Venice the Jewel of the Adriatic

Cips club

Best Of IgoUgo

Restaurant | "A Meal with a View"

View from the private motor launch to Cipriani. Photo - Venice, Italy

Quote:

A meal with a view!Cips club at the Cipriani Venice.Cips club is an Al fresco restaurant at the exclusive 5* Cipriani hotel & Palazzo Vendramin on the tiny island of Giudecca, opposite St.Marks Square in Venice. The Cips club restaurant consists of two eating areas one inside and the other is on the water front on a wooden pontoon that is supposed to resemble the deck of a boat.To reach the hotel you are picked up from St. Marks square in a small private motor launch and taken across the bay to the hotel and after alighting at the landing stage you have to walk through the beautifully kept gardens of the hotel to the quay side area facing Venic...Read More

Member Rating 3 out of 5 on October 16, 2009

Cheer!
Flag

Doge's Palace/Palazzo Ducale

Best Of IgoUgo

Attraction | "This Is Not a Dodgey Palace!"

The sugar icing facade. Photo - Doge's Palace/Palazzo Ducale, Venice, Italy

Quote:

Palazzo Ducale or the Doges palace.The Doge’s Palace is one of the most beautiful and famous palaces not only in Venice but in the world and is situated along the water front near St. Marks square next to the ornate Byzantine Basilica of St. Mark.The palace used to house the Doge of Venice who was a life long elected Duke elected by the aristocracy of Venice to oversee the running of Venice. He was a very powerful figure in the city and also acted as a magistrate. Once the duke was elected he had to live by law in the palace for the rest of his life until he died. The position of Duke goes back to 700 AD and the last Doge of Venice was Ludovico Manin who was forced to abdicate ...Read More

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on October 16, 2009

Doge's Palace/Palazzo Ducale
Piazza San Marco
Venice, Italy 30124
+39 0415224951

Cheer!
Flag

Palace Scala Contarini del Bovolo

Best Of IgoUgo

Attraction | "The Snails House"

The Piazza Manin. Photo - Palace Scala Contarini del Bovolo, Venice, Italy

Quote:

The Palace Scala Contarini del Bovolo.The Scala Contarini del Bovolo is a small Palace in Venice which is hidden away up a small alley known as the Calle della Vida near the Campo Manin. It was the palace of the Contarini family eight of whom became the Doge of Venice. The original palace was designed by Giovanni Candi in 1499.The main attraction is the exceptionally unique staircase. The story goes that during the building of the palace which was near to completion the Contarini’s decided they wanted an extra staircase put in. This caused quite a headache for Giovanni Candi as it would have involved much work in trying to incorporate it into the palace.The Contarin...Read More

The Palace Scala Contarini del Bovolo.

The Scala Contarini del Bovolo is a small Palace in Venice which is hidden away up a small alley known as the Calle della Vida near the Campo Manin. It was the palace of the Contarini family eight of whom became the Doge of Venice. The original palace was designed by Giovanni Candi in 1499.

The main attraction is the exceptionally unique staircase. The story goes that during the building of the palace which was near to completion the Contarini’s decided they wanted an extra staircase put in. This caused quite a headache for Giovanni Candi as it would have involved much work in trying to incorporate it into the palace.

The Contarini’s employed a second architect Giorgio Spavento and left it with him to get on with it as they were travelling abroad. On their return they were struck by the unusual staircase that had been added to the palace. It had been added to the outside of the building and consisted of a spiral staircase with arches spiralling up the outside of the building. The Contarini’s were impressed with it and named it the Scala Bovolo which translated means snail staircase as it looked like the shell of a snail.

The house is quite difficult to find but if you look quite carefully around the plaza Manin there are signs to it. I had read about it before going to Venice and found it eventually. You enter a small alley way which leads down to a very small courtyard. On the right you will see this magnificent building. Apparently the palace h ad been left to get into a state and needed quite a bit of renovation but the staircase remained intact. Unfortunately it was closed for repairs and renovation while we were there but apparently you can mount the stairs to the top of the building which affords magnificent views towards St. Marks Basilica and St. Marks Tower and also the other bell towers reaching up in the Venice sky line. There were apparently lovely frescos in the building but they were badly damaged through neglect. Although it was closed I was still thrilled to see this staircase as it is really beautiful and really pleasing on the eye.

There is a very small garden which contains a couple of wells that are older than the palace itself but there is not much else to see apart from the marvellous architecture of the building which is adorned with beautiful arches up the staircase and along the different floors of the palace.
I would definitely recommend you go and have a look at this place. Normally it is open between March and October between 10AM and 4 PM each day.
Read Less

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on October 16, 2009

Palace Scala Contarini del Bovolo

Venice, Italy

Cheer!
Flag

Ponte di Rialto

Best Of IgoUgo

Attraction | "The Beautiful Rialto Bridge"

The Rialto Bridge Photo - Ponte di Rialto, Venice, Italy

Quote:

The Rialto Bridge.Venice is a collection of small islands and in order to reach each of the islands small wooded bridges were built to help with crossing from one island to another. Apparently the wooden bridge that was originally built over the Grand Canal collapsed many times so a competition of famous architects was arranged to design a permanent bridge that would look beautiful and long lasting.The Rialto Bridge known in Italian as the Ponte Di Rialto is in the centre of Venice on the Grand Canal which is the main canal that snakes its way through the heart of Venice. It is one of the largest and busiest canals in the city and runs from near the Piazza San Marco to the lago...Read More

The Rialto Bridge.

