildings in Venice and at the same time one of the few that can be visited today. It is located on the banks of the Grand Canal in the Dorsoduro district. Ca'Rezzonico is a rich Venetian residence that houses a valuable collection of 18th century Venetian furniture and paintings.

This luxurious building was designed by Venice's greatest baroque architect, Baldassare Longhena of the aristocratic Bon family and its construction began in 1649. It also includes a wonderful collection of works by Cima da Conegliano, Alvise Vivarini, Bonifacio de 'Pitati, Tintoretto, Palma the Younger, Bernardo Strozzi, Ippolito Caffi, Emma Ciardi among others, a jewel in Venice to be discovered.

The Ca' Rezzonico is undoubtedly a magnificent space in the Venetian style of the 700s, you can visit it by purchasing a ticket online from the official website of Ca' Rezzonico (The ticket is also included in the Venice Museum Pass, which allows access to 10 museums in the city).

• Opening hours: April to October from 10.00 am to 6.00 pm daily. November to March 10.00-17.00 daily.
• Prices: Adults: €12 Students 6-14 and over 65: €9.5