Things to Do in Europe

• The palace is best explored on a guided tour for an in-depth historical understanding.
  
•  Booking a St. Mark's museum pass allows access to the three museums in St. Mark's Square.
  
• The palace is wheelchair accessible, and an audio guide is available for rental.
  
• The majority of palace tours include Venice hotel pickup and dropoff, although a few tours offer departures from Florence and Milan.
  

Donaupark, or Danube Park, is huge - 2,600,000 square feet (800,000 square metres). Located on the north bank of the impressive Danube River, it even has beaches for the summer months. There is a stage with live entertainment, a mini train to ride, a giant chess board, tennis courts, a skater park, bike paths and a small zoo!

Until 1945 it was a military firing range, then it was used for landfill. Finally it became a park, originally for the Vienna International Flower Show of 1964. At this time, Vienna's tallest structure, the Danube Tower, was also built in the park. It's 826 ft (252 m) high and has a revolving restaurant and viewing platforms. In 1983, Pope John Paul II celebrated a mass at the base of the tower. And of course, people bungee jump from the tower.

The Douro region in Northeast Portugal is near the border with Spain. Even with the advent of modern civilization, this area is characterized by a sort of frontier spirit that tenaciously preserves a traditional way of life handed down through many, many years.

Thinly populated and remote, the Douro is not unlike Galicia in Spain in that its people speak a dialect that is markedly different than the rest of the country; in the Douro, it is closer to Latin vulgate than Portuguese. Along with speaking a traditional language, pottery and weaving are still important cottage industries. Long-held folk practices include a dance with wooden staves called the Dance of the Pauliteiros, which takes place on the third Sunday of August, during the Feast of Saint Barbara. Curiously, this dance is less related to Saint Barbara than it is to Roman martial pomp – the Dance of the Pauliteiros is an outgrowth of the old Roman sword dances.

Notable ruins in the town of Miranda do Douro include the watchtower of the Miranda do Douro castle and the Baroque courtyard left behind from the long-since-destroyed Archbishop’s palace. The city’s cathedral is also of interest; it features a magnificent marble high altar as well as a 19th century ex-voto centered around a piece called “Infant Jesus in a Top Hat.”

Most visitors to Venice head directly to the San Marco district, but if you want to enjoy the quieter side of the city, don’t miss Dorsoduro. Home to important art collections, excellent restaurants, beautiful churches, and impressive architecture, the neighborhood has it all—with a fraction of the crowds. 

The Basics

Dorsoduro, one of the six Venetian districts (sestieri) in the city center, is located just across the Grand Canal from the more touristy San Marco. Walk across the wooden Accademia Bridge and along the canal to the Gallerie dell’Accademia—home to masterpieces by Titian, Tiepolo, and Veronese—and the Peggy Guggenheim Collection, famous for its modern art. The 18th-century Ca' Rezzonico museum is one of the most sumptuous in the city, and the Church of San Sebastiano and Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute are among the most ornate.

To really get a feel for Dorsoduro, join a walking tour led by a local guide who’s familiar with the district’s big-name landmarks and secret corners. Pair a Dorsoduro tour with a gondola ride or a Venice highlights tour that includes St. Mark's Basilica, the Doge's Palace, and the Rialto Bridge.

Things to Know Before You Go

• Tours of Dorsoduro require a bit of walking, so wear comfortable shoes and a sun hat. 
  
• Because of the thinner crowds and outdoor spaces, the Dorsoduro district is easier to manage with kids.
  
• This district is known for its excellent restaurants serving traditional Venetian cuisine and cafés serving cicchetti, or Venetian-style tapas.
  
• If you’re looking to take an evening stroll, Fondamento della Zattere (along the Giudecca Canal) and the Campo Santa Margherita square are both great destinations at night. 

How to Get There

Dorsoduro, just across the Grand Canal from San Marco, is easily reached by walking over the Accademia Bridge.

When to Get There

With views of San Marco to one side and the island of Giudecca to the other, Dorsoduro is particularly beautiful at night, just as the sun is setting. Plan to tour its sights by day and then linger at its restaurants and cafés after dark.

Venice's Six Sestieri

Venice has six districts—Castello, Cannaregio, Dorsoduro, San Marco, Santa Croce, and San Polo—in addition to the outlying districts of Lido and Giudecca and Lido and the islands of Torcello, Murano, and Burano.