Retire in Paradise

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Venice is inhabited with fine architecture, villas and palaces. It’s a city filled with art treasures and Venice is known as one of the most romantic places there is. But Venice is also much, much more than this.

One example among many different reasons to visit Venice is St. Mark’s Basilica. The church is a known rival of Rome’s St. Peter’s and although it’s not as large or grand, St. Mark’s is still an amazing sight that is renowned as one of the finest of its kind.

You’ll find the Campanile outside the Basilica di San Marco that served as its belltower. The place also served as a military lookout during perilous times to help keep Venice safe. Nowadays it offers more of an aesthetic purpose for those that find delight in awe inspiring sights.

The Piazza is what hosts the previously mentioned places, along with other sights such as St. Mark’s Square. The Square is a great gathering spot along with a beautiful sight seeing experience. Housing a magnificent clock tower and providing access to the Doge’s Palace, St. Mark’s Square ads plenty of grace and charm to Venice while providing silence from traffic and auto noise.

Best known for other things such as gondolas and the Grand Canal, Venice can be seen while boating down the main waterway or the secondary channels of the city.

The Rialto and other main bridges cross the Grand Canal and provide another spectacular sight whether moving up the Canal in a vaporetto or in a gondola. The vantage point from the Canal offers some of the best views in the city.

The loggia of the Ca’ d’Oro (The Golden House) can easily be accessed from the canal. A short vaporetto ride away is the Palazzo Grassi which serves as a perfect example of Venice’s architecture.

In other examples, a short boat ride away offers different styles of Venice such as the Villas of Venice. Beginning in the early 1700s, Villa Pisani was modeled on Versailles in Paris. A creation which is one of many by the world famous architect Palladino can be found at La Rotunda. And Villa Cornaro as well as the Villa Contatini- Camerini are housed by Padova.

A short trip outside the main city offers several islands to explore. One island (Murano) displays the famous glass works of Venice’s Artisans, who have been renowned for centuries in this art. Another island named Burano holds a museum dedicated to the Lace that craftsmen have provided the world for centuries can be found here.

A master renaissance painter named Tintoretto offers a large collection of his works displayed at the Scoula Grande di San Rocca. Near by, the Gallerie dell’ Accademia offers plenty of other art masterpieces from renowned artists. Other Venice paintings, architecture and opera can be found in one spot at La Fenice.

If visiting Venice during the 2 weeks before lent, participate in Carnevale by becoming a theater performer yourself. A mask to take home is a trophy you’ll never want to forget. With wonderful people living in Venice and the wonders of their culture, art and architecture, no other place will bring on a smile that will last a lifetime.