34 Famous landmarks in Venice

Here’s my guide to the most famous Venice landmarks, one of the most breathtaking cities in Europe and a feast for your senses.

It may be one of smaller cities in Italy, but there is a seemingly endless array of Venice landmarks wherever you go. It’s partly because Venice history is so rich that there is so much Venice sightseeing to do. 

With so many landmarks in Venice to see, how are you going to get around them all? 

Most people visit Venice on a day trip, and many tend to stay there a short time – a weekend in Venice, perhaps, or three days there. You’ll need more than this to get around all the main things to do in Venice Italy. You’ll want to make the best use of however many days in Venice you have. 

I’ve simplified things for you by showing you all of the main landmarks of Venice. This will help you choose which Venice sights you want to see the most.  If you’re pushed for time, you’ll be heartened to learn that you can see eight of the top Venice landmarks from the waterfront next to Piazza San Marco. 

If you take a vaporetto – waterbus – ride down the Venice Grand Canal you will also catch sight of no less than 15 of the 34 top Venice attractions on our list. 

I’ll start with one of the absolute must see in Venice sights – the church of San Giorgio Maggiore, one of the masterpieces of Renaissance era architect Andrea Palladio.

The most famous view of the church is from the Molo, the San Marco waterfront area where many gondolas are lined up. It looks especially magical during a winter sunrise.  San Giorgio Maggiore is a beautifully proportioned church, and looks magnificent from wherever you see it.

Top Tip: You can also ascend a lift to the top of the campanile (bell tower) for an outstanding view over the Venice lagoon. It should always be near the top of any what to see in Venice list. 

Vaporetto stop: San Giorgio 

If you’re wondering where to go in Venice, just get yourself a vaporetto ticket and take the #1 service down the Grand Canal. One of the first Venice landmarks you see is the large church of San Geremia, on the left at the junction with the Cannaregio Canal.

The brick tower is believed to date from as early as the 12^th century, while the body of the church was built during the 18^th century. 

Top Tip: It’s one of the things to visit in Venice that looks better from the outside than within. Its interior is surprisingly sombre and plain. That doesn’t deter the stream of visitors paying their respects at the shrine of St Lucy of Syracuse (Santa Lucia). The relics were originally held on the island of Ortigia in Syracuse, but were removed to Constantinople and, in turn, pilfered by the Venetians. 

Vaporetto: Ferrovia or San Marcuola 

If you walk along the Fondamente Nove, the route along the north of the city, you’ll have the Cinitero di San Michele for company much of the way.

Venice’s cemetery is, like everything else in the city, built on an island. The cemetery is one of the most intriguing Venice things to see. You see the grand tombs of the city’s doges (elected rulers) and artists in the basilicas of Venice.

This is where the Venetian hoi polloi are interred to this day. There are a few famous names, including Igor Stravinsky and Serge Diaghilev.

Top Tip: The church of San Michele in Isola is well worth a visit too. 

Vaporetto: Cimitero 

Remote Torcello island is where Venice began, and it’s still one of the most important Venice historical sites. It’s just across the water from Burano, and is another popular excursion from Venice.

Much of the settlement of Torcello was recycled into buildings in the city of Venice. The result is a glimpse into what the islands of the Venetian lagoon were like before being settled in the 7^th century.  

Torcello is now a one-canal hamlet that’s home to a restaurant, an unusual medieval bridge, a couple of guesthouses, a Byzantine-style church and the Basilica of Santa Maria Assunta, the original Venice cathedral.

Top Tip: The 12^th century apse mosaic is breathtaking. Climb the tower for a view over the island, which has reverted to its original state of low-lying mudflats. 

Vaporetto: Torcello  

San Simeone Piccolo is the first landmark in Venice many people see. It was certainly the first I saw many years ago, a church with a tall green dome right across the Grand Canal from Venezia Santa Lucia railway station. It was one of the last Venetian churches to be completed, in 1738. 

San Simeone Piccolo was closed for many years, frustrating our attempts to explore it further. It is, however, open again.

Top Tip: Unusually for Venice, it has a crypt which you can explore – one of the most unusual things to see in Venice. 

Vaporetto: Ferrovia 

The Calatrava Bridge – officially called the Ponte della Constituzione – is the one contemporary landmark Venice has added this century. It is the fourth bridge across the Grand Canal, designed by Valencian architect Santiago Calatrava and opened in 2008. 

