San Giorgio Maggiore, Venice

Andrea Palladio's creation in Venice is a simplistic Renaissance church in comparison to some of the more Byzantine opulence found elsewhere in Venice. Views from the Campanile are magnificent in all directions and if you tire of the crowds, take the vaporetto across and enjoy some beautiful artwork, an open air theatre Teatro Verde, and peacefulness. Admission to the bell tower is minimal where you can gaze down on the ritzy Hotel Cipriani, art sculptures and across to St. Mark's Square. The bells ringing adds to the experience. A beautiful vantage point for any visit to Venice.

forget the campanile de San Marco, take the vaparetto to the other side of the canale grande to the Chiesa San Giorgio and the included tower. Free entry for the church and some euros for the tower, no waiting time without the water bus :-) a nice and quite place, a beautiful look over venice up to the beach (lido) and also the harbour with the very big cruise ship like costa and aida but bigger the MSC, twice as high on the horizon