Venice, the city in the sea, was first settled because it was inaccessible to the invaders, but today it is easy to reach thanks to it's terminals. The first impact is magical for passengers arriving at the splendid basin of S.Marks. Venice, the fairytale city waits for you.

SAN MARCO area: St. Mark's square: the heart of Venice , it consists of an artistic complex of buildings in different styles creating a harmonious setting to the square. St. Mark's square is called "piazza" and not a "campo" to distinguish it from the other squares and to emphasis its singular beauty. It is trapezoidal and the Procuratie Vecchie and the Procuratie Nuove run along the two extensive sides. They are known as old ( Vecchie) and new ( Nuove) on the basis of the age of the buildings over the arcades of the ground - level porticos. The Procuratie Vecchie run along the north side of the square from the "Clock Tower" and have kept their Renaissance features. Occupying the present area since the 12th century, in 1264 the square was paved in Herringbone pattern bricks; in fact this was the original paving style that used to line the streets and squares of Venice.

CLOCK TOWER: Built at the end of the 15th century close to the Basilica, the central part was built on a plan by M. Codussi. On the Terrace at the top of the tower, two dark bronze figures, the Moors strike the hour against a large bell. Of notable interest is the complex clockwork mechanism and the great gold and blue enamel clock-face that indicates the hours, the phases of the moon and the motion of the sun. The clock tower is at the start of "Merceria", the road that leads from St. Mark's square to the campo Campo San Bartolomeo. The name of Merceria refers to the many shops on both sides of it.

BASILICA DI SAN MARCO: (open 9.45 am- 5 pm , holidays 2 pm- 5 pm Pala D'oro and Treasures 9.45 am - 5 pm daily) A superb example of the Romanesque- Byzantine style with five cupolas, was built to house the body of St. Mark Evangelist. The Façade features five portals decorated in splendid marbles and mosaics, and with a terrace dividing it into two halves on the terrace stand four Horses of gilded copper ( copies- the original are now preserved inside). That were sent from Constantinople to Doge Enrico Dandolo in 1204. Splendid mosaics in the atrium relate the stories of the Bible. The form of the inside is a greek cross contains a wealth of paintings and sculptures. Of particular interest are mosaics of Veneto- Byzantine origin, some of them reconstructed by Tiziano, Tintoretto and Veronese. The bell tower adjacent was once a lighthouse for ships. Of particular interest is a 16th century loggia by Sansovino.

MUSEO MARCIANO: Displayed in the museum is an array of precious objects belonging to the history of the Basilica: valuable works of art, tapestries and carpet.

MUSEO CORRER: Museo del Risorgimento (open from April to October: 9 am- 7pm ; from November to march: 9 am- 5pm) A museum of art Venetian history, located in the Procuratie Nuove: you can find in it prints, drawings, paintings, documents and mementos. Part of the city's Museum Correr, the Museum of the Risorgimento , was founded for educational purpose.

ARCHEOLOGICAL MUSEUM With a rich and precious collection of ancient sculptures, including many Greek originals, as well as numismatic archaeological collections. This houses amongst other things the famous collection by Domenico Grimani. They are a priceless collection of original greek marbles.

LIBRERIA SANSOVINIANA - LIBRERIA MARCIANA: (open from April to October: 9 am- 7 am ; from November to March: 9 am- 5 pm) Constructed on a plan by Sansovino and completed by V. Scamozzi. The entrance hall ceiling features Wisdom by Tiziano while in the false niches of the walls of the Reading Room is a series of paintings, among which the "Philosophers by Tintoretto". The library has valuable example of Byzantine and Venetian bound books, as well as illuminated manuscripts. You enter through the grand doorway by V.Scamozzi. The library includes Greek and Latin codices and early printed books. It seems that it was founded thanks to Francesco Petrarca.

PIAZZETTA S.MARCO: Bordered by the Sansovino Library and the Ducal Palace ( or: Palazzo dei Dogi) and overlooking the Basin of St.Mark, it is a most fascinating square. On the quayside there are two high columns brought here from the East in the 12th century. They are crowned with Veneto-Byzantine style capitals on which stand the Lion of St.Mark (on the columne next to the Ducal Palace, this is a copy of the original which is kept in the porch of the courtyard of the Ducal Palace), and the St. Theodore (the other column). Before St. Mark the patron saint of the city was St.Theodor.

PALAZZO DUCALE: (open from April to October: 9 am- 7 pm ; open from November to March: 9 am- 5 pm) Of Byzantine origin, this was the Doge's residence and Palace of Justice. It was in fact from the Doge's Palace that the Venetian Republic was ruled and it is still the highest expression of Venetian Art. It was the residence of the Doge and the seat of the main government departments. In the courtyard you can admire the "GIANTS stair way", a masterpiece of Renaissance art, and the precious east façade. Inside you can admire its salons sumptuously frescoed and decorated by Jacopo and Domenico Tintoretto, Paolo Veronese, Tiziano, Giovanni Bellini, Palma il Giovane and Domenico Tiepolo.

PONTE DEI SOSPIRI: (by Palazzo Ducale) The bridge was constructed in the 17th century with two internal passageways. The bridge leads to the New and old Prisons, the latter called "pozzi" (wells). Upon leaving the "Ala Napoleonica" (between the two Procuratie), just after the "Bocca di Piazza" you come to the church of St. Moisè. This originally light-century building was rebuilt in the tenth century by Mosè Venier who wanted to dedicate it to the Saint after which he was named. You then come to Calle Larga XXII Marzo. This was built in 1880 by widening Calle S.Moisè and contrasted with the lower surrounding buildings. Today this road is lined with shops as far as Bocca di piazza. Halfway down Calle Longa XXII Marzo, we turn right into Campo S.Fantin where the church of San Fantin stands and rebuilt in the 16th century by Scarpagnino. Opposite you can admire la "Fenice Opera Houses", this was originally built in 1790 to a design by Selva. It burnt down in 1836 but like the phoenix (fenice in Italian) it was rebuilt in the same style by Meduna in just over a year. It was destroyed by the fire of 1996; now it is back in the way it was.

CAMPO SANTO STEFANO: We then come to Campo S.Stefano, on the way to the Accademia; It is enclosed by fine" palazzi" that were the residence of important families. The palazzo of the Pisani di Santo Stefano family has housed the "Music Conservatory" since 1897, which is named after the Venetian composer Benedetto Marcello. The church of Santo Stefano, after which the campo is named, was built by the Augustinians in the 13th century together with the adjoining monastery. It retains its gothic appearance although it has been modified inside.

THINGS TO SEE (between history and legend !)

Foundation of the Teatro a Sant. Angelo (just behind the opera house on the way to campo S.Stefano). The first theatre stood here in order to make the dramatist Carlo Goldoni famous. Riva degli Schiavoni (after Ponte dei Sospiri): the ships from Dalmatia would tie up here. The Dalmatians were also know as "Schiavoni". Caffè Florian: the most famous coffee house in St.Mark's square. Harry's Bar: American bar, try a Martini or the famous venetian and now international Bellini (by St.Mark's square: calle Vallaresso). Lavena: the coffee house of Wegner, here you can find the best "granita al limone", (St. Mark's square). Quadri: historical coffee- house its restaurant room is avery elegant eighteenth century room. (St.Mark's square. Closed Monday and Tuesday). Sansovino: art book seller's shop, (one of the most famous of the city, St.Mark, bacino Orseolo).