It’s a glass and steel truss bridge connecting the Piazzale Roma bus station with the Ferrovia (railway station). It has never really been loved by Venetians, with complaints varying from it wasn’t needed to its minimalist style isn’t in keeping with the rest of Venice.  

Vaporetto: Piazzale Roma 

The august Hotel Danieli is one of the best luxury hotels in Venice. It’s housed in a magnificent medieval Venetian Gothic palazzo, just beyond the Bridge of Sighs and Doge’s Palace.  

It’s an unmistakable sight, with bright red pained exterior walls and beautiful Gothic windows. It sits at the beginning of the Riva degli Schiavoni, looking out to San Giorgio Maggiore. You don’t get Venice hotels much closer to San Marco than this. 

Vaporeto: San Marco (San Zaccaria)  

Madonna dell’Orto – Our Lady of the Garden – is in an isolated spot near the north shore of Cannaregio sestiere. Its location means it gets very few visitors compared to, say, San Marco. This is a very good thing: it’s one of the finest churches in Venice, Italy and one of my personal Venice highlights. 

The medieval Gothic exterior is beautiful, its distinctive tower visible from the Ponte della Liberta, the bridge linking Venice with the mainland.

Top tip: the main reason to visit is the treasure trove of Tintoretto artworks inside. This was his parish church, where he worshipped and was laid to rest. It’s undoubtedly one of the best churches in Venice for art lovers. 

Vaporetto: Orto 

Ca’ d’Oro is one of those Venice Italy landmarks most visitors will pass at some point. It’s a gorgeous palazzo (palace) on the northern side of the Grand Canal, in the Cannaregio district.  Its name is Venetian dialect for ‘House of Gold’ – it was originally painted this colour. Now it gleams a brilliant white, its windows patterns of elaborate Gothic tracery.

It’s one of the best examples of Venetian Gothic architecture in Venice.  The building now houses the Galleria Giorgio Franchetti. 

Vaporetto: Ca’ d’Oro 

This splendid Venetian Baroque palace in the Santa Croce sestiere looks out over the Grand Canal. It houses two art museums – the Gallery of Modern Art and the Oriental Art Museum.  

It dates back to the early 18^th century – it was originally designed by Baldassare Longhena, architect of the Santa Maria della Salute church at the other end of the Grand Canal and the hidden Ospedaletto church in Castello. 

Vaporetto: San Stae 

Hidden away in Castello Venice, the shipyard of medieval Venice was the world’s first production line.  The Venice Arsenale was known and feared the world over: it could turn out a small ship in a single day. This, remember, was 400 years before the Industrial Revolution swept through Europe. 

All you can see now is the ceremonial gateway to the Arsenale. It’s a great sight, and worth the brief trip in conjunction with the Museo di Storico Navale (Naval Historical Museum) at the entrance to the canal.

Unfortunately, much of the Arsenale is still in use as a naval base, but some parts have been opened for trade fairs and exhibitions. If you happen to visit Venice around these, try to take a look inside. 

Vaporetto: Arsenale   

San Zanipolo is the Venetian dialect name for Saints John and Paul (Giovanni e Paolo) – not the two of New Testament fame but two later, obscure Roman martyrs.

It’s a minor Basilica, and is the main church of the Dominicans in the city. It’s also one of the most imposing churches in Venice.  It’s a colossal Gothic brick barn of a building, dominating the surrounding area.

It’s the burial place of 25 of Venice’s doges (elected leaders), and also home to some outstanding artworks (note the west doorway by Bartolomeo Bon and the triptych by Giovanni Bellini in the south aisle).  

Vaporetto: Ospedale 

Next door to San Zanipolo, the stunning building that is now the front of Venice’s Hospital was once the Scuola Grande di San Marco.

This was one of six confraternities in the city which were involved in causes from helping the poor to sponsoring the arts, often commissioning staggering portfolios of work.  It’s one of the most beautiful buildings in Venice, in a part of hidden Venice well worth exploring. 

Vaporetto: Ospedale 

Everyone knows about Pisa’s leaning tower, and Bologna has a very prominent one too. Yet it’s Venice that probably has the most of all.  Perhaps it’s something to do with the muddy foundations, but I’m pretty sure Venice wins the wonky belltower competition. One of them is San Giorgio dei Greci. 

It took until the end of the 15^th century for the Venetians to allow the Greek Orthodox Church to celebrate their own rites. They have done so ever since at this church, midway between San Marco and the Arsenale.

