DISCOVER VENICE
History and beauty
calle by calle
Venice is an open-air museum,
to be discovered without haste. Embracing the idea of getting lost in its Beauty means immersing yourself in a millennia-old history and culture at every corner. Monuments, events, works of art, canals and gondolas, elegant palaces mirrored on the water create a continuously enchanting mosaic.
Domus Civica Hostel is in the heart of this incredible city, just steps away from everything. Here’s what you absolutely must not miss.
Piazza San Marco
Domus Civica Hostel is located a 30-minute walk from the most romantic square of all, San Marco. Characterized by its tall bell tower, the Basilica, and refined cafés, it resembles a cozy living room in Istrian stone, enchanting at the first light of dawn.
From Piazza San Marco, a short walk leads to the majestic Doge’s Palace, the original seat of the Doge, with the evocative Bridge of Sighs that once connected it to the Prisons.
Bacino di San Marco
Beyond the splendid Doge’s Palace, you arrive at Riva degli Schiavoni, where the Bacino di San Marco stretches out, with the Island of San Giorgio immersed in the archaic atmosphere of the 10th century. To the right, the profiles of the Basilica of La Salute, beloved by Venetians, stand tall, celebrated every November with its namesake festival.
To the left, the view extends along the shore, past the entrance to the Arsenal shipyards and reaching the Gardens, where the famous Biennale d’Arte takes place. On the horizon, you can see the island of Lido di Venezia, home to the magnificent Venice International Film Festival.
Canal Grande
Just a 5-minute walk from Domus Civica Hostel is the Canal Grande, one of the most famous, unique, and visited places in Venice. It is a wide canal in the shape of an “S” or serpent that runs through the entire historic center of Venice, dividing it in two: it is the first thing you will see as soon as you leave the Santa Lucia train station.
Stretching just under 4 km, the Canal Grande is the main thoroughfare of Venice: simply follow its banks to reach the heart of the city and find all the other must-see attractions.
A boat ride to admire the splendid palaces overlooking the Canal Grande is a must, and to get into the spirit of the city, you can take the most used means of transport by Venetians: the vaporetto.
Rialto Bridge and Market
There are four bridges that cross the Grand Canal, but only one name is known even to those who do not live in Venice: it is the majestic Rialto Bridge, an architectural marvel built at the end of the 16th century that has left everyone in awe for centuries with its grandeur and beauty.
Starting from our hostel, a short 15-minute walk through alleys and bridges will take you to this nerve center of city life.
Don’t miss the fish and produce market set up beside the bridge on one of the two banks to see an authentic slice of Venetian life. At the Rialto Market, you can find stalls of fruit, vegetables, and fish with irresistible aromas every day.
Let yourself be tempted by the local delicacies.
The Islands: Murano and Burano
One of the most famous Venetian traditions in the world is the murrina, an elaborate decoration made of blown glass from Murano. It is no coincidence that the island, the cradle of this ancient art, is one of the most visited places in Venice. It is truly exciting to see how glass is worked to produce objects that are true artistic creations. It is also easy to reach: just take a vaporetto from the nearby Venice Santa Lucia Station to get to the island of Murano.
Similarly, you can reach another island of Venice whose name immediately evokes a centuries-old artisanal tradition: Burano. Smaller than its sister Murano and less visited because it is quite far from the historic center, which also means it is much quieter, it is perfect for those who want to immerse themselves in a different, slower-paced Venice.
Here, the “local specialties” are lace and lace makers, who still sit outside their homes during the beautiful season to embroider on their bobbins, offering visitors a unique spectacle of local life.
Gallerie dell’Accademia
If you are an art enthusiast, in addition to visiting our Domus Civica Art Gallery, you cannot miss the Gallerie dell’Accademia, a prestigious museum located a 15-minute walk from the hostel. It houses the most important collection of Venetian painting in the world, focusing on its period of greatest splendor (from the 15th to the 18th century).
The 37 museum halls are housed within the former Church of Santa Maria della Carità and the adjoining convent, once the seat of the Academy of Fine Arts. The highlights of the collection are four works considered absolute masterpieces of Western art: Giorgione’s “The Tempest,” Titian’s “The Pietà,” Carpaccio’s “The Legend of Saint Ursula,” and Veronese’s “The Feast in the House of Levi.”
Gran Teatro La Fenice
Just 1 km from the hostel is the Gran Teatro La Fenice, the main opera house in Venice and one of the most prestigious theaters in the world. The theater was commissioned around 1787 by the Noble Society of Boxholders, who decided to name it “La Fenice” after the mythical bird capable of rising from its ashes. The theater was inaugurated on May 16, 1792, on the occasion of the Festa della Sensa. Unfortunately, it has been struck by fire twice.
The first fire occurred on December 13, 1836, destroying the auditorium and part of the theater. The second, arson, occurred on January 29, 1996. La Fenice then “rose” once again from its ashes after years of restoration, reopening in 2003. Since 2004, the traditional New Year’s Concert has been held here every year on the morning of January 1st.