Articles & Stories

Hello, and welcome to Amazing Places! I hope you’ve all had a wonderful spring break. As we’re stepping into a brand new season, I’ve been thinking of new ways to switch up the typical formula for an Amazing Places article. We’ve already covered a variety of places across the United States, so you may be asking, “What’s next for Amazing Places?” Well, I’ll be happy to tell you! Welcome to the very first Amazing Places World Tour! From now on, every once in a while, I’ll be bringing you special World Tour articles that will cover fascinating and unique destinations from across the globe! So now, without further ado, let’s head to our first World Tour destination, which is the charming city of Venice, which is situated on the northern coast of Italy!

It has been said that the American author Robert Benchley sent a telegraph with the words “Streets full of water, please advise” to his colleagues back home upon his first sight of Venice’s intricate canal system, as he expected a more traditional street system instead. Surely any tourist who has visited the city has shared the same feeling of surprise and awe. Venice is a city that is practically floating on water, with the amount of canals in the city far outnumbering the amount of roads. Over 150 waterways link every part of the city, with the most major link being the Grand Canal, which runs straight through the city center. Instead of buses or trains, ferries and water taxi boats make up the primary means of public transit in Venice. Venice’s canals make the city unique to any other city (or any other place, for that matter,) in the world.

Approximately 430 bridges are scattered around Venice to help residents navigate across the canals. The largest and most famous of these bridges is the Rialto, which links the banks of the Grand Canal and is located in the heart of the city. The bridge is the oldest of any bridge situated on the Grand Canal, and is world renowned for its stunning architecture. You can take a walk over the bridge to admire the colorful buildings along the canal, get a good view of the many boats passing by, or just take in the hustle and bustle of the vibrant city center district. There are also many local shops and restaurants close to the bridge, where you can go shopping for souvenirs or get a bite to eat.

Next, let's head to the Piazza San Marco, which means Saint Marco’s or Saint Mark's Square in Italian. This plaza is home to a variety of historical landmarks, where you can learn about and experience Venice’s rich history. Venice’s most famous landmarks, the Doge’s Palace, Saint Mark’s Basilica, and Saint Mark’s Campanile are all located here. First, let’s visit the Doge’s Palace. This massive complex that is a famous example of Venetian-Gothic style architecture was once home to the Doge of Venice, who was the leader of the city from back when Venice was still a republic. 

Today, the palace has been converted into a museum, where you can wander its many rooms, including the many hallways decorated with ornate fixtures and beautiful artwork. You can even venture down into the depths of the palace’s basement, where you will find dungeons used for holding criminals who had committed serious crimes. The palace stands as a relic of a bygone era in Venice’s history.

Saint Mark’s Basilica is located directly across from the palace. The Basilica is essentially a church, but on a far more grand scale, and is dedicated to Saint Mark the Evangelist, a Christian saint from Venice, who is also what the square that the Basilica is located in is named after. Stepping through the Basilica’s massive front gate, you’ll enter a cavernous central hall, with gigantic mosaics dotting the domed roofs. 

Heading further into the hall, you’ll find the Pala d’Oro, or Panel of Gold, which is the world’s largest and only intact example of Gothic style goldsmith art. The panel, made out of real gold, is displayed in the Basilica’s altar, and is valuable not just because of its material, but also due to its cultural significance to Italian Christianity. A variety of significant events in the history of the religion are depicted on the panel. In the mood for some more art? Well, you’re in luck! Visit the second floor, which houses the Basilica’s very own art museum. You’ll find dozens of sculptures, objects, and rare pieces of art, which are all significant to the Basilica’s history in some way. Have fun exploring and learning about the origins of the masterpieces you see!

Our last stop in Saint Mark’s Square and the last stop on our tour of Venice today is Saint Mark’s Campanile. A campanile is an Italian style bell tower. Many stand tall in cities across Italy. Saint Mark’s Campanile is a working example of one of these towers. There are five unique bells on the tower, though only three are used today. The Marangona bell is the largest, and is rung in the morning and in the evening, to signal the start and end of a workday. Nona, the second largest bell, is always rung at noon. Lastly, the Trattoria bell, formally used to announce the beginning of Venetian council meetings in the Doge’s Palace, is now typically rung in harmony with the Marangona.

Many come to Saint Mark’s Campanile not to hear its bell’s, though. The Campanile, at 323 feet tall, offers unparalleled views of Venice at its observation deck. To get to the top, you can take a high speed elevator, or if you’re feeling more adventurous, you could walk up the 323 steps of the Campanile’s long central staircase all the way up. Once you’re at the top, you’ll be greeted by an open-air observation deck, which provides you with an absolutely stunning view of the entire city from all angles. You can also look up to see the previously mentioned bells, which are really close to you right above your head! You can almost touch them, though they are just out of reach. The scenic views are even more beautiful at night, though the night tickets sell out quite quickly. Be quick if you want a spectacular look at Venice’s illuminated skyline!

Well, that’s it for our first ever Amazing Places World Tour! Venice is such a charming city that’s unlike any other. What I’ve mentioned here is just a little of what you’ll find in Venice though. There’s gondola tours, opera shows, and many more fun activities to do. Who knows where you’ll go or what you’ll do in Venice? It’s all up to you to find out! As we leave the city of canals and bridges behind, I’d like to thank you for coming with me to this Amazing Place. I’ll see you next time!