TEAR OUT GUIDE
Venice is a city of almost hallucinatory beauty. Built on water, it’s like nowhere else on Earth. As one of the world’s cultural treasures, the city can often be a pricey place – follow these tips to appreciate it on a budget.
BASILICA DI SAN MARCO
basilicasanmarco.it
With a profusion of domes and luminous mosaics, Venice’s cathedral is unforgettable. It was founded to house the corpse of St Mark after wily Venetian merchants smuggled it out of Egypt in a barrel of pork fat. There’s no charge to enter the church and wander around the roped-off central circuit, although between April and October you can purchase ‘Skip the Line’ tickets for €3.
GALLERIA GIORGIO FRANCHETTI ALLA CA’ D’ORO
cadoro.org
The 15th-century Ca’ d’Oro is one of the most beautiful buildings on the Grand Canal, with a lacy Gothic facade. This treasure chest is packed with masterpieces, many plundered from churches in Napoleonic times. Admission is free the first Sunday of each month.
ARTEFACT MOSAIC STUDIO
Venetian glass in a myriad of colours goes into amazingly expressive portraits at this mosaic studio. Don’t miss a visit or, if you have time, a fascinating workshop. (artefactmosaic.it)
RIALTO MARKET