VENICE

Romantic and mysterious. Ethereal and imposing. The most seductive and photogenic city in the world. A historic maritime city with countless names. The “Queen of the Adriatic Sea"; “La Serenissima”; the “City of Canals”; the “Floating City”. The birthplace of Marco Polo, Casanova, Vivaldi, Goldoni; the cradle of explorers, merchants and artists; the beloved destination of travellers of the 18th century; a living work of art that floats through the centuries in the peaceful waters of the Venetian lagoon. A city that is full of grace; full of charm. A UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Built on top of 117 small islands of the Laguna Veneta that are connected by 177 canals and more than 400 bridges, the capital of the Veneto area in Northern Italy unveils its unique history to the visitor. An important naval and mercantile force in the Mediterranean during the Medieval times and the Renaissance, the Most Serene Republic of Venice, was a sovereign state for ten centuries (8th -18th). The republic was ruled by the doges and was the financial centre of a mighty maritime empire that was connecting the West to the East. The city’s untold wealth, luxury and unlimited prosperity is reflected in the arts and local architecture that remain today an unparalleled cultural heritage. From the famous “Venetian school” of arts - painting, architecture and music – to the development of traditional arts, Venice was the artistic laboratory of the world. Today, the traces of glory that have passed down through the ages are seen throughout the city. They may have faded but they still preserve an “enchanting decadence” that tells the story of the city’s bygone glory.

The passion for arts, the handicrafts tradition and the business acumen still characterize the natives today. The Venetian idiocrasy is an amalgam of cosmopolitan, eclectic taste, elegance, warm expressiveness and carefree simplicity that magnetizes the visitor who is already dazzled by the beauty of this city. The best way to get to know the real Venice is to set off without a fixed schedule and just wander around the backstreets and small squares of the city’s less touristy neighbourhoods. Picturesque Castello with its evergreen gardens, the Biennale, the Arsenale and the washings hanging above the canals. The quite Cannaregio of the Jewish Ghetto. The artistic and youthful Dorsoduro, home to the Accademia di Belle Arti (academy of arts) and the city’s liveliest nightlife.

  • view_headlineSights and routes in Venice

    From the stunning scenery of Canale Grande to the colourful neighbourhoods of Burano and the popular beaches of Lido, Venice is a city of endless attractions.

    • The Grand Canal (Canale Grande) is one of the most elegant and grand avenues of the world. Expanding over 3.5 kilometres, this water-traffic corridor forms a reverse-S shape and is crossed by four bridges. The banks of the Grand Canal are lined with imposing buildings.

    • For centuries now, the heart of Venice beats at the grand St Mark's Square (Piazza San Marco), the most elegant “drawing room of Europe” according to Napoleon. To the east of the square rises the imposing St Mark's Basilica, an architectural masterpiece of the 11th century with Byzantine features, marvellous mosaics and four bronze horses on the balcony above the main entrance. Also a must-see, St. Mark’s Campanile (the bell tower of the basilica), the Clock Tower and the Doge's Palace.

    • The fabled Doge’s Palace (Palazzo Ducale) was for years the seat of the Republic of Venice. The gothic façade made of red Verona marble and white Istrian stone faces the water and the Piazzetta of San Marco. The abundant interior decorations are the work of famous painters such as Tintoretto and Veronese. Don’t miss Tintoretto’s Paradise in the vast Chamber of the Great Council, one of the world’s largest paintings.

    • The enclosed Bridge of Sighs (Ponte dei Sospiri) was built in early 17th century to link the interrogation rooms in the Doge’s Palace to the notorious prisons of Venice above the “Rio di Palazzo”. According to the legend, the name of the bridge comes from the sighs of prisoners who looked out to the city before being taken down to their cells. The bridge, along with its fine sculptures, is a unique example of Italian renaissance architecture.

    • Built with Istrian stone around the end of the 16th century, the Rialto Bridge (Ponte di Rialto) is the most visited and the oldest bridge crossing the Grand Canal. It connects the districts of San Marco and San Polo and it is ornamented with stone reliefs and railings. The one and only arch is famous for its two rows of shops opening inwards along the sides of the bridge.

