San Simeon Piccolo
This is the first eye-catching landmark on leaving the station. Its distinctive features include a Corinthian pronaos (front portico) up a flight of steps and a green dome. The church was designed by Scalfarotto (c 1700-64) in the tradition set by Palladio (1508-80) and Longhena (1598-1682).
Ponte degli Scalzi
Originally built in 1858, the bridge was designed by the saure civil engineer, Neville, as the first Accademia Bridge. It was rebuilt in 1934.
Fondaco dei Turchi
This 13 C Veneto-Byzantine fondaco was heavily restored in the 19C. It was built as a private house and turned into commercial premises in 1621. With the sfide towers framing the fagade, the portico and the floor above are laced with arches. Between 1621 and 1838 the warehouse was used by Turks, hence its name. Nowadays the building houses the Natural History Museum.
Fondaco del Megio
This very distinctive building with its walls of roughly hewn brick and tiny windows dates back to
the 15C. Note the lion that stands out below the ornate crenellation.The Fondaco del Megio was used as a general grain store, notably for millet (miglio = megio - hence its name).
San Stae
Dedicated to St Eustace, this
I church was renovated during the 17C. The elaborate Baroque
fagade (1709), dominated by a pedimented bay set between two roughcast wings, is attributed to Domenico Rossi (1678-1742). Its broken tympanum, crowned with statues over the entrance, is original. Inside a single nave are works by Piazzetta (1683-1754), Ricci (1659-1734) and Tiepolo (16961770). Doge Alvise Mocenigo is buried here.
Ca' Pesaro
At the death of Baldassare Longhena (1598-1682), completion of the building was assigned to
Antonio Gaspari (c 1670-c 1730). Unusual is its diamond-pointed rustication of the ground floor and row of lions heads. Great arched ' windows with singie columns give : onto an open loggia (2nd and 3rd
floors). It now houses the Museum of Orientai Art and the International Gallery of Modern Art.
Ca' Corner della Regina
Designed by Domenico Rossi (I678-1742),the heavily rusticated ground floor gives way to plainer upper storeys punctuated by balconies and windows framed with columns. It houses the National Archives of Contemporary Art.
Pescheria
The portico of this neo-Gothic building,which dates back to the beginning of the 20C, now accommodates the fish market, hence the name.
Fabbriche Nuove
This rather plain building on the bend of the Grand Canal, was designed by Sansovino (1486-1570). The ground floor at one time consisted of magazzini (small shops) and warehousing.The first floor was occupied by magistrates courts ruling on commerciai matters.
Fabbriche Vecchie
Destroyed by fire, the warehouses were rebuilt by Scarpagnino (active in Venice between 1505 and 1549). The "old workshops" boast their own columned portico.
Palazzo dei Camerlenghi
This Renaissance palace situated in the lee of the bridge was designed by Guglielmo dei Grigi, or "Bergamasco" (active in Venice between c 1515-30), for the Camerlenghi (government officials responsible for the State's financial affairs).The pentagonal building has large windows below a frieze of festoons.
Ponte di Rialto
The Rialto Bridge is the most important crossing point between the two banks of the Grand Canal.
Although today's bridge is the sixth , version - the originai was built in, 1175 - this is the first stone-built construction.The work of Antonio da Ponte, it was opened in 1591. The shops which are housed in the symmetrical arcades were originally used by money changers, bankers and moneylenders.
Palazzo Bernardo
Gothic in style (1442), the building, boasts splendid five-arched windows, pointed on the first floor, ' and quatrefoils on the second floor.
Palazzo Pisani Moretta
Also late Gothic,the Palazzo dates ' from the second half of the 15C. The windows have intersecting tracery that enclose quatrefoils on the upper floors.
Palazzo Balbi
The fagade of this palazzo, attributed to Alessandro Vittoria (1525c 1600) is divided into three sections. Above a rusticated ground floor the centra[ bay is pierced by an arrangement of three arched ' windows. Note the two distinctive large coats of arms and the obelisks on the roof.
Ca' Foscari
The glorious fade of this palazzo rises above the Grand Canal at the junction with the Rio Foscari. Perfect symmetry aligns the three orders of arched windows, arranged in groups that alternate with simple, single light openings and stonework. The originai 14C building was rebuilt closer to the water's edge after 1550, resulting in an overall Gothic design with early Renaissance features (marble low relief above the ornate arcade of windows on the second floor). Nowadays it forms part of the university.
Ca' Rezzonico
This house was to be the last palace to be designed by Baldassare Longhena (1598-1682), before Giorgio Massari (c 1686-1766) took over. It houses the Museum of 18C Venice which contains collections of Venetian finery and works by Tiepolo, Canaletto, Longhi and Guardi. Engaged columns punctuate the bays of the rusticated ground leve] as well as the arched openings on the first and attic storeys. Note the extensive embellishment of the piano nobile and the fine configuration of balconies.