Clock tower (Torre dell’Orologio), (San Marco Square),. Also known as Torre dei Mori (Tower of Moors) after the two bronze statues on the terrace. Having been closed for restoration for many years, the restored astronomical clock is now visible. The fascinating tour of the clock mechanism (and rooftop bell) can only be visited on a guided tour, which has to be booked in advance.
Procuratie Vecchie, (St Mark’s square north side),. For the first time in 500 years the Procurate Vecchie are open to the public.
Piazzetta San Marco. This is actually the part that stretches from the main square to the waterfront facing the lagoon. It lies between Palazzo Ducale (Doge’s Palace) and the Biblioteca Marciana (Marciana Library). It also features two columns each one carrying a symbol of Venice: the Lion of Venice, an ancient bronze sculpture of a winged lion, and the statue of Saint Theodore who was patron of the city before Saint Mark. Outdoor sights, piazzas, bridges, canals
Rialto Bridge
Don’t miss the Rialto market and the Rialto Bridge on San Polo, the smallest sestiere. The Rialto market is for shoppers. To the east is a neighborhood of small shops and restaurants; to the west is the Rialto farmers’ market. Shopping is slightly less expensive than in the tourist-filled Piazza San Marco. The bridge has become one of Venice’s most recognizable icons and has a history that spans over 800 years. Today’s Rialto Bridge was completed in 1591 and was used to replace a wooden bridge that collapsed in 1524. This bridge alone required over 6.000 trees for each foundation.
Fondaco dei Tedeschi, Calle del Fontego dei Tedeschi (right next to the San Marco-side of Rialto Bridge),. Luxury and lifestyle store with a rooftop terrace and a view over Venice (booking is required here).
Campo Santo Stefano on the northern side of Accademia bridge offers many outdoor cafes and restaurants and a touch of sun before noon.
Zattere. It’s a long and sunny walk from early afternoon along the Giudecca canal, protected during winter time from cold northerly winds for being exposed to south and shielded by buildings. You might find interesting to see how a gondola is made, stopping by the Squero (Venetian for small ship yard) across the canal near San Trovaso Church. It’s one of the few still in business in town. With some luck, you’ll see some gondole through various manufacturing steps (note that gondole are not straight to counter-balance the weight of the gondoliere rowing from a position on the side).
Jewish Ghetto of Venice,. While distinctive ethnic neighbourhoods had existed prior to the Venetian Ghetto, the area of the “new foundry” (the Ghetto Nuovo) assinged for Jewish settlement in 1516 first became the name for all areas given over to Jewish inhabitants and then became synonomous for all areas that are made up of a single ethnic/racial/social group. The area was extended from 1546 by the (confusingly named) “old foundry” (Ghetto Vecchio).
Today, Jewish life is still very active in the ghetto, and elsewhere in Venice, and is home to five synagogues built by the Jewish communities roughly grouped by their arrival in Venice (Italian, Ashkenazi, Sephardim and Levantine). On late Fridays and Saturdays Jewish places will be closed in observence of Shabbath.
If you wish to sense the unique Venetian atmosphere coming from the East you can take part in an itinerary covering the Jewish Ghetto and the Rialto area to discover the crucible of ethnicities, cultures and religions that have co-existed for centuries in Venice and admire a different side of this city.
