This is a lovely and ancient Cathedral. It was built over a pair of churches from The 400s in the…read moreRoman era. The the two mosaics in the apses at either side of the end of the church are majestic, and date from the 13th century. One depicts the virgin flanked by angels, the other shows Jesus, with a pair of saints. The glittering gold and glass squares of the mosaics are at their most divine when illuminated, so it is worth dropping a coin into the the box that activates the light.

Venice's only Gothic church. It is dedicated to the Assumption of Mary. It is simply called "I…read moreFrari" as it was built by the brothers (frati) of the Franciscan order. LOCATION: In the San Polo sestiere but I remember just stumbling onto it while walking the island from my hotel in Dorsoduro to the train station on the opposite side of the island. ADMISSION: €3 Modest dress requested. I'm an atheist but as Christianity was highly influential in shaping European history I visit churches with the intent of understanding the history (and sometimes) art in shaping a region's cultural identity. As the Frari is not in San Marco, Rialto or any other major Venetian landmark I would've easily missed this church if not for Rick Steves' audioguide (http://podcasts.ricksteves.com/walkingtours/FrariChurch.mp3). His reasoning is that offers an opportunity to experience art in-situ (right where it was designed to be seen) as opposed to hanging in a museum. The audioguide explains the major art pieces in detail way better than I ever can. Here's a summary of the major pieces inside the church. - Titian's Assumption of Mary. This is considered to be Titian's magnum opus and his first major commission from a church. It's located behind the main altar. Its depiction of Mary was revolutionary for its time as she is seen as triumphant and depicted in soft and warm colors. - Titian's Madonna of Ca' Pesaro. What's significant is that this broke Renaissance tradition by depicting Mary and Jesus off-center and interacting with the commonfolk. - Giovanni Bellini's Madonna and Child aka the Frari Triptych. - Tombs of Titian and Canova. Titian had his tomb decorated with a relief of his most famous painting. On the other side Canova's cenotaph (Venice's most famous sculptor) is pyramid-shaped and was once meant for Titian, but when the church used the present design his pupils repurposed it for their master instead. It's a cenotaph because he isn't buried here but an urn contains his heart. Once you're done exploring the church the surrounding area is quieter than San Marco or Rialto. It makes for a good lunch/dinner spot and the prices are more reasonable.

Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari (aka Frari Church) was one of my favorite attractions in Venice…read more The church is beautiful, there were no lines to wait in, and the cost was only 3 Euros per person. Frari church has many beautiful Venetian sculptures. The main highlight at this church is Titian's Assumption over the main alter. We downloaded Rick Steves' free audio tour onto to our iPods and it really added to the experience since our knowledge on Venetian art and Frari Church were minimal. You can download the free audio tour at: http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/italy-audio-tours/id272230438 After you visit the church I recommend checking out the Dorsoduro neighborhood along the Grand Canal and buying a cone of gelato!

This stunning, well-preserved Church is part of Unesco World Heritage Site due to its Roman history…read moreand the significant role it played in the spread of Christianity into central Europe in the early Middle Ages. Aquileia was one of the most important cities of the Early Roman Empire and the Church is a poignant testimony to its glorious past. It's a large site and even though most of it still lies unexcavated beneath the fields, the Romanesque facade, the mosaic floors, the frescoes and devotional pieces all over the church are beautiful and a must-see while visiting the area. I would recommend to spend at least 3-4 hours here and take a guided tour including the cemetery. To me, the most special part of the visit is represented by the frontal view of the mosaic floors when you enter the church: they date back to the beginning of the 4th century and are very well-kept. We walked inside for several hours and even went into the crypt below the altar, which also has a lot to see.

This is a beautiful basilica located on the island of murano. It took about 35 minutes to get there…read moreby vapareto from the Arsenale stop. The basilica has some of the most magnificent 12th century Byzantine style mosaics - in the apse in the Virgin Mary standing alone amidst a gold background, while the floors are also beautifully mosaic too. Entrance fee is 3.50 euro- well worth it in my opinion.

Beautiful church. It's worth seeing. No pictures allowed as is true in most churches but we saw…read moretourists taking pictures anyway. The area is photogenic outside and there's a nice restaurant right by the church that has outdoor tables and there's also a gelateria near it.