The 6 must-see attractions of Venice, Italy [Part 2/2]

2. The Doge's Palace | rest

The sculptures, born under masterly hands, are truly spectacular. However, the real highlights here are the large paintings covering the ceilings and the walls, they impress by their sizes and their elegance. So much, that when we get to the main room, we'd suddenly all feel very tiny! 

As a political hotspot, the Doge's Palace hides many many secrets that a sole guided tour couldn't afford to disclose.

This quest for the truth takes us among steep paths at the bend of the main aisles, where refinement makes way for the bare stone. Only then do we realize that we had just crossed the Bridge of Sighs, reaching the cold and damp dungeons, final stage of a long and fascinating excursion.

The Doge's Palace (or Palazzo Ducale in Italian) is an incredible, ostentatiously lavish building.

It is an absolute must-see, that I strongly suggest you to visit early enough in the morning – before the tourists flock and it is necessary to wait in line to enter...

3. The Bridge of Sighs

I mentionned it above, the Bridge of Sighs is another monument you don't want to miss.

Connecting the Doge's Palace to its dungeons, it owes its lyrical name to the windows piercing its walls which would allow the convicts to see one last time, down below, their loved ones. To catch one last glimpse of freedom.

Perched several meters high above the water, it is one of the few covered bridges of the city.

Its Baroque style, location and history make it one of Venice's most popular attractions. Although writer André Suarès used to describe it as a "flying coffin" (sic!), a myriad of visitors still vie each and every year for THE perfect picture: waiting for the right moment, precisely when a gondola glides through.

4. The Rialto Bridge

Completed in 1591, the Rialto Bridge accommodates a dozen boutiques. Its sturdy marble construction and ideal location make it another important stop during a stay in the capital of the Veneto region.

In fact, among the four bridges crossing the Grand Canal, the Rialto is the oldest. The view up here is magnificent; whilst the gondolas and vaporettos keep on rushing, you can quietly marvel at the Grand Canal's lively agitation, one of the most gorgeous waterways in the world.