Like any city, it’s not easy to know what to add to your itinerary, especially if you’re only passing through for a couple of days. But with Venice, there’s the added pressure of doing it just right. With a city that boasts upwards of 30 million annual visitors, you want to go at just the right time to avoid the big crowds. And with no cars, plenty of foot traffic, and more churches, bridges, canals, and cafés than you could ever fit into one visit, it helps to arrive with a plan.

Fortunately, our Worn & Wound team spent a few days in the City of Canals on a recent trip to Venice, visiting Venezianico along the way. With a bit of local perspective and being sure to still tick off the must-sees, we put together the itinerary below for a couple days in the Venice region, ending, of course, at their showroom in San Donà di Piave.

Start on Foot Through Cannaregio

If you arrive at the Venezia Santa Lucia train station, Cannaregio is one of the easiest ways to get into the city. The walk toward Rialto and San Marco takes around half an hour but gives you a local’s view of the beauty of Venice, passing narrow streets, small bridges, cafes, shopfronts, and churches. Because of this, be sure to stop for an espresso or step in a church to rest for a moment before your day begins. Venice can feel overwhelming, you might as well ease into the charming chaos that is La Serenissima.

Get the Perfect Shot at the Rialto Bridge

The first official stop on your agenda should, undoubtedly, be the Rialto Bridge. Completed in 1591, this marvel of Italian architecture and a signal of Venice’s vast wealth has long been a symbol of Venice, hovering over the Canal Grande. 

Pro tip: this is where you need to take your obligatory selfie for Instagram while in the city.

The Drawing Room of Europe

Next, it’s time to see the jewel (or should we say gioiello?) of Venice: Piazza San Marco, or St. Mark’s Square. It remains the ceremonial heart of the city, with its vast scale and Byzantine architecture. Once called “the drawing room of Europe” by Napoleon, San Marco has undoubtedly remained steadfast in its old world charm, with an array of cafes, restaurants, and jewelry-box shops populating its perimeter. Here, the historic Caffè Florian, which is the oldest coffeehouse in Italy, should undoubtedly be on your list for a quick espresso.

Of course, with the piazza being something of the epicenter of Venice, many historic landmarks also populate this area, including St. Mark’s Clocktower (in fact, Venezianico’s logo was inspired by the cross that sits atop the tower); St. Mark’s Basilica, the grandiose Doge’s Palace, and the Giardini Reali closeby.

Walk to the Arsenale

From San Marco, the Arsenale, one of Venice’s most important historic sites and a reminder of the city’s naval power. For centuries, this was where ships were built and prepared for the sea, helping Venice become a dominant force in Mediterranean trade. This complex of shipyards and armories – complete with fortified walls, stone lions, and monumental Porta Magna – has a different character than the more polished charm of San Marco, but is no less impressive. It’s no wonder, then, that Venezianico‘s original model was named after the Arsenale, which helped to launch the brand’s recognition today.

Cross to Giudecca

To get out of the crowds and into a more laidback part of Venice, take a vaporetto or water taxi to Giudecca, where you’ll get a view of the city and a bit of a more leisurely afternoon.

Giudecca sits across the water from the central islands, with a waterfront that looks back toward the heart of Venice. Here, stop by the Molino Stucky building, a former flour mill now converted into a hotel, which is one of the island’s most recognizable landmarks with the sheer scale towering over the western end of the island.

Eat Venetian: Cicchetti, Seafood, and Local Wine

Now, let’s not forget about the food. When you need a rest, go for the local favorite: the cicchetti. These small bites, served at bacari (small local restaurants throughout the city), are one of the best ways to eat in Venice without stopping the day for a long meal. Some of the most popular cicchetti include baccalà mantecato, sarde in saor, polpette, tramezzini, crostini with anchovies, mozzarella in carrozza, fried calamari, and marinated artichokes, to name a few. Be sure to wash these down with a Friulian wine or a spritz to relax into the evening.

Visit San Donà di Piave

While in the Venice area, no trip for a watch enthusiast would be complete without making a stop at the Venezianico showroom in San Donà di Piave, a short train ride from the city.

The Venezianico Atelier is located inside Palazzo Baradel, a restored neoclassical building in the center of San Donà di Piave. Inside, the brand has created a 500-square-meter space where visitors can discover the full collection, try on models, purchase watches, and get a closer look at the world Alberto and Alessandro Morelli have built around Venetian history and design.

And if you’re staying for the evening, book a room at Locanda Al Piave for your home base. After making your way through the city center and visiting Venezianico, have an aperol spritz at Dolce & Salato or book a table at Magnus Ristorante for some seafood. This, undoubtedly, will be the perfect ending to a few days in Venice.