Historic places in Venice

25 historic buildings, sites and memorials in Venice.

Ranked with the travel guide's picks and well-known places first.

SeeSan Marco
Archaeological Museum
Museo Archaeologico Nazionale
Collection of ancient Greek and Roman sculptures, Egyptian, Assyrian and Babylonian artefacts.
Closed · opens 10 am tomorrow€4, reduced €2
SeeCastello
Basilica di San Pietro di Castello
Venice cathedral up to 1807, when the see was transferred to San Marco.
SeeTorcello
Basilica di Santa Maria Assunta
Torcello Cathedral
Precious mosaics, dating from Byzantine times, in the oldest cathedral in the lagoon of Venice. Campanile closed for restoration.
Closed · opens 10:30 am tomorrowAdults €5, reduced €4
SeeSanta Croce
Ca' Pesaro - Museum of Oriental Art
Museo d'arte Orientale di Ca Pesaro
Beautiful palace housing the gallery of modern art focusing on Italian art in the 19th century as well as the Marco Polo Museum, a rich collection mainly of Asian exhibits (fabrics, clothes, armours, porcelain). A MUVE museum.
Nov-Mar 10:00 to 17:00, Apr-Oct: 10:00-18:00, closed Mon, Dec 25, Jan 1, May 1Adults €14, reduced €11.50 (valid for both museums in the Ca' Pesaro)
SeeSan Marco
Correr Museum
Museo Correr
Interesting collection of globes, starting from the 16th century. There is also an only library hall, an archeological museum of Roman antiques and an important picture gallery. The museum offers a tour of Venetian history. Remarkable painting gallery with masterpieces of the 14th to 16th centuries from Venice, works of the Venetian sculpture Canova, studies on urban development and social life. At the end of your visit, don't miss the museum art cafe, with their tables on the San Marco Square. A MUVE museum.
Nov 1 to Mar 31: 10:00-17:00, Apr 1 to Oct 31: 10:00-19:00, closed Dec 25, Jan 1€14 (reduced €8), which also includes Doge's Palace
SeeSan Marco
Doge's Palace
Palazzo Ducale
Don't miss the guided tour named Secret Itinerary, which will let you discover the part of the palace where the city's administration worked, as well as Casanova's jail and the wonderful five hundred year old roof structure. A MUVE museum.
Nov to Mar 08:30 to 17:30, Apr to Oct 08:30 to 19:00, closed Jan 1 and Dec 25Adults €20, reduced €14
SeeCannaregio
Galleria Giorgio Franchetti Ca' d'Oro
Ca' d'Oro museum
A collection of paintings and statues in a former palace from the 15th century. One of the best examples of Gothic architecture in Venice, sculptures, bronzes, paintings of Mantegna, Giorgione and Titian, Flemish and Dutch paintings.
Tue-Sat 08:15-19:15, Mon 08:15-14:00, Sun 10:00-18:00, closed Dec 25, Jan 1, May 1Adults €8, reduced €6
SeeMurano
Glass Museum
Museo del Vetro
Housed in the large Palazzo Giustinian near the island's center. "Museo Vetrario" in Italian, offers a century-by-century tour of Venetian glass-making. Roman glass pieces dating to the 1st to 3rd cent AD. Largest collection of historical glass with pieces dating from the 15th to 20th centuries. A MUVE museum.
Nov to Mar 10-17, Apr to Oct 10-18. closed Dec25, Jan1. May1Adults €8, reduced €5.50
BuyCastello
I Tre Mercanti
Here you can find a special selection of the best Italian food and drinks products. Well known for their amazing single portion Tiramisù. If you don't feel like shopping you can always browse the shop and ask cooking tips and the history of products. They can supply yachts, make exclusive gift packages or hampers for companies, and ship worldwide.
Closed · opens 11 am tomorrow
DoSan Marco
La Fenice Theatre
Teatro La Fenice
One of the best opera houses in the world. The theatre is an identical reconstruction (rebuilt in 2003) of the previous theatre building that burned down in 1996. Tickets for opera, ballet, and symphony performances are available at the theatre, various locations around the city, or by phone. You can visit this historic theatre with an audioguide (good explanations in several languages).
Tours: adults €10, students up to 26 and seniors over 65 €7, children up to 6 free. Slightly cheaper if purchased as part of a combined ticket with the Doge's palace. Performances €10-380
SeeLido
Mekhitarist Monastery
Monasterio Mekhitarista
Library with historical manuscripts, collection of works, miniatures and documents of the Armenian history, Monastery Church. Tours in Italian, English, and Armenian. On the small island of San Lazzaro degli Armeni.
