Hidden gems walk Venice - page 3

This hidden gems walk Venice continues from the previous page. Want to go there? Or go to the start of the walking route.

Previous page hidden gems walk ➡️

⚚ Specially selected for you and popular in Venice

Favi-Concert

Vivaldi Concert: The Four Seasons

|
Favi-Basiliek

St. Mark’s Basilica: Skip-the-line ticket

6️⃣ Santa Maria Formosa – Church and square full of character

This is one of the oldest squares in Venice, with the church of Santa Maria Formosa at its center.

It's a beautiful example of Renaissance architecture by Mauro Codussi. The church has two unique facades and an imposing bell tower.

📍 Extra tip: Walk around the square, admire the surrounding buildings, enjoy the tranquility, and have a coffee or something. Only get the best with my hidden gems walk Venice ;). 

Prefer an offline walking map & PDF, even without internet? Then check out my shop on Etsy.

👉 Perfect if you're in Venice now and want to walk, not wander.

🚶‍♂️Continue: After you visit the square of Santa Maria Formosa, return along the same route and pass Libreria Acqua Alta again.

But this time, continue walking and continue our Venice walk: cross the small bridge and follow the narrow path on the right.

Canal-Venice-Italy

The streets here are narrow and quiet—exactly the kind of Venetian atmosphere we love. Continue along the path, keeping to the right all the way, until you reach a quay: Fondamenta S. Severo.

Walk along the water to the end of the quay, then turn left and immediately right. Cross the small bridge to walk left along the quay, and keep left to walk along Campo Provolo to the end.

On the left, you'll see the entrance to Campo San Zaccaria. Pass through the gate, and you'll find yourself in front of the imposing church of San Zaccaria. Great feature in my hidden gems walk Venice.

Rudmer-2024

VENICE WALKING GUIDE PDF - Download A route straight through Venice.
Check my shop on Etsy. 

7️⃣ San Zaccaria Church - A nice stop during the Venice Walk

Zan Zaccaria - Venice

Prefer an offline walking map & PDF, even without internet? Then check out my shop on Etsy.

👉 Perfect if you're in Venice right now and want to walk, not wander.

This church is dedicated to Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist. His relics are housed here, making it extra special. The current church was completed at the end of the 15th century and is a beautiful example of Venetian Renaissance architecture with Gothic influences.

Note the color difference between the marble at the bottom and the white stone at the top!

Historical connection to the Doges: Every year on Easter Sunday, the Doge came in procession (Venice Walk) from St. Mark's Square to this church in gratitude for donating a portion of the monastery garden.

🚶‍♂️After your visit:
Exit the church, turn left, and walk towards the water – the lagoon – the mouth of the Grand Canal. You rejoin the crowd and turn right at the quay leading to the Doge's Palace.

At the bridge, which is really busy, you'll see the famous Bridge of Sighs on your right.

8️⃣ Bridge of Sighs & Piazzetta | Hidden gems walk Venice

Bridge of sigh selfie

The iconic Bridge of Sighs connects the Doge’s Palace to the former prison.

Prisoners crossed it after sentencing — often catching their last glimpse of Venice, sighing as they passed through.

Inside, the bridge is split into two separate corridors so prisoners would never meet each other. One of their last hidden gems walk Venice :(. 

A few steps further, you’ll arrive at the Piazzetta, the elegant square that forms the transition to the large St. Mark’s Square.

Walking-Venice

The two granite columns at the water’s edge bear Venice’s symbols:

🦁 The Winged Lion of St. Mark
🗡️ St. Theodore, the former patron saint of the city

According to legend, walking between these columns brings bad luck — this was once the site of public executions.

Standing here, everything comes together:

To your right, the Doge’s Palace, the entrance to St. Mark’s Basilica, and the Campanile. To your left, on the far end of St. Mark’s Square, is the Correr Museum, with access to the Marciana Library.

Get entrance tickets for the St. Mark's Basilica >

9️⃣ St. Mark’s Square & the Doge’s Palace

You are now on Venice’s iconic Piazza San Marco, for centuries the center of power, religion, and ceremony in the Venetian Republic.

The square is named after St. Mark, whose body was “brought” from Alexandria in the 9th century. His symbol, the winged lion, appears all over the city.

The square is paved with layers of volcanic stone, up to six layers deep, to stabilize the ground.

In the district of San Marco, you’ll find nearly all major civic and religious buildings, museums, palaces, churches, and the administrative heart of old Venice.

Doge palace venice walking tourGet your entrance tickets for the Doge Palace >

The Doge’s Palace – Beauty & Power Play:
The impressive Palazzo Ducale was the seat of the Venetian Doge and the political center of the republic. Behind the elegant façades lay strict rules:

The Doge’s power was mostly ceremonial — real decisions were made by the Great Council.

He was not allowed to leave the palace without permission and was constantly accompanied. No hidden gems walk Venice for him....

Despite this, he remained the symbolic figurehead of the republic until his death.

Inside, you’ll find:

  • The Porta della Carta, where decrees were once posted
  • The imposing Giants’ Staircase and the Golden Staircase
  • The Hall of the Great Council, once hosting banquets for 300 nobles
  • The enormous painting “Paradise”, one of the largest in the world

Want to dive deeper into Venetian politics? Visit the Correr Museum at the other end of the square.

1️⃣0️⃣ St. Mark’s Basilica & the Campanile

San-Marco-Review

St. Mark’s Basilica is a fascinating blend of East and West: Byzantine domes, Gothic details, and Venetian splendor. Get entrance tickets to get inside the Basilica >

Built in 830 to house the body of St. Mark (taken from Alexandria), the basilica served for centuries as the Doge’s private chapel.

Look closely: no two columns are the same, the five domes differ in size, and almost everything (marble, pillars, relics) was brought from conquered territories.

Inside highlights:

  • 4,000 m² of mosaics, gold, color, and biblical scenes everywhere
  • The Pala d’Oro (1342), decorated with 2,486 gemstones
  • The treasury featuring treasures from the East (and some later taken by Napoleon)
Campanile Tower

The Campanile – Venice from Above: 
The 98-meter bell tower collapsed in 1902 but was rebuilt exactly as it was. Inside, a spiral ramp once allowed people to ascend on horseback.

📍 Extra tip:
For a breathtaking view of Venice, this is your moment.

But a better alternative? The bell tower on San Giorgio Maggiore, the island you can see from here. The view of Venice’s skyline is stunning — and it’s far less crowded.

This is a bit of a departure from our hidden gems walk Venice, but it's a nice alternative for a great view!

Venice Walking Tour Map

The rest of this Venice Walking Guide is on the next page. Point 11. Or the start of the walking route.

Continue your walk through Venice ▶️

Continuation of the Walking Guide via the pages below:

Rudmer-2024

Hi! I’m Rudmer. As a passionate fan of Venice, I keep discovering this magical city with a smile. My motto? “Keep exploring!” ✨ With my experience, I help travelers and groups make their stay in Venice truly unforgettable.

Looking for unique Venice group tours and private experiences? Get in touch, and I can arrange for your group: I

  • Exclusive hotels in Venice for groups
  • Tailor-made Venice boat transfers
  • Private Venice gondola rides
  • Unique private concerts in Venice
  • Restaurants – from fine dining to casual local spots

By Rudmer Hoekstra (author):


Start looking for a cheap place to sleep in Venice