Cheap Venice Vacation Packages
The Italian city of Venice is better known as world’s most romantic destination and the cruise capital of the world. Venice is built on an archipelago of 117 islands formed by 177 canals in a shallow lagoon connected by 409 bridges. This aquatic city has, for centuries, been the epicenter of beauty, architecture and artwork in the country and then is the hallmark of the city- the Gondolas. Despite being costly, the Gondolas are the most ideal and the most obvious way to see the abundant water canals, besides being the most romantic and historic element in the city. Venice also has its fair share of tourist hotspots and the architectural genius contained therein is nothing short of exemplary. You would not be able to wade through the city without bumping into a famous basilica, bridge, canal or museum every twenty minutes.
Places of Interest in Venice
Palazzo Ducale (Doge’s Palace)
Palazzo Ducale (or the Doge's Palace) is a palace built in Venetian Gothic style, and is one of the most prominent Venetian landmarks in northern Italy. The palace was the residence of the Doge of Venice, the supreme authority of the former Republic of Venice, and was turned into a museum in 1923 AD. This palatial building is a classic combination of grandeur and grace, and is famous for its older sections that overlook into a nearby lagoon and are decorated with seven hundred year old artworks. You would also get to see world’s biggest oil painting Paradise on display on the inside here.
St Mark’s Basilica
If there is only one attraction you could visit in Venice and still return pleased, it would be St Mark’s Basilica. This one thousand year old cathedral church is a masterpiece of Greek Hellenistic sculpture and Italo-Byzantine architecture. The golden mosaic pictures above the doorways form a prelude to the stunning artwork inside. Another star attraction here is the golden altarpiece, Pala d’Oro. It is universally recognized as one of the most refined and accomplished works of Byzantine architecture because of its decorated front and rear sides.
Scuola Grande di San Rocco
This impressive white marble building was built in 1560 AD as a mark of respect to San Rocco. After its completion, the great 16th-century Venetian artist Tintoretto painted the inside parts of the monument with a complete cycle of paintings. These masterpieces include some of the most famous Italian artworks like The Glorification of St. Roch, Christ before Pilate, the Ecce Homo and The Crucifixion. Since Scoula Grande di San Rocco is a very old monument, you would find a hard time looking for proper lighting here and the paintings would also appear a lot darker than they actually are, but that would not take the credit away from Tintoretto's genius.
