Venice, the capital of northern Italy’s Veneto region, is built on more than 100 small islands in a lagoon in the Adriatic Sea. It has no roads, just canals – including the Grand Canal thoroughfare – lined with Renaissance and Gothic palaces. The central square, Piazza San Marco, contains St. Mark’s Basilica, which is tiled with Byzantine mosaics, and the Campanile bell tower offering views of the city’s red roofs.
Itinerary : 4 days / 3 nights
Day 1 : Basilica di San Marco, Doge’s Palace, Dorsoduro, Gondola Ride
Arrive and check-in to the hotel in Venice, Visit Basilica di San Marco , also known as St.Mark’s Basilica . Situated on Piazza San Marco, this Basilica of Byzantine domes decked in gold ground mosaics and intricate designs is a sight behold. A guided tour through the Basilica is highly recommended to understand the significance of this Basilica in biblical history. If time permits, you should definitely climb up the Campanile di San Marco ( Bell Tower) for a fabulous aerial view of St. Mark’s Square.Right next door to the Basilica is the Doge’s Palace, the seat of political and administrative power of the Venitian Republic from its birth to its end. The Palazzo Ducale as it is fondly called is a statement to the splendour of the La Serenissima (Venice). While you’re here, walk across the Bridge of Sighs and feel the plight of the prisoners who used to walk across the bridge and heave a sigh of remorse at their last glance of beautiful Venice before serving their prison tenure. A guided tour as well as a secret itinerary tour of Doge’s Palace is highly recommended to explore every nook and corner of this historic building.After strolling around St. Mark’s Square, make your way to a quite and quainter part of the city called Dorsoduro. After traversing and exploring the streets of Dorsoduro, make your way to the Grand Canal and hop onto a gondola of your choice and snuggle in for a 30 minute romantic glide across the canals of Venice. Rest your legs and enjoy the most quintessentially Venetian affair while you’re at it.The ideal time for a gondola ride would be early evening, around sunset.
Day 2 : Rialto Market, Museum & Church Trailing, Teatro La Fenice
Start your 2nd day in Venice like the locals by visiting the historic Rialto Market. Sprawling on the western banks of the Grand Canal, this market is a hive of activity. You will catch a glimpse of venetian life while you’re here ; going about their daily lives, selling or buying local produce. Venice has a couple of passes that bundle a few options together so that you can visit more and save money at the same time. The Chorus Pass is a church only pass that gives you admission to 16 prominent churches around the city.Conclude your evening with a visit to the exquisite Teatro La Fenice and experience the golden era of Italian Opera in this Baroque Opera house that has once hosted world-renowned maestros like Verdi, Donizetti, Abbado, Muti and Chung, Rossini, Mirella Freni, Luciano Pavarotti and Bellini.
Day 3 : Murano, Burano & Torcello Islands, Lido Beach
Spend your last day in Venice Island hopping! Amongst the countless islands in Venice, Murano, Burano and Torcello are 3 major islands in the northern part of Venetian lagoon and are an absolute treat. You could start off with Murano , a fisherman island and the biggest of the the 3 islands , world famous for its glass factories. After visiting the Glass Museum and Chiesa di San Pietro Martire jump back onboard your vaporetto and enjoy a half an hour ride to Burano. The eye popping colored houses are sure to steal your heart while you’re here and so will the intricate hand tatted Burano lace.In Burano, make sure you drop by the Museo del Merletto ( Burano Lace Museum ) and the Church of San Martino Vescovo. After Burano, make your way to the Torcello and enjoy the grassy, secluded island decked in Byzantine mosaics and marshy muck lands. To put to perspective how secluded this island is, there are just about 75 inhabitants in the island! Walk around The Devil’s Bridge and Cattedrale di Torcello (Basilica di Santa Maria Assunta) and make your way back to Venice late in the evening.
Day 4 :
After Breakfast , proceed to airport for departure.