The leaning campanile helps make the Rio dei Greci one of the most picturesque of Venice canals. The church deserves a visit to see its collection of icons, unique in Venice. 

Vaporetto: San Marco (San Zaccaria) or Arsenale  

If you stand at the top of St Mark’s Campanile and look out over the Castello sestiere, you’ll see a tall, slender white campanile towering high above the rooftops below. It’s the only obvious landmark in the vicinity, one that you would pass if walking from San Marco to San Zanipolo.

This is the tower of Santa Maria Formosa, which translates as ‘St Mary the Buxom’. This came about because the Virgin Mary appeared to St Magnus in a dream as a buxom woman. 

Insider tip: The interior of the church is worth visiting to see Palma Vecchio’s Polyptych of St Barbara. Also look out for the amazing gurning grotesque on the corner of the exterior wall of the church – one of the best I’ve ever seen. 

Vaporetto: San Marco (San Zaccaria) 

Rialto Bridge is one of the most obvious top sights in Venice, but just around the corner you’ll find another Venice landmark that’s less photogenic but a lot more rewarding: the Pescheria, or Rialto Fish Market. 

It’s where the daily lagoon catch is disgorged and bought up by stallholders. There’s a good chance you’ll see that night’s dinner wriggling in a bowl or on a table top.

It’s one of the few places you can still see a slice of true Venice life. There’s no more of a quintessential Venetian sight than a grandmother or grandfather lugging a trolley-load of fish to the nearest traghetto (gondola ferry) before crossing the Grand Canal to take it home to cook. 

Vaporetto: Rialto Mercato  

Santa Maria dei Miracoli church is perhaps more of an exquisite hidden treasure than a landmark, but it deserves the attention all the same.   It was built by Pietro Lombardo in the late 15^th century to house a painting of the Virgin Mary believed to have miraculous properties.

It’s one of the most beautiful of all Venice buildings, with most of the interior and exterior covered in marble.

The church is hidden away in a quiet corner of Cannaregio sestiere,  the sort of place you’re either seeking out or stumble upon. 

Vaporetto: Rialto or Ospedale 

The Piazzetta di San Marco is the space between the waterfront (Molo) and the Piazza di San Marco (St Mark’s Square) proper. A column each side frames the grand entrance to the city. It’s one of the best entrances you can make to a city – the Praca do Comercio in Lisbon is probably the next best, but this is something else. 

The two columns are believed to date from the 13^th century. One is topped by a statue of St Theodore, the patron saint of Venice before St Mark was given this title.

The second column supports the statue of the Lion of St Mark, the emblem of the city. It is actually a griffin, believed to date from around 300 BC, acquired from Cilicia. 

Vaporetto: San Marco (Vallaresso) or San Marco (San Zaccaria) 

The Doge’s Palace Venice (Palazzo Ducale) was the official residence of the elected leaders of Venice. It’s one of the three or four top tourist attractions in Venice Italy, and likewise one of the premier Venice museums.

As with the other top things to see in Venice Italy, you’re confronted with the problem of getting in without wasting hours of your precious time queuing up. One solution is to visit Venice out of season, of course.   

It was the headquarters of the Venetian government, and one of the world’s outstanding Gothic buildings. Even by Venetian standards it’s sumptuously decorated, with amazing works by all of the Venice art greats – Tintoretto, Titian, Carpaccio and Veronese for starters.

It also contains Venice’s gaol, which you access through the Bridge of Sighs. 

Vaporetto: San Marco (Vallaresso) or San Marco (San Zaccaria) 

This humble canal basin would seldom feature as one of the top things to see in Venice, but it’s one of the most frequented Venice tourist spots.   It’s hidden away just behind St Mark’s Square, one of the most popular Venice places to visit of all. It’s a gondola park, where anything up to 25-30 gondoliers can be found looking for custom at any one time.

As well as being in prime gondola ride in Venice territory, it’s also a great spot to visit if you’re photographing Venice.  

Vaporetto: San Marco (Vallaresso) 

We might be stretching it slightly calling the Scala Contarini del Bovolo a Venice landmark as it’s quite hard to find. It’s well off the beaten path in Venice terms, but is one of the most worthwhile, intriguing places in Venice to visit. 

The Scala is the external staircase of a medieval palazzo. It winds its way up a corner of the building like a snail (bovolo), hence the name. It has opened to visitors over the last few years, and offers a great view over the rooftops of Venice. 

