Venice it needs no introduction. Impossible to travel to Italy as a tourist and not want to walk through the city of canals. But what happens when you don't have much time? How many of its wonders will we be left out? What should we prioritize in our tourist visits if we have little time, very little time?
Because one day alone in Venice is not little, it is very little, so today in Actualidad Viajes, what to see in Venice in one day. Aim!
Venice in one day
The truth is that even though 24 hours in Venice It is very little time, the compactness of the city helps that in that time we can still do a lot. Of course, there will still be things left in the pipeline, but you should know that a single trip to Italy is generally not very pleasant, so be prepared to return as many times as you want and can.
First, the bridges of venice. The "city of bridges" is supremely elegant. Venice was built directly on a lagoon in which there are 118 islands of different sizes, crossed in turn by some 115 channels and multiple bridges. In fact, they are 400 bridges and 72 of them are private bridges. I mean, they have owners.
Some of these bridges still have padlocks, those that were placed by tourists and that for some time now are prohibited. Impossible to visit 400 bridges in one day so, which bridges should you visit? The most famous is the Bridge of Sighs connecting the Doge's Palace with the old prison. The decorations are stupendous and it has inspired bridges in Germany, Scotland, England and even the United States.
This bridge gave the prisoners their last glimpse of the outside world because once they crossed it they were either in prison or they died, if their penalty was death. Will there be ghosts? Some say yes, yes, and if you listen carefully you can hear the sighs of the prisoners as they walk slowly and sadly through the interior of the bridge. But if you go with your partner then you can think of something more than the sad sighs of the damned: another legend says that if you kiss your love while passing under the bridge at sunset, you will enjoy eternal love.
Another bridge that is worth knowing is the Rialto bridge. The Rialto Bridge It is the oldest bridge in Venice and the most famous of the four bridges that cross the Grand Canal. It has already about eight centuries and of course, many restorations and reconstructions. But to our days it has arrived elegant and stately. Besides beautiful.
The Rialto was born as a floating bridge, but it was replaced by a wooden version in 1255. It burned a few times and then fell into the waters many more, until a stone version supplanted it in 1591. And since then it has been made of stone. My advice is that you visit it because the views of the Grand Canal are a sight to behold and you can take photos of the districts of San Marco and San Polo, visit the Rialto Market and eat something there, always cheaper than in the popular Piazza San Marco.
Is it convenient to travel by gondola? It is a very personal decision. There are people who cannot conceive of setting foot in Venice without taking a gondola ride, others who are not willing to pay so much for something so touristy. But if you want to walk for a while from the water the idea is great. Yes, you can choose to do it on the vaporetto, but the gondola… is the gondola! It seems that hundreds of years ago the waters of Venice were crossed by more than 10 thousand gondolas, although Today there are only 500 left.
How much does a gondola ride cost? Around 80 euros for a 40-minute walk. Yes, a little expensive, but you can haggle. In addition, the gondolas can carry up to 6 people. If you paint the romanticism, the gondola ride at sunset, after 7 pm, goes up to 100 euros. All tours depart from the Santa Maria del Giglio gondola station, just about five minutes from Piazza San Marco. You can book in advance and propose other routes, although that costs more.
And speaking of the San Marco Square It is something that a day in Venice cannot miss. It is the heart of the city, on the water's edge and with the beautiful Basilica of San Marco, many museums and the Duke's Palace. The downside is that tourists abound, especially in the evening hours. Of course, prepare to pay everything super expensive.
If you like museums then you can buy the San Marco Museums Pass, there are no individual tickets. This pass opens the doors to the Correr Museum, the National Archaeological Museum, the Doge's Palace and the Monumental Rooms of the Marciana National Library. It costs 20 euros per adult. nothing bad. For me it is highly recommended because that way you will get a more internal impression of Venice, which is more than squares and canals.
The Doge's Palace is of great gothic beauty and has a white and pale pink marble façade that is divine. Inside it abounds with art and history: you can visit the central courtyard, the Opera Museum, the armory, the prison and the state rooms. And if you like it a lot, then you can sign up for an extra price at the Secret Itineraries which includes the dungeon where Casanova He was detained and from which he escaped.
La Basilica of san marco it was originally the Doge's Chapel, but in 1807 it was transformed into the Venetian cathedral. Its exterior is Byzantine in style and it is as rich as the Republic of Venice used to be. The original version is from the 828th century, it kept the body of Saint Mark the Evangelist, but it was stolen in XNUMX. Inside there is a rich decoration with thousands of golden mosaics, combining the Byzantine style with Romanesque and Gothic.
If you go between 11:30 am and 12_45 pm on weekdays, you will see the interior lit up. If not, enjoy how the colors change with the sunlight that filters through the windows. But inside you will not be more than 10 or 15 minutes. Admission is free although if you go up to the museum and the main altar you must pay 5 euros and 2 more if you go to the Treasury. As always, if you don't want to wait, and with only 24 hours you don't want to, it's always a good idea to make a reservation. Especially if you go between April and October!
You can also climb San Marco bell tower. If you visited Florence and you liked it, then here you can repeat the experience. It is the bell tower of the basilica and the tallest structure in the city. The Panoramic views from the top they are great. What should you know about him before going? Originally a lighthouse for sailors, it was restored several times and in 1902 it collapsed killing several people. Reconstruction a decade later brought it back to life.
the bell tower it has five bells, each had its purpose in former times: they are called Trottiera, Nona, Malefico, Mezza terz and Marangona. There is also a statue of the Archangel Gabriel. Admission costs 8 euros and 13 in advance, but you avoid the queues.
When we talk about the gondolas we talk about the vaporetto. An alternative, if the gondola is expensive but you want to ride on the water, is to take the vaparetto to the island of San Giodio Maggiore, with its beautiful church and monastery. A standard ticket is around 5 euros.
Finally, with only a day to discover Venice the truth is that it should not be kept inside for a long time. Neither in churches, nor in museums, nor in vaparettos. You have to walk, observe, enjoy, stroll, stop. Venice is a compact city that can be enjoyed on foot. The Rialtine Islands, in the central area, are small enough to be walked from one end to the other in an hour or so.