Whilst visiting the city of Venice, you will understand that there’s beauty all around. Starting with its incredible St. Mark’s Square, its monuments and architectural masterpieces, the city is definitely equipped with things to see. Sightseeing is not the only thing you can do in Venice though. As the Holidays are approaching more and more, shopping has become fundamental and this is why today we want to walk you through one of the most important Malls in the city of Venice; the Fondaco dei Tedeschi!
Let’s find out something more about Fondaco dei Tedeschi and its incredible panoramic terrace in Venice and why you should consider adding some luxury shopping to your itinerary!
Fondaco dei Tedeschi: A Historical Gem in Venice’s Shopping Scene
As previously mentioned, the Fondaco dei Tedeschi is a very important historical mall. Its origins date back to 1225 when the word “fundaq” referred to the places where merchants worked. The building was exactly where it is today and it was apparently built in the first years of the 16th century. Some say it was designed by the infamous painter Jheronimus Bosch but the sources are not certain. The outside of the building was instead decorated by Giorgione da Castelfranco and Tiziano Vecellio. Back in the day, only the German merchants could live in Fondaco and this place was the only trading spot for goods for the people that were arriving in Venice. The German merchants were controlled by the Venetian Republic and they could only make trades with Venetians. Nowadays the Fondaco dei Tedeschi is considered to be a historical, luxurious shopping mall.
Where is it Located?
The Fondaco dei Tedeschi is located right in the heart of Venice, as it is part of St. Mark’s district and it was edified near the Rialto Bridge.
The building is divided into four floors with many different shops where you will be able to find very luxurious pieces of clothing, jewelry and shoes but also shops that sell fresh traditional products like pasta or wine. A great aspect of the Fondaco dei Tedeschi shopping mall is that its ceiling is almost completely made of glass, which provides natural light for the whole mall, creating a wonderful experience during your shopping.
The Rooftop Panoramic Terrace upon Venice
One of the most suggestive and interesting aspects of the Fondaco dei Tedeschi shopping mall is its Rooftop Panoramic View. This rooftop offers a unique view over the city of Venice, putting your eyes in front of what seems to be a work of art: Venice’s skyline. Some important info to keep in mind before visiting the rooftop is that the visits are completely free but are limited to 15 minutes per person. It is strongly suggested to make a reservation in advance as the terrace can only hold 80 people at a time.
The rooftop is open to the public from 10:15 AM to 08:15 PM from the month of June to the month of August. From 10:15 AM to 07:30 PM from April to May and from September to October and from 10:15 AM to 07:15 PM from November to March.
Conclusion
Taking a walk through the Fondaco dei Tedeschi shopping center in Venice is a very great way to make the most of shopping and sightseeing. The incredible view over the city of Venice from the rooftop of Fondaco dei Tedeschi is definitely worth noting and we strongly suggest you take the time out of your itinerary to spend 15 incredible minutes on this rooftop. If you want to get to know more about the city of Venice and Italy in general, make sure you check out our other blogs and, if you want to fully immerse yourself in the beauty of this city, book a private tour of the city of Venice here!
