Discover Venice: 2 Self-Guided Walks to Discover the City’s Famous Sites and Hidden Gems

Overview

With our two self-guided walking tours of Venice you will discover more of this wonderful city and the history that has defined the area. In our first tour, we’ll explore the history of La Serenissima in this Introduction to Venice. We’ll be exploring this city of no roads, no cars but well over 400 bridges and at least 150 canals. In our second tour, enjoy the Art and Artichokes of Venice in this beautiful walk through Dorsoduro, the city's cultural and student district. This Dorsoduro walk is all about quenching your thirst for art, food, crafts, gondolas, wine and the local experience of Venetians.

Start the La Serenissima tour next to the Colonna di San Marco e San Teodoro as you look over Venice’s beautiful waterfront. Begin to learn about this strange city's long and complex history, a story that involves the fall of the Roman Empire, the rise of the Byzantium, waves of refugees, sea-faring bandits and a whole lot of salt!

Visit the Basilica di San Marco, a treasure trove of religious and imperial relics. A long time ago, the Venetians had power, trade, but they didn’t have the sacred glory bestowed on their city by an important patron saint. Listen to the story of how they went out to find one…

Take in the atmosphere of Piazza San Marco and marvel at the campanile, or bell tower. Take in the unique atmosphere of grand cafes, the smell of spices brought in along the Silk Road, the merchants hawking, the waltzes from a string quartet. Romance, drama and the opulent fashion of the time!

One of only four ‘inhabited’ bridges left in Europe today, the Rialto Bridge offers the best view of the Grand Canal. Learn how this was originally a wooden bridge and more about how Venice has dealt with its life on the ocean.

Look over the canal at a wonderful art museum with faded frescoes from Titian and works by Carpaccio. This area gives a real sense of the grandeur of my home city back in its golden era. It stands in the sestiere or district of Cannareggio, one of the six districts in Venice. Go and explore once this tour has finished.

Begin in Dorsoduro utside Ca’ Foscari University, a masterpiece of Venetian Gothic architecture that has sculpted the identity of Dorsoduro. Ever since 1868, Ca' Foscari palace has been home to Ca' Foscari University, an institution that has attracted artists, academics, merchants and students to the area.

Stroll into Campo Santa Margherita, a fantastic market square during the day and the perfect place to grab a drink by night. Head over to the Varoteri school, a strange building that has been the Headquarters of the local tanners and leather makers in the 1700s, then later a store for firewood, then a cinema and then in the 1930s, but it’s most bizarre incarnation was a centre of education for fascist mysticism!

Weave down Ca'Macana as we learn about the beautiful craft of mask making. A mask is a sure-fire way to do whatever you want without it affecting your day-to-day business. It also meant every man and woman were equal… you could live as a prince for a night.

Stop by the waterside at Squero di San Trovaso, one of the working boatyards where Venice's famous gondolas are built before grabbing a bottle of vintage wine from the marvellous Cantine del Vino gia Schiavi before visiting the Gallerie dell’Accademia, home to masterpieces from Veronese and Giorgione to Bellini and Carpaccio. There are six renaissance artists who absolutely defined Venice and its culture: Bellini, Veronese, Giorgione, Tintoretto, Titian and Carpaccio.

Finish the tour at the majestic Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute, Venice's plague church. This church was built after a terrible plague ravaged Venice, one of many waves that would come here: as a centre of trade, Venice was incredibly vulnerable. The city founded plague churches with the express desire to ask the Madonna to deliver us from this scourge where people died in their thousands. The most famous of which is this beautiful church right here.

The Vidi Guides experience is enriched with on-screen photos and videos. We also point out where to take the perfect Instagram photos during the tour, and include recommendations for food, drinks, and local attractions. Don't worry, none of our recommendations are sponsored - they are simply favourites of the locals who helped craft the experience.

Vidi Guides creates immersive audio experiences that are like podcasts. This is a self-guided audio tour that can be started or stopped at your own convenience. Download the Vidi Guides app & your tour to explore the area independently and safely! Make sure to download your tour before your visit to streamline your trip!