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St.Mark's Square was called "the drawing room of the world" by Musset. It has been the scene of some of the most important religious and political activities of the Serenissima as well as the center of Venetian social life for almost a millennium. At first the Square was limited to the parvis of the Basilica, because of the presence of a canal, "Rio Batario", which divided the present Square in two parts.

The part of the Square now between the Procuratie, was once the vegetable garden of S.Zaccaria monastery with S.Geminiano church in the middle. The present shape of the Square was established in the XII century, for the meeting of Pope Alexander III and the Emperor Barbarossa by filling in Rio Batario and the dock.

A small new Square was built with the columns of S.Marco and S.Todaro, the city's patron saints, overlooking St. Mark's Basin. The alteration of the Square was all done over the course of one century, adapting to the growing power and wealth of Venice. The present form reflects the works of many famous architects such as Sansovino, Longhena, Scamozzi, Rizzo and Tirani.

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The Palazzo Ducale (Doge's Palace) got its present form after radical changing during the 14th and 16th century. It was the Doge's residence and at the same time seat of many different political and social institutions. The first floor was occupied by minor institutions, such as the Avogaria or lawyers offices, where law cases were examined; the Chancellery; the Censors and Provveditori della Milizia del Mar (Naval Offices) which oversaw the care and equipping of ships.

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Accademia Gallery is the Venice greatest art gallery, founded in 1750, housing superb collection of Venetian painting spanning over five centuries. Masterpieces by Venice's painters adorn its walls, the highlight of which include Giovanni Bellini's "Madonna Enthroned" and Carpaccio's "The Presentation". Many of the masterpieces were taken from churches and monasteries to enrich the art gallery.

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Santa Maria dei Frari is a Franciscan church in Venice, originally built in the mid-13th century but rebuilt in Gothic style in the 15th century. This important example of Venetian Gothic ecclesiastical architecture (often referred to simply as the Frari) contains many masterpieces of Venetian Renaissance art, notably Giovanni Bellini's triptych "Madonna and Child with Saints" (1488) and the "Assumption" (1516-18) and "Pesaro Madonna" (1519-26) by Titian, who is buried in the church.

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Marco Polo is the International airport was named after the Venetian traveller Marco Polo. It's only in is 9 kilometres (5.6 miles) north of the city and it is used by all major airlines. The Piazzale Roma is just 20 minutes away by land taxi or airport bus, and the Lido, the Piazza San Marco, and other locations in the historic center are easy to reach.

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Venice S. Lucia is the main rail station: on average, 82 thousand daily passengers cross the station, totalling 30 million yearly. The projecting study of Venice's main station has had a troubled life before arriving to a definitive solution. Architect Angiolo Mazzoni was the first to formulate a project in 1924: with his studies lasting over 15 years, Mazzoni presented numerous projects with as many variations. 1934 saw the calling of a contest assigning the building of the railway station: Architect Virgilio Vallot won, the project was to remain in stand-by until Minister Benni granted the construction of the front building to the Vallot - Mazzoni duo until 1936 while the Departmental building was Mazzoni's exclusive job. The definitive solution was to be approved and accomplished after WWII by FS internal architect Paolo Perilli in 1950.

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