Venice La Fenice and Campo Santo Stefano Self-Guided Audio Walk: Bovolo Staircase, Opera House and Campi

Your Experience

Venice builds to be seen, and when something burns, it builds it again. In the inner San Marco quarter, between the Rialto and the Accademia bridge, the fronts were paid for by private money and made for show. Start at Goldoni's statue among the Rialto's shops, then see the town hall's medieval house-warehouses on the Grand Canal and the Bovolo, a spiral staircase added in 1499 only to dress up a palace. Cross Campo Manin, where a 1972 bank dared to look modern. Stand before La Fenice, burned in 1836 and 1996 and, after the second fire, rebuilt as it was, where it was. Read a church front built for one family, spot a leaning bell tower, and end in Campo Santo Stefano and at the foot of the Accademia bridge. Eleven stops, about 1.6 km and an hour, eight bridges with steps, at your own pace, in English. Entry to La Fenice and the Bovolo staircase is not included.