DAY 1° Venice historical centre
Departure from Camping Serenissima by bus Nr. 53 direction Venice. Arrival at P.le Roma, then follow the indications to Rialto - San Marco to arrive at theSt. Rocco Church, founded at the beginning of the 15thC and rebuilt in the 18thC, the CHURCH OF SAN ROCCO (St Roch) displays works by G. Marchiori and S. Ricci, as well as numerous paintings by J. Tintoretto. Next to the church stands the Guildhall of San Rocco.
Proceed in the direction of the CHURCH SANTA MARIA
GLORIOSA DEI FRARI, erected between 1236 and 1338
through the efforts of the Conventual Franciscan Friars Minor, it
was replaced by a grandiose Gothic Franciscan-style edifice in the
14th century, with a nave and two aisles and seven apsidal chapels
(inside painting by Tintoretto and Bellini). The imposing 14th
century brick bell tower is one of the highest in Venice.
Passing through Campo San Polo proceed in the direction of Rialto, crossing the RIALTO BRIDGE, completed in the 16thC. This stonebridge on wood piling was built to replace a wooden bridge and an earlier pontoon bridge that once was the only link between the two banks of the Grand Canal. The shops lining the central passageway make it particularly picturesque. Before the Bridge there are the MARKETS OF RIALTO, one of the liveliest and most characteristic areas of Venice since the earliest times. Traditional place for meeting, trading and exchanging, the district is still has its picturesque and very busy markets: here you find the fruit and vegetable markets, flower and fish markets.
Proceed through the Mercerie, road famous for the many shop on
both side of it, until SAINT MARK'S SQUARE ,
the mostknown
square in Venice. It has a trapezoidal shape and it enclosed
on three sides by the arcaded buildings of the Procurators, it was
once a remarkable showcase for feasts, ceremonies, tournaments and
fairs.
Visit of SAINT'MARK BASILICA (Gallery, Golden
Altar and Treasure), that was the Doge’s Chapel and mausoleum of
Evangelist St. Marco, in Bizantine-Romanesque style, characterized
from its 5 domes, the Byzantine mosaics and the Quadriga on the
main entrance. The Bell Tower adjacent to the basilica was once a
lighthouse for ships. At the foot of the tower is a 16th century
loggia by J. Sansovino.
Visit of the DOGE'S PALACE (XII sec) that was
the residence of the Doge and seat of the main government
departments. It is of Byzantine origin and it’s characterized from
the main entrance “Porta della Carta” in gothic style and from the
saloons frescoed and decorated by works of prestigious artists
like Veronese, Tintoretto, Tiepolo, Bellini and Tiaziano.
BRIDGE OF SIGHTS which was constructed in the
17th century with two internal passageways. The bridge leads to
the New and Old Prisons, the latter called pozzi (wells). A little
window looks out over the Basin of St Mark offering a picturesque
view of the Island of San Giorgio.
Return by boat line 1 along the Gran Canal where stand over 200
ancient palaces like Ca’ Rezzonico (it houses
the eighteenth century Venice museum), Ca’ Doro
in gothic style (today the “House of gold” houses the Franchetti
Gallery), and Ca’ Pesaro (it houses the
International Gallery of Modern Art).