    • The magnificent Gallerie dell'Accademia (Galleria dell’ Accademia) is housed in the former church and monastery of Santa Maria della Carita and the adjacent scuola, in the quarter of Dorsoduro. The Accademia contains masterpieces of Venetian painting from the 14th to the 18th century. Some of the represented artists are Bellini, Giorgione, Titian, Veronese, Canaletto, Carapccio, and Tiepolo.

    • The famous Peggy Guggenheim Collection housed in the 18th century Palazzo Venier dei Leoni includes masterpieces of modern art from the 20th century. Here, you may admire works by Picasso, Kandinsky, Chagall, Miró, Dalí, Pollock, Magritte, Bacon and others. Walk around the garden to find sculptures by Giacometti, Moore and Ernst and enjoy a wonderful view to the Grand Canal.

      The island of Murano, to the north of the city, is the homeland of famous Venetian crystals produced in the area since the 13th century. The impressive Museo Vetrario di Murano exhibits masterpieces of this unique art dating between the 15th and 20th century. If you are looking for modern handmade articles and demonstrations of the glass making art, all roads lead to the glass blowing workshops and showrooms of the historic manufacturers. 

    • Famous for the old art of lace making and its brightly coloured houses lined around the banks of the canals, the tiny island of Burano is a picturesque fishing island with a fairy-tale atmosphere. Visit the Museo del Merletto di Burano that is dedicated to the art of lace making.

    • The Gold Hosue (Ca’ d’Oro), on the Grand Canal, is the most beautiful pallazo of gothic architecture in Venice. Built in the 15th century, it owes its name to the gold sculptures that decorate its façade. It is the home of the Galleria Franchetti.

    • The grand gothic church of Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari (14th -15th century) in the heart of San Polo is one of the most important monuments of architecture and art in Venice. It houses the tombs of great local personalities such as renaissance painter Titian and the composer Claudio Monteverdi. Above the Altar stands the dramatic masterpiece of Titian’s “Ascension of the Virgin Mary” (Assunta).

  • view_headlineWhat’s not to miss…

    • Climb to the top of the Bell tower (Campanile) of St. Mark’s Basilica or of San Giorgia Magore in the island that goes by the same name, to enjoy a breath-taking view of Venice.

    • Visit Venice in February to live the vibration and theatrical atmosphere of the world’s most famous carnival.

    • Give in to the temptation of a romantic gondola ride through the city’s labyrinthine canals, enjoying the melodious stanzas of the gondolieri. The best tine for this is at sunset or later on in the evening when you can enjoy the magic of Venice illuminated.

    • Discover the giro di ombre, the locals’ favourite bacari stroll (small wine bars hidden in the backstreets), and sample some cicchetti (local finger-food offered at the bar) together with some ombra (wine in small glass).

    • End your day the Venetian way, and enjoy a “spritz” cocktail in an open-air café in one of the city’s many squares.

    • Buy yourself an authentic Venetian mask from the famous Ca’ Macana store, in the Dorsoduro quarter. Here, all masks are made of white paper -mache and the buyer can decorate the mask on his or her own.

    • Enjoy your cappuccino in the legendary Café Florian in San Marco square, one of the oldest cafes in Europe (1720) and the favourite hangout for the intellectual society of the 19th century, from Lord Byron and Goethe to Proust and Dickens. The café still looks amazing with its golden rococo halls and the warn out velour seats.

    • Visit Punta della Dogana, the city’s old sea customs house, overlooking the Giudecca canal. Today, the building serves as a museum housing the unique modern art collection of the French billionaire Francois Pinault.

    • Walk around the busy and atmospheric Mercato di Rialto, the central open-air food market of Venice operating since 1097.

