Mysterious Venice: the Angel of the East

Your Venice tour starts in St. Mark Square, a place that certainly needs no introduction! Marvel at one of the most famous and beautiful squares in the world, once known as "the living room of Europe" and center of political power of the Republic of Venice. Here all the main buildings of the city stand out, including the Basilica and the St. Mark Bell Tower, but also the Procuratie (now home to the Correr Museum), once the seat of St. Mark procurators. Under the arcades you will find jewelers and prestigious cafes, including the historic Caffè Florian, opened in 1720, frequented by intellectuals and socialites, including Giacomo Casanova and Coco Chanel.

Bacino Orseolo (Orseolo Basin) is the quintessential shelter for Venetian gondolas, a small paradise for all those who wish to take a photo of the typical and ancient boats. For more than a thousand years the gondola has been used to move along the canals. The gondola is about 11 meters long and is painted black, according to a provision of the Republic dating back to 8 October 1633.

Frezzaria is a Venetian street in the San Marco district: once here, turn right to discover an ancient courtyard past Calle Zorzi and Sotoportego del Luganegher, called Corte della Polvere (Powder Courtyard). In the second half of the eighteenth century, one of the city's Cyprus powder factories was located here. At the time of the Republic this powder was widely used to whiten the wigs of ladies and gentlemen.

Campo San Fantin is little known to tourists. It is located in the sestiere of San Marco, between the church of the same name and the Ateneo Veneto. Past the corner of the church, the Teatro La Fenice, one of the world temples of opera music, will appear in all its magnificence.

In Campiello Marinoni or de La Fenice you will notice a curious and low building adorned with cannon balls and barrels, a sort of commemorative monument of the uprisings of 1848-49 and the revolution against the Austro-Hungarian Empire which culminated with the proclamation of the St. Mark Republic. On the windows you can see copies of the verso and recto of a medal minted on April 2, 1849, when the assembly resolved to resist at all costs.

Now reach Campo Sant'Angelo, the end of this Venice walking tour. Have fun looking in the pavement for a plaque showing where once stood the church dedicated to Archangel Michael, which gives its name to the whole area, demolished in the nineteenth century during the Napoleonic suppressions.  Here you can see Palazzo Trevisan Pisani, Palazzo Gritti Morosini, Palazzo Duodo and the monastery of Santo Stefano. Finally, there are also two 15th century wells and the small Oratory of the Annunziata, with five stained glass windows from Murano.