Venice is a collection of small islands and in order to reach each of the islands small wooded bridges were built to help with crossing from one island to another. Apparently the wooden bridge that was originally built over the Grand Canal collapsed many times so a competition of famous architects was arranged to design a permanent bridge that would look beautiful and long lasting.

The Rialto Bridge known in Italian as the Ponte Di Rialto is in the centre of Venice on the Grand Canal which is the main canal that snakes its way through the heart of Venice. It is one of the largest and busiest canals in the city and runs from near the Piazza San Marco to the lagoon near the station. The Grand Canal is 2.36 miles long and is between 98 feet and 298 feet in width. It connects the Island of San Marco to the island of San Paulo which contained a large market still there today.

It was built in 1588 and took three years to build. The designer of the bridge was aptly named Antonio Da Ponte translated into English as Anthony of the Bridge. He competed against the likes of famous architects such as Michael Di Angelo and Palladio in the design of the bridge and he won. The bridge took three years to build and is supported by 12,000 wooden pilings which are still in place today.

It is only one of four bridges that cross the Grand Canal. The bridge is beautifully designed and straddles the canal. It is built of white stone and has a central arch. It is just over 75 feet wide, 24 feet high and the main span of the bridge measures just over 95 feet in length. There are three sets of steps two on the outer aspects of the bridge and a central set of steps with small shops on either side.

The Bridge looks absolutely majestic in the Venice sunshine and stands out defiant against the sceptics who said that it would never work and would collapse due to its ornate appearance. The bridge is surrounded by canal side restaurants that is ideal to sit beside the canal and have some lunch but the prices of the restaurants are over inflated and you would be much better off just viewing the bridge and eating in one of the many small trattoria’s in one of the nearby streets which would be much cheaper and probably better value for money.

There is a water bus stop at the Rialto Bridge if you are unsure of your map reading skills or wary of finding your way around although it is sign posted very well all over the island of San Marco and it is probably one of the most popular tourist sights in the city. Alternatively just follow the crowds if you are getting near to it as sometimes it is chock a block with people taking photos, crossing it or just standing looking and admiring it.

The volume of traffic that goes under it is nonstop as it is very much a working canal. Boats that traverse the canal include the water buses, working boats such as delivery boats delivering flowers, water, all kinds of food, bread, meats and cheeses, furniture, police, ambulances, fire brigade, tradesmen and water. There are gondoliers standing around the nearby canals that will relieve you of approximately £100 for a half hour gondolier ride which would take you under the bridge.

I think it is well worth a visit to the Rialto Bridge and after St. Marks square and the Doges palace it is probably one of the most popular tourist sites. I would recommend you visit the bridge on your trip to Venice. The shops on either side of the bridge sell the usual tourist tat but some of the shops do sell some nice Venetian masks, world famous Murano glass made on the neighbouring island of Murano and jewellery. Alas Italy is like other countries plagued by yobs and vandals who have desecrated the bridge with graffiti which is such a shame to have scarred one of the most historical bridges in the city. You can appreciate the beauty of the bridge both during the day and at night it is beautiful at any time of the day.
Read Less

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on October 16, 2009

Ponte di Rialto
Grand Canal
Venice, Italy 30124
Nessun telefono disp

Cheer!
Flag

AL PONTE ANTICO HOTEL

Best Of IgoUgo

Hotel | "A 4 Star Hotel with 6 Star Service"

Hotel viewed from the Grand Canal. Photo - AL PONTE ANTICO HOTEL, Venice, Italy

Quote:

Hotel Al Ponte Altico. Venice.The hotel Al Ponte Altico is a four star hotel in the centre of Venice. It is situated on the Grand Canal near the Rialto Bridge and has spectacular views of the bridge from the balcony.The hotel is part of a 15th century palace which has been lovingly restored by its current owner to its former glory. Each room is individually decorated in Louis XV period style elegance to a very high standard. There are only 9 rooms in the hotel which means that service is very personal and informal. The rooms contain the usual facilities such as minibar, Wi-Fi access, although we did not use it on this occasion, direct dial telephone, flat screen television and ...Read More

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on October 16, 2009

AL PONTE ANTICO HOTEL
CALLE DELL ASEO CANNAREGIO5768
Venice, Italy 30131
00390270006455

Cheer!
Flag

Venice

Best Of IgoUgo

Attraction | "The City of Sighs"

Venice from the air. Photo - Italy, Europe

Quote:

After what was a fantastic flight to Venice with ample supplies of Champagne we arrived at Marco Polo international airport. Following which we had to get ourselves into Venice.From Venice airport there are a number of options to take you into Venice.1.The bus.2.A taxi which will only take you part of the way and drop you off near the station but then it would be quite a walk to the hotel or by connecting to the local water bus service serving the whole of Venice.3.A water bus known as Alilaguna which leaves directly from the airport into Venice via four different routes depending where you are staying. 13 Euros each way or 25 Euros return. All routes end or pass St...Read More

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on October 16, 2009

Cheer!
Flag

IgoUgo

Venice Journals

Upload Photos