Get in to Venice

Since Venice is a lagoon, the best way to get in is by boat although you can also take a train. The closest airport is Marco Polo (left) on the mainland near Mestre while the other airport The Treviso is about 25 kms from Venice and is the main destination for budget airlines. Both airports are well connected to Venice by bus and boat. From Marco Polo you would need to get to the Alilaguna Water Bus Jetty for the eighty-minute ride to Lido, Murano and Arsenale. You can also use the faster and more expensive water taxis.

You can also take a train from Mestre to the Venezia Santa Lucia Train Station on the west side of the city. From here you can take a Vaporetti or water –taxi to your final destination.

Getting About

The Venetian Lagoon

Venice is built on 117 small islands and has some 150 canals and 409 bridges out of which only three cross the Grand Canal. The historic centre is divided into six sestieri (quarters): San Marco, Dorsoduro, San Polo, Santa Croce, Cannaregio and Castello. Venice covers a deceptively small area and if you start walking from Cannaregio in the northwest to Dorsoduro in the south you would have crossed the whole city in just about half an hour. But you won’t, because you would get lost! The sheer beauty of the city makes it impossible for anyone to stay on course and the rewards of getting lost are enormous. Even then, walking is one of the best ways to get around Venice.

The other option is the Vaporetto which is quick and efficient. If you feel the need for some terra firma beneath your feet, take a bus, which are surprisingly quite common in this watery city. Buses run regularly from Piazza Rome to Mestre and are as exciting as watching re-runs of a really bad 80s sitcom. We are ruling out the option of a car – cars are not allowed here! Or for that matter bicycles because riding in the narrow alleyways would get you more dirty looks than if you wore your underwear inside out and pretended to be superman.

The best hotel bets

Hotel Danieli, One of the oldest hotels in Venice

As is expected of a fantasy city rising out of the sea, hotels are more expensive here than in any other city in Italy and they are not really offering you the moon. However, you can be assured that even the new breed of Bed & Breakfasts on the flotilla are at least clean and comfortable and inevitably provide good views with the occasional operatic gondolier passing by.

Consider Charming House DD 724 which is just steps from the Peggy Guggenheim Collection and at € 200 an ultimate luxury. Londra Palace Hotel (€ 215) is a distinctive and stylish hotel with 53 rooms and fame as a one time host to Tchaikovsky while he created his Fourth Symphony. You must consider Hotel Monaco & Grand Canal (€ 130) for its sleek and dazzling décor, minimalist yet classical designed rooms and superb service. Also try the Metropole hotel (€ 200) which once was an orphanage church in which Antonio Vivaldi gave music lessons. Owned and run by the Beggiato family, this one mixes good service with intimacy and old world charm.

A quirky amalgam of old façade and modernistic rooms is an unexpected find in Venice but that’s exactly what you get at The Ca Pisani Hotel (€222). Housed in a 500-year old merchant town house, Ca Pisani offers great service, a glorious façade and all the facilities you could want for a comfortable stay.

We would also recommend Il Palazzo at the Bauer (€ 256), Hotel Gritti Palace Left, (€ 305), Hotel Cipriani & Palazzo Vendramin (€ 462). Also consider The Bauer Palladio Hotel & Spa, housed in a Renaissance building formerly used as a convent (€ 240).

Some very family-friendly hotels are: Albergo ai de Mori, Antica Locanda Sturion, Hotel Bernardi Semenzato and Pension Guaretto.

Bed & Breakfasts are opening up in Venice at a rate faster than ever before and some of the best ones you should consider are: Casa Bessagio near the Madonna Del Orto Church with Titian’s house right next door is a steal at € 80 a night; La Rosa Dei Venti looking out at St. Mark’s Basin on the island of San Giorgio is not very low-end with € 100 a night but it affords some of the best views in the city; B&B Sandra is a wonderfully warm experience with great service focused at your needs, a family like atmosphere and great affordability at just € 85 a night.

Also try Casa Saor for € 80, Ca’ Miani for € 110, 3749 Ponte Chiodo for € 80 a night, The Art Academy for € 70, B&B San Paolo for € 80, Casa Art Blu for € 80 a night and A Venice Fish for just € 45 a night.

Venice – The Queen of Adriatic

Venice From Space

Going to Venice is like walking into a dream city where streets turn into canals, buses and cabs into beautiful boats and gondolas, where pretty houses seem to be floating on water and the ornate bridges replace subways. It is a dream but if you look closely, there are so many elements of reality here; Venice is like any other city where people go about their daily business hurriedly. There are commuters rushing to catch the vaporetti, the fisherman in a hurry to get to the market and the garbage guy on about his business.

Look up and between the narrow canal – alleys and you will see a sliver of the beautiful cerulean sky interspersed with the day’s washing hanging out of windows. Look down and you will see the mesmerizing Adriatic supporting your boat. The canals are the life blood of Venice, a part of every important milestone in the city-dwellers’ lives – marriages, funerals, carnivals, regattas.

