For all, who are happy enough to visit the Venice Biennale 2014 here is some inspiration on what to visit besides the pavilions. On our second day we left our fabulous hotel Centurion Palace late, because we extended the breakfast into some kind of brunch. We strolled along the Zattere waterfront promenade in the morning sun enjoying the view towards the Giudecca island…

View from the Zattere into a side canal at morning.

Craftsmen building gondolas near Zattere, Dorsoduro

…crossed the Grand Canal via the Accademia bridge and arrived at Piazza di San Marco for the second time of our stay. I highly recommendable thing, even if your visit is soley dedicated to the Venice Biennale 2014, is the ascension to the Campanile, the free standing bell tower of St Marks basilica.

Campanile view to Santa Maria della Salute and Punta della Dogana

another spectacular view from Campanile into San Marcus basin

Amazing view from the Campanile bell tower towards the Alps

In the Rialto neighborhood the Cafe del Doge, the founding place of the coffee roaster empire, is highly recommendable. The interior is simple but the coffee, hot chocolate as well as S-shaped biscuits, are fabulous.

Great coffee roaster, Cafe del Doge in the heart of Rialto

A walk through the neighborhoods of San Polo and Santa Croce is another great side program for all, who visit the Venice Biennale 2014. The walk offers great view onto the Grand Canal. One of the most interesting buildings, which can be seen, is the Palazzo Labia, which lies at the intersection of Canal Grande and the Cannaregio canal. For all, who have had a look at the fabulous book “Balls” its clear that this was the place of the famed Carlos de Beistegui ball back in 1951.

The site of the party of the decade. Palazzo Labia, where Carlos de Beistegui celebrated his famed ball in 1951

For a sundown icecream the Zattere Gelateria Nico’s famed Gianduiotto is fabulous. Afterwards we end back to the hotel and prepared for our evening out in Venice.