Vaporetto: Rialto or Sant’ Angelo 

San Marco is one of the most beautiful churches in the world, an exotic concoction of domes and crosses evoking visions of the Near East. It was hugely influenced by Byzantine architecture, its stunning exterior matched inside by the incredibly lavish golden mosaics, along with those at Ravenna among the finest in the world.    

Everyone wants to see St Mark’s Venice. It’s a staggering sight, and should be at the top of most what to see in Venice wish lists. The only drawback is that the Basilica is absolutely jammed with visitors most of the time, and you have ten minutes being herded through like cattle when you really need hours to appreciate it.

San Marco is one of the best free things to do in Venice, but you pay for ‘extras’ such as entrance to the Loggia or the Pala d’Oro, a spectacular golden altarpiece. 

Piazza San Marco is by far the most famous of Venice squares, and one of the most beautiful squares in Europe.

Vaporetto: San Marco (Vallaresso) or San Marco (San Zaccaria) 

The Campanile of San Marco is the tallest. most visible, most prominent landmark Venice has. It dominates the San Marco skyline, towering high above St Mark’s Square.  It’s also an outstanding vantage point from which you can see the entire city and many of the Venice lagoon islands. 

The campanile was rebuilt in 1912 after collapsing ten years earlier. It’s 323 feet (98 metres) high, and is one of the most recognisable Venice icons of all.

It has also been the inspiration for many similar towers around the world, including the church of St Euphemia in Rovinj, Croatia.  

Vaporetto: San Marco (Vallaresso) or San Marco (San Zaccaria) 

The Gesuati church is the most prominent landmark in one of the most beautiful parts of Venice, southern Dorsoduro sestiere. Its Neoclassical front dominates the Zattere, the walkway along the Giudecca Canal on the southern shore of Dorsoduro. And its dome can be seen along the canals behind. 

It was built in the 18^th century to accommodate the Jesuate order, and has mostly remained intact, retaining its Rococo decorations.

Top Tip: The highlight inside is the frescoed ceiling by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo. 

Vaporetto: Zattere 

Just around the corner from the Gesuati church, you encounter a scene you could only ever find in Venice. The Squero di San Trovaso is a boatyard next to the canal, one of the last places you can go to get your gondola repaired. 

Behind it, a 16^th century church completes the scene, its belltower leaning to the right, looking like it’s about to topple into the canal. 

Sit across the canal at the Osteria del Squero, enjoy a drink and some of the best cicchetti in Venice (Venetian bar snacks).

Top Tip: One of the most beautiful places in Venice, just off the beaten track but close to one of the main vaporetto stops. 

Vaporetto: Zattere 

The church of St Mary of the Lily occupies a prominent square halfway between San Marco and the Accademia bridge. It’s also known as Santa Maria Zobenigo, after the family that originally founded it.  

The present church dates from the late 17^th century, and is one of the brashest, boldest, downright marvellous works of the Venetian Baroque period. The bright white façade is stunning, though don’t go looking closely for any religious statuary.

It’s dedicated to the life of Admiral Antonio Barbaro, for whom the church was built.

Top Tip: One of the best things to do in Venice at night is to walk from San Marco to Accademia bridge and back. This is also one of the best walks in Venice. 

Vaporetto: Giglio 

I hope you have enjoyed my guide to the best Venice landmarks to visit.It’s an astounding city to visit, and the landmarks of Venice make a wonderful introduction to the city.

The one thing you must do when visiting is take a vaporetto along the Grand Canal Venice. Many of the Venice landmarks I describe can be found along what is possibly the most beautiful street in Europe, if not the world.

I also suggest you seek out some of the churches in Venice mentioned in the article. St Mark’s Basilica is stunning, but you’re rushed through like cattle. Visiting churches like Madonna dell’Orto or Santa Maria dei Miracoli – both in Cannaregio Venice – is much more enjoyable and satisfying.

While seeking out some of these Venice landmarks, you’ll be exploring Venice off the beaten path. This includes heading away from the city into the lagoon. Here the colourful fishermen’s cottages of Burano and the venerable former Cathedral of Venice in Torcello await.

Enjoy!

David Angel is a British photographer, writer and historian. He is a European travel expert with over 30 years’ experience exploring Europe. He has a degree in History from Manchester University, and his work is regularly featured in global media including the BBC, Condé Nast Traveler, The Guardian, The Times, and The Sunday Times.  David is fluent in French and Welsh, and can also converse in Italian, German, Portuguese, Spanish, Czech and Polish.

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