Once an uninviting marshland, Venice today is the most beautiful city on the planet –romantic and lively; an amalgam of old and new and a delirious heaven from where you never want to come back. Called by many names like Venezia, La Serenissima and the City of Canals & Palaces; Venice is tops every tourist’s wish list.

Get to know this fabulous city that seems to have been pulled right out of a romantic fantasy, before you get there.

Venice through the years

The islands of the Venetian lagoon were first settled by refugees fleeing the invasion of the Lombards as the declining powers of the Byzantine Empire had proven worthless in defence. This was during the 5th and 6th centuries AD when the early settlers reclaimed the marshy land and built villages on rafts of wooden posts driven into the subsoil, laying the foundations for the Venice of today. The traditional date of Venice's birth is given as 25 March 421 AD celebrated today as St. Mark’s Day – St. Mark is the patron saint of Venice. In the subsequent centuries as Venice grappled with the changing political situation in the region Torcello became the most important island village in the lagoon and a cathedral was built there in AD 639 when the Bishop of Altinum transferred his seat to Torcello. At this time, Venice was part of the Byzantine Empire.

Arsenale in Venice

In an attempt to retain his grip on northern Italy the Byzantine Emperor, Leo III, organised the various island communities into a coalition sufficiently powerful to withstand the barbarian invaders. The first Doge, Paoluccio Anafesto, was elected as its leader in 697 AD. However, the construction of Palazzo Ducale or the Doges' Palace in what is today St. Mark's Square did not begin until the year 814. . In 828 AD Venice acquired the relics of Saint Mark who was proclaimed as the city's new Patron Saint and the Basilica of St. Mark's was built in 834.

The Venetians were excellent sailors and energetic merchants and soon brought Venice to the forefront of the trade with East. By1000 AD, Venice was a shipping and mercantile power to reckon with and after having defeated marauding pirates in this century became even stronger in the mercantile circles trading undisturbed in spices, silk, rice, sugar from Asia, North Africa and the Middle-East.

The Crusades became an excellent business opportunity for the Venetians who used them to extend their rule over the Aegean islands, Peleponesia, Crete and part of Constantinople. Much wealth and many works of art were taken to Venice as booty, especially from Constantinople; such as the four bronze horses (above, left) of St. Mark's. With the banner of St. Mark flying over most of the eastern Mediterranean, Venice was moving from strength to strength and refining their administrative system as well with governmental checks and balances in place, overseen by the Great Council made up of members of the city's powerful and moneyed families.

However, Venice's rapid expansion had piqued the interest of rival Genoa and several inconclusive battles and peace treaties ensued in the next few decades. This changed with Venice's victory in the Battle of Chioggia in 1380 and the city state turned its attention to the mainland, acquiring self-sufficiency and allies to bolster its population, which had been decimated by the Black Death in 1348. Venice remained top of the heap as a mercantile power until 1453 when the Turks captured Constantinople ending an era of Venetian dominance.

The time after this was the nadir of this great power as Turks started taking over La Serenissima's Mediterranean empire. Within the empire too, things were not looking good as rampant corruption joined hands with soft political will to create the beginning of a rot in the system. The rest was taken care by successive bouts of Plague decimating the city’s population and the final injury occurred when a host of art treasures were lost when the doge's palace went up in flames. The scene was set for the arrival of Napoleon in 1797, and the city's eventual shunting into Austrian hands.

The Austrians never quite invaded the populace’s heart or earned its loyalty and Venice rebelled in 1848 against the Austrian Empire. The movement for Italian unification spread quickly through the Veneto, and Venice was finally united with the Kingdom of Italy in 1866. The city was a hive of activity during the last decades of the 19th century: increased port traffic was coupled with growing industry; a railway bridge linking Venice with the mainland was built, permanently erasing the lagoon city's island status; canals were widened and deepened; pedestrian zones were laid out in the city centre, and tourism began to take off.

Today Venice is but a shadow of the powerful empire that it once was but tourism and a spate of new industries are keeping it afloat. The threat of submersion is ever present, but the gondolas are not likely to stop regaling tourists anytime soon.

The best times in Venice

Whether it is summer, spring or winter, there is never a bad time to go to Venice. However, the traditional tourist months are from Easter to October when hotels are packed to the ceilings and Euros fly out of your hands like goose down. A similar scene can be witnessed during the Carnival in February (the 10 days up to Shrove Tuesday) and Christmas.

Summers are hard on tourists but the city becomes a little more affordable, so if you can manage the trade-off, summer is a good time to visit too. Spring and autumn are the most comfortable seasons to be in Venice however November is the time the "Acqua Alta" (Right) and every time water laps up against your ankles you question its source!

Eating Out

Eating on a budget in Venice is not an easy task but if you are willing to invest some time searching, there are loads of options. The thing common is most of your endeavors for finding a place for budget dining would include tramezzini – small and delicate sandwiches filled with succulent, sliced meats, tuna salad, yummy cheeses and vegetables; and cicchetti which is a finger food akin to Tapas and includes tasty treats like calamari rings, fried olives and grilled polenta squares. Accompanying cicchetti is usually a small glass of wine, making the meal completely tasty and filling. You can find these dishes at one of Venice’s countless bