Cycle Tour Venedig - Stuttgart - Mainz

Open daily from 9am to 7pm

Open every day from 9am-7pm.
Closed on December 25 and 1st January

Venice (Italian: Venezia; Venetian: Venexia) is one of the most interesting and lovely places in the world. This sanctuary on a lagoon is virtually the same as it was six hundred years ago, which adds to the fascinating character. Venice has decayed since its heyday and is heavily touristed (there are slightly more tourists than residents), but the romantic charm remains. It is also known as the birthplace of the composer Antonio Vivaldi. Venice and its lagoon are a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Understand

The comune (municipality) of Venice is made up of numerous islands in the Venetian Lagoon as well as a stretch of terraferma (mainland) in northern Italy. The comune is divided into six boroughs, the most famous of which (known as Venezia Insulare) comprises the historic city of Venice as well as the islands of Giudecca, Murano , Burano , Torcello , Mazzorbo, and Sant'Erasmo. Lido and Mestre are other popular areas of the comune.

The historic city itself is divided into six sestieri (districts): Cannaregio, Castello, Dorsoduro, San Polo, Santa Croce, and San Marco, where the main monuments and sights are located.

History

The Most Serene Republic of Venice dates back to 827, when a Byzantine Duke moved its seat to what is now known as the Rialto, and for the following 970 years, it prospered on trade and under the rule of a Roman-style Senate headed by the Doge. Eventually, the Republic of Venice grew into a powerful city-state, and was one of the most progressive of its time. One of the significant events in the history of Venice was the opening of the first public opera house in 1637, which allowed members of the general public (those who could afford to pay for the tickets) to enjoy what was once court entertainment reserved for the aristocracy, thus allowing the genre of opera to flourish. In 1797, the city was conquered by Napoleon, a blow from which it never recovered. The city was soon merged into Austria-Hungary, then ping-ponged back and forth between Austria and a nascent Italy, but Venice is still a monument to the glory days of the Renaissance, and historical culture still throbs powerfully in the old Italians' veins.

See

• ⊙Doge's Palace (Palazzo Ducale), Piazetta San Marco 1 (San Marco Square) (vaporetto line 1 or 2 to San Marco),  ☎ +39 0412 715911. Nov to Mar 8.30 to 17.30, Apr to Oct 8.30 to 19.00, closed Jan 1 and Dec 25. Don't miss the guided tour named Secret Itinerary, which will let you discover the part of the palace where the city's administration worked, as well as Casanova's jail and the wonderful five hundred year old roof structure. €20, Reduced €14. 
• Bell tower of St. Mark (Campanile di San Marco), Piazza San Marco (vaporetto line 1 to San Marco),  ☎ +39 0415 224064. Nov to Mar 9.30-15.45, Apr to Jun, Oct 9-19, Jul and Aug 9-21. The current tower dates from 1912; an exact replica of the previous tower which collapsed in 1902. The top of the tower offers great views of Venice and the lagoon. €8.00, children € 4.00. 
• ⊙Clock tower (Torre dell'Orologio), Piazza San Marco (vaporetto lines 1-2-5, 1.5.2 to San Marco),  ☎ +39 0415 209070. 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, in English: Mon, Tue, Wed at 10 and 11 am, on other days at 2 and 3 pm, in French Mon, Tue and Wed at 2 and 3 pm, advance reservation required online or by ☎ +39 0415 209070. €12.00, reduced € 7.00. 
• ⊙Scuola grande di San Rocco, Frari (vapöretto line 1 or 2 to San Tomà),  ☎ +39 0415 234864. 9.30 AM - 5.30 PM, closed Dec25, Jan1, Easter Sunday. A masterpiece of Tintoretto, this guild house is an exquisite example of Mannerist art at its best. In order to allow a comfortable admiration of the detailed ceiling, mirrors are offered to the visitors. Cycles of allegories, life and passion of Christ, scenes from the Old and New Testament. €10, Reduced €8 (2014). 
• Jewish Ghetto of Venice. While racial and ethnic neighborhoods had existed prior to the Venetian Ghetto, Venice's ghetto was the first "ghetto" (coming from a Venetian word for the Iron Foundry that was on the site previously) and "ghetto" eventually came to mean any neighborhood that was made up of a single ethnic/racial group. Today, Jewish life is still very active in the ghetto, and elsewhere in Venice, and is home to five synagogues. Visiting on Saturdays or late Fridays (the Jewish Sabbath) will prove very fruitless because all shops, restaurants, and other Jewish places will be closed. 

Outdoor sights, piazzas, bridges, canals

• Don't miss the Rialto market and the ⊙Rialto Bridge (Italian: Ponte di Rialto) 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.
• Zattere. It's a long and sunny walk 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 counterbalance the gondoliere push).

When photographing bridges, do not expect people crossing the bridge to stop and wait for you to take a photo.

Churches

Although San Marco is free, other famous churches charge an entry fee. If you plan to visit three churches or more, you are better off buying the churches pass. There is also a combined pass for museums, churches and transportation only available at the tourist information office but it is relatively expensive.

• ⊙Saint Mark's Basilica (Basilica di San Marco), Piazza San Marco (Water lines # 1, 52, and 82 will take you from Santa Lucia (the train station) or Piazzale Roma to Piazza San Marco. Walking is another option but will require a map and lots of time and energy.),  ☎ +39 0415 225205 (procuratorial phone number). 1st October to 31st March: 9:45AM-4:45PM; 1st April to 30 September: 9:45AM-5PM. Saint Mark's Basilica is on the Piazza San Marco and is one of the highlights of a visit to Venice. As with most churches in Italy, you must be dressed appropriately to be allowed in; this means no short skirts or bare shoulders. You are not allowed to carry large bags or rucksacks inside, sometimes even small daypacks may need to be deposited. Storage is available just around the corner from the main entrance (free of charge). Filming and photography is forbidden so be prepared in advance. The visit within the basilica lasts ten minutes. Waiting for entry into the basilica can last up to five or so hours and it may be wise to use a ticket service to reserve your visit (reservation costs €2, official tickets at venetoinside.com). Once you have a reservation you can take the group entrance on the left, where you hand in the printout of your reservation. Admission to the basilica is free, however, the museum upstairs costs €5 and to view the high altar and treasury costs €2 and €3 respectively. 
• ⊙San Giacomo di Rialto. This church is possibly the oldest church in Venice built around 421. It is most recognized for its 15th century clock above the entrance of the church. It is also recognized for the red pillars and beautiful gold accents around the church itself. 
• ⊙ San Giovanni e Paolo (San Zanipolo). A fine, huge Dominican church with the tombs of many Doges. It shares its piazza with the fine Renaissance façade of the Scuola San Marco and an equestrian statue of the mercenary (condottiere) captain Bartolomeo Colleoni. Look out for the testicles (coglioni in Italian - it's a lousy pun) on his coat of arms! 
• ⊙Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari (Basilica dei Frai). week-days 9 to 17.30, Sun and holidays 13 to 17.30. The big friary church, fine example of Venetian Gothic architecture, with fine monuments and paintings of Titian, Belliniand Donatello, among which the famous 'Assunta' by Titian.: €3,00. 
• ⊙Santa Maria dei Miracoli. A perfect jewel box church, simple in form but ornamented with fine exterior marble facings. 
• San Simeone Piccolo. The last church built in Venice. It is located across from the Grand Canal in front of Santa Lucia Train station. One of the things that it is recognized for is the fact that they celebrate Tridentine Mass on Sundays. It is also recognized for it's dome because it is used to make the church look taller than it is and the dome itself is entirely covered with lead sheet. 
• Santa Maria della Pietà. A church that used to house an orphanage and hospital in the 18th century, currently known among classical music enthusiasts as the church where the Catholic priest and composer Antonio Vivaldi worked for most of his career. 
• Convento di S.Francesco del Deserto, S.Francesco del Deserto. 9-11, 15-17, closed Mon. Old Franciscan convent in one of the most beautiful islands in the Venice lagoon admission free, donation. 
• S. Francesco della Vigna, Campo San Francesco della Vigna, Castello,  ☎ +39 0415 206102. 8-12, 16.30-18.  
• Gesuati (S.Maria del Rosario), Fondamente Zattere delle Gesuati, Dorsoduro,  ☎ +39 0415 230625. 8-12, 17-19.  
• Gesuiti (S.Maria Assunta), Campo dei Gesuiti, Cannaregio,  ☎ +39 0415 286579. summer 10-12, 17-19, winter 10-12, 16-18, closed Sun afternoon.  
• S. Giobbe, Campo San Giobbe, Cannaregio. 8.30-12, 15.30-18.  
• S. Giovanni in Bragora, Campo Bandiera e Moro, Castello,  ☎ +39 0415 205906. 6-11, 17-19.  
• S. Giovanni Crisostomo, Campo San Giovanni Crisostomo, Cannaregio,  ☎ +39 0415 227155. 7-12.30, 15-19.  
• S. Giuliano, Campo di San Giuliano, San Marco.  
• ⊙ Madonna dell'Orto, Campo Madonne dell'Orto, Cannaregio,  ☎ +39 0417 19933. summer 9.30-12, 16-19, winter 9.30-12, 15-17.30. with the grave and 10 paintings of Tintoretto 
• S. Maria del Carmelo (Carmini).  
• S. Maria Formosa, Campo Santa Maria Formosa, Castello,  ☎ +39 0415 234645. 8.30-12.30, 17-19.  
• ⊙ S. Maria della Salute, Campo delle Salute, Dorsoduro,  ☎ +39 0415 225558. 8.30-12, 15-17.30.  
• S. Michele in Isola, Isola San Michele.  
• S. Pietro in Castello, Campo di San Pietro, Castello. Venice cathedral up to 1807, when the see was transferred to San Marco 
• SS. Redentore, Fondamente della Croce, Giudecca.  
• S. Salvatore, Campo San Salvatore.  
• ⊙ S. Sebastiano, Campo San Sebastiano, Dorsoduro,  ☎ +39 0415 282487.  
• ⊙ S. Stefano, Campo Santo Stefano, San Marco 3825,  ☎ +39 0415 222362.  
• S. Zaccaria, Campo San Zaccaria,  ☎ +39 0415 221257. 10-12.16-18.  

The only exception is the short stretch from the train station in Venice Santa Lucia to Piazzale Roma, the main access point to Venice, (and vice versa) that can be covered by hand-guided bicycles across the bridge Ponte delle Costituzione.

Boarding a bicycle on the AVM/Actv public service vaporetti/boats is also not allowed, with the exception of lines 14, 11 and 17.

For your information, you have the possibility of eventually leaving your bike at the bici park in Piazzale Roma http://avm.avmspa.it/biciparkvenezia.