Canals

Venice, ‘The Floating City’ consists of 118 islands. Canals separate the islands and bridges link them. There are 177 canals in Venice.

The largest of these is the S-shaped Grand Canal, which divides the city in two. On average, the canals in Venice are roughly 1.5 to 2 meters deep.

Bridges

Linking Venice’s islands are over 400 bridges.

The oldest and most famous bridge across the Grand Canal is the Rialto Bridge. Another iconic bridge in Venice is the Bridge of Sighs (Ponte dei Sospiri).

Gondola Rides

Not just a romantic way to transport tourists, gondolas have been used to navigate Venice’s canals since before the 11th century.  At one time, the city was home to around 10,000 gondolas, but nowadays this number is nearer to 400.

Murano Glass

Since the 8th century, Venice has been a hub of glassmaking. Venetian glass is recognizable by its bright colors and bold, elaborate designs. Most Venetian glassmaking takes place on Murano Island, located in the Venetian Lagoon.

Carnival

One of the things Venice is famous for is its Carnival celebrations, which take place about three weeks before Ash Wednesday and Lent. Masks are an emblem of the Venetian Carnival.

Piazza San Marco

Piazza San Marco is the main public square in Venice. The eastern end of the piazza is dominated by St Mark’s Basilica, the most famous of the city’s churches. Next door to the basilica is Doge’s Palace, once the seat of the Venetian government.

Narrow Streets

Venice is known for its labyrinth of narrow streets, laneways, and alleys. Getting lost in the city’s maze-like streets is a rite of passage for visitors. If you aren’t claustrophobic, make your way to Calle Varisco in the Cannaregio district.