Daily 15:25 (guided tour only)Adults €6, reduced €4.50
SeeSanta Croce
Mocenigo Palace Museum
Museo di Palazzo Mocenigo, Centro Studi die Storia del Tessuto e del Costume
A collection of clothes dating from the 18th century. Splendid interior. Collection of dresses and accessories, fabrics, books, figurines in various period costumes. A MUVE museum.
Apr-Oct: 10:00-17:00, Nov-Mar: 10:00-16:00; closed Mon, Dec 26, Jan 1, May 1Adults €5, reduced €3.50
SeeCastello
Museo Storico Navale
Naval History Museum
Collection of relics from the Serenissima Republic of Venice, the Italian navy, and the ancient Arsenale shipyards, miniature models, uniforms and stadarts, collection of sea shells. The main building of the Naval Historical Museum (Riva S. Biasio) is closed for renovation works. It's possible to visit the Ships Pavilion in rio della Tana, Castello 2162 (close to the Naval Museum).
Mon-Fri 08:45-13:30, Sat 08:45-13:00, Sun closedAdults €5, reduced €3.50
SeeSanta Croce
Natural History Museum
Museo di Storia Naturale
11 exhibition halls with sections on palaeontology, explorations and nature. A MUVE museum.
Jun-Oct: 10:00-18:00; Nov-Mar: Tue Fri 09:00-17:00, Sat S 10:00-18:00Adults €8, reduced €5.50
SeeCannaregio
Oratorio dei Crociferi
Small oratory facing the old monastery dei Crociferi, painting circle by Palma the Younger.
Fri Sat 10:00-13:00 and 14:00-17:00, otherwise only by reservationEntrance €3
SeeSan Marco
Ponte di Rialto
Rialto Bridge
The bridge has become one of Venice's most recognizable icons and has a history that spans over 800 years. Today's Rialto Bridge was completed in 1591 and was used to replace a wooden bridge that collapsed in 1524.
EatSan Marco
Restaurant La Caravella
Historical place near St. Mark's Square, known since the 1960s, it has become a must if you like traditions. Offers some typical dishes and a large selection of wines. From May to September service is in a traditional courtyard.
Open every day all year round
SeeSan Polo
Rialto Bridge
Ponte di Rialto
The bridge has become one of Venice's most recognizable icons and has a history that spans over 800 years. Today's Rialto Bridge was completed in 1591 and was used to replace a wooden bridge that collapsed in 1524.
SeeCastello Not mapped
Bridge of Sighs
Ponte dei Sospiri
Connecting the Doge's Palace with the prison. Persons convicted in the palace were passing to prison here, seeing the last of Venice before going into the dark prison area with no daylight. You can pass the bridge yourself during a visit to the Doge's Palace or view it from outside from the Ponte della Paglia.
SeeLido Not mapped
Monastery of San Nicolò al Lido
Abbazia di San Nicolò
Monastery and church that houses some relics of Saint Nicholas (270–343 AD), patron of sailors. Both the church and monastery dates back to the 16th century.
SeeCastello Not mapped
Napoleonic Gardens
Biennale Gardens, Giardini della Biennale
They are the largest green area in the historic center and are home to the Venice International Art Exhibition. The gardens contain lush vegetation, among which the various twentieth-century architectures of the pavilions are organised, mostly around a central avenue from which smaller paths branch off, characteristic for their shape and each one bearing the name of the nation hosted.
SeeSan Polo Not mapped
State Archive
Archivio di Stato di Venezia
One of the largest archives in the world, in an old Franciscan monastery. Manuscripts, texts and documents related to the history of the Venetian Serenissima.
Mon-Thu 08:10-17:50, Fri Sat 08:10-13:50 (reading room)Free
BuySan Marco Not mapped
T Fondaco dei Tedeschi
Galleria T Fondaco dei Tedeschi
Luxury duty-free shopping centre, housed in the historic Fondaco dei Tedeschi building where German merchants had there trading post for centuries.
Do Not mapped
Teatro San Gallo
Half-hour documentary based on the BBC series Francesco's Venice - an 'amazing film that puts the spectacular beauty of this great city in historical context'. Film in English, audioguides in Italian, Russian and Spanish.
Nov-Apr: 19:00, May-Oct: 20:00€39, seniors €35, students €25, children €15
SeeSanta Croce Not mapped
Tolentini Church
Chiesa di San Nicolò da Tolentino
Historic church completed in 1714.

Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Venice (CC BY-SA 4.0).