A Venice Itinerary: 8 Best Sites to See (Aside from Gondolas and St. Mark’s)

I know you already have Saint Mark’s Square (Piazza San Marco), the islands of Murano & Burano, the Rialto Bridge, and other sites along the canals on your Venice itinerary.  

Add these lesser-known Venetian landmarks to your list!

Where to Stay in Venice

During the peak summer months, the blocks surrounding St. Mark’s Square (Piazza San Marco) are very crowded, so I’d avoid that direct vicinity. Otherwise, all of Venice is walkable, or easy to get around using the water taxis.

You can plug your dates into this interactive map to check the best rates available for both hotels and rentals:

Learn from a Chef: Cook in a Real Italian Kitchen

This is another activity I was skeptical of, but it wound up being a highlight of Venice.

There are several opportunities to learn how to make classic Italian recipes, from pasta to tiramisu.

➡️ Click to Book: Italian Cooking Class

This is one of the options, usually held at Serafina, a restaurant in Venice.

Church of San Pantalon: The World’s Largest Canvas Painting

The Chiesa di San Pantalon is home to an astonishing work of art.  More than 40 canvases combine to form the largest single canvas painting in the world, which covers the church ceiling.

The artist, Giovanni Antonio Fumiani, is said to have fallen to his death from the scaffolding … though other accounts put his death at two different times.

The church is dedicated to Saint Pantaleon, a physician and martyr, and the painting depicts his legend. The exterior of the church is somewhat nondescript.

Location

• Sestiere Dorsoduro, 3703, 30123 Venezia VE, Italy
• Near the S. Toma “A” ferry stop

Hours

• Monday – Thursday, & Saturday: 10:00am – 12:30pm / 3:30pm – 6:00pm
• Friday: Closed 
• Sunday  9:00am -12:30pm / 3:30pm – 6:00pm 

Cost

• Free entry
• 1Euro donation to turn the lights on and illuminate the ceiling

Brief History

The church’s ceiling canvas painting spans 443 square meters.  It extends over and behind the altar.

Painted between 1680 and 1704 by Venetian artist Giovanni Antonio Fumiani, the work depicts the martyrdom and glorification of Saint Pantaleon. The scene shows the saint’s unjust condemnation by Emperor Galerius Maximian, his torture at the hands of executioners, and his ultimate triumph as he is welcomed into heaven.

Teatro La Fenice: Rebuilt After Multiple Fires

Teatro La Fenice is one of the most famous opera houses in the world, and a cornerstone of Venice’s cultural history.

Originally opened in 1792, La Fenice earned its name: “The Phoenix” after repeatedly rising from disaster, including major fires in 1836 and 1996.

Many operas by composers like Verdi premiered here, and today the theater remains an active performance venue as well as a symbol of Venice’s resilience.

Location

• Campo S. Fantin, 1965, 30124 Venezia, Italy
• West of Saint Mark’s Square (Piazza San Marco)

Hours

Hours vary, based on the opera house’s performance schedule.

• Generally:  9:30am – 6:00pm
• The Theatre hosts a permanent exhibition dedicated to Maria Callas and her years of activity in Venice.

Cost 

• 12 Euros for adults
• 9 Euros for seniors
• Admission includes an audio tour.
• Reservations aren’t available (or necessary)
• Buy tickets at the theater box office, and don’t be put off by the somewhat unhelpful/unwelcoming staff at the desk. They seem more focused on the shows, and annoyed to be selling tickets to walk-ins.  

Brief History

The Fenice Opera House was founded in 1792, and is home to several stories of private boxes for wealthy Venetians.  Today, around 180 boxes surround the theater’s stage.

Venice’s original opera house burned to the ground in 1774, and opera lovers eventually gathered the funding and design elements to build La Fenice.

Two fires burned the theater to the ground:

• 1836: A new heating system sparked a fire that took three days to extinguish.
• 1996: Two electricians were found guilty of arson, said to be angry about fines for their delayed work at the theater.

A number of famous works by the world’s most famous composers debuted at La Fenice:

• Rossini
• Bellini
• Donizetti
• Verdi
• Stravinsky
• Britten

Teatro Italia: Now The World’s Prettiest Grocery Store

I’ve never been in a supermarket like this!

The historic Teatro Italia is now a Despar, a chain grocery store.

Much of the old theater’s charm and structure remain.  It’s a unique case where historic preservation and modern commercial use coexist.

Location

• Cannaregio nn, Campiello de l’Anconeta, 1939-1952, 30121 Venezia VE, Italy
• East of Venice Santa Lucia (train station)

Hours

• Monday – Saturday:  8:30am – 7:00pm
• Sunday: Closed

Cost

• Free (it’s a grocery store)

Brief History

Well, this was controversial.

The original Teatro Italia opened in 1916, with a mix of neo-Gothic and Art Nouveau styles, which reflected Venetian architecture.  It functioned as a theater and a movie house, hosting both operas and films.

The cinema closed in 1990, and the building was abandoned.

Years later, Despar invested millions to convert it into a grocery store, which opened in 2018.

While it faced backlash from many Venetians at the time, the transformation (and preservation) are celebrated as an adaptive reuse (and far better than demolition).

Today, shoppers browse for produce under frescoed ceilings, chandeliers, and other originals from the theater.

Libreria Acqua Alta: Venice’s Quirky, Chaotic Bookstore

In addition to traditional bookcases and shelves, the Acqua Alta bookstore sells books stacked in a gondola, a bathtub, and barrels.

It’s all an effort to protect the merchandise from “acqua alta,” or “high water” (referring to the floods Venice is infamous for).

Libreria Acqua Alta is worth a visit, to check out this symbol of creativity and adaptability in Venice.

Location

• C. Longa Santa Maria Formosa, 5176b, 30122 Venezia VE, Italy
• North of Saint Mark’s Square

Hours

• Daily: 9:00am – 7:00pm

Cost

• Free (though they ask for donations for the resident cats)

Brief History

Founded in the early 2000s, Libreria Acqua Alta is one of the city’s most quirky landmarks, and definitely one to add to your Venice itinerary.

It does get crowded and chaotic inside the store, as people search through the collection of books piled in every nook available.  You’ll find a lot of books about Venice, souvenirs, and other unique treasures.

I loved the outdoor terrace, made of stacked books. It’s a staircase of waterlogged hard covers, which you can climb for a view of the canal.

In another area, a big window (or is it an entry/exit) opens to the water itself.

Giardini Reali: The Royal Gardens of Venice

The Royal Gardens of Venice, first designed and built in 1817, opened to the public in 2019. 

Location

• Along the canal, south of Saint Mark’s Square (Piazza San Marco)

Hours

• mid-April through mid-October: 9:00am – 7:00pm
• mid-October through mid-April: 9:00am – 5:00pm

Cost

• Free entry

History

The Giardini Reali were originally created in the early 19th century during the Napoleonic period, when parts of Venice were reshaped to reflect more formal European designs.

Tucked beside St. Mark’s Square, the gardens offer a rare green space in a city built almost entirely of stone and canals.

Today, the Royal Gardens provide a quiet contrast to the surrounding crowds, plus shade during the summer months.

A Few Final Notes on the Royal Gardens

Quite a few things are banned, since this is supposed to be a peaceful space:

• picnics
• alcohol
• running, scooters, and any kind of sports