  • view_headlineTravelling to and from Venice

    Travel to and from Venice with ANEK LINES and enjoy a comfortable journey in the blue crystal-clear waters of the Ionian and the Adriatic Sea with one of the leading passenger ferry operators in the Mediterranean.

    ΑΝΕΚ LINES connects the port of Venice, with regular itineraries, with the port of Patras and the intermediate port of Igoumenitsa .The company offers top quality services and authentic Cretan “philoxenia” on board.

    The ITALY - GREECE routes are jointly operated with Superfast Ferries.

    The modern fleet and highly trained crew of ANEK promise a pleasant on board stay, meeting the needs and demands of the modern traveller. ANEK ferries have spacious cabins of all categories, comfortable and air-conditioned all-user areas with many entertainment options, modern stores, gourmet restaurants and café -bars.

    ANEK LINES highly values gastronomy and offers exquisite menus based on authentic Cretan products and tastes of the Cretan and the Mediterranean cuisine. All ΑΝΕΚ ferries offer 24hour internet service (wi-fi and Internet Corners) at designated areas. An open-deck swimming pool and on-board camping facilities are available on international routes.

    Discover our best prices for ferry tickets and unique offers for passenger tickets and cabin accommodation throughout the year.

  • view_headlineArriving at Venice

    ANEK LINES vessels arrive at the Terminal Fusina Venezia, the new passenger and cargo port on the coast of terraferma of Veneto, the mainland, south of the suburbs of Mestre and Marghera. From here you may easily reach the historic centre of Venice via waterbus (vaporetti #16- Fusina-Venezia) ran by ACTV public transport company linking Fusina terminal with Zattere station in the city centre (just ten minutes away from San Marco square). The waterbuses run on an hourly service to both directions. 

    Terminal Fusina Venezia is also connected to Mestre/Marghera train station though ACTV bus line No16 (daily) and line Νο10 (Sundays and holidays). From there you can continue to Treviso Airport (on ATVO bus) and to Venice Airport “Marco Polo” (with ATVO Fly Bus).

    If you are leaving from the port of Venice to Greece you can access Terminal Fusina Venezia via road through Motorway A4 that connects the large cities of Northern Italy (Milan, Padova, Brennero, Bologna, Trieste, Udine, Tarvisio) with Venice via Ravenna.

    To reach the port through motorway Α4 follow the directions below: Exit the A4 to 'Mestre-Venezia", continue on the ring road staying on the right lane and take the first exit off the roundabout to RAVENNA towards SS 309 ROMEA. Follow the signs to “Terminal FUSINA FERRIES”. The entrance to the Terminal Station is though via dell’Elettronica. 

    Alternatively, you can approach the port by bus (ACTV No16 and No10) from Mestre/Marghera train station. Please note that the main train station of Venice (Venice Saint Lucia Station) is connected to the Mestre/Marghera train station via shuttle buses as well as bus line Νο6Β from Piazzale Roma.

    ANEK LINES offers reliable and value for money transportation services so you can take along your own car, motorcycle, trailer or caravan. With Venice as your starting point you can schedule unforgettable routes to unique destinations in the Italian mainland as well as many destinations in central Europe.

    Likewise, travelling from Venice with ANEK LINES, you may easily and affordably travel to the beautiful Greek Mainland as well as to the Greek islands. ANEK LINES ports-of-call at Igoumenitsa and Patras provide easy access to all Greek destinations.

  • view_headlineUseful telephone numbers
    ΑΝΕΚ LINES - Central Reservation Dept.: 0030 210 4197400, 0030 210 4197420 ANEK LINES ITALIA (Venice Agency): 0039 041 5286522 Fusina Terminal Station: 0039 041 5470160 Water taxi service: 0039 041 5229750 Police Station (Castello): 0039 041 2715772 Police (Polizia): 113 Carabinieri: 112 Paramedics: 118 Tourist Help Desk: 0039 041 5298711 Civile Hospital: 0039 041 5294111 Umberto Hospital: 0039 041 2607111 Central Train Station “Stazione Ferroviara Santa Lucia”: 0039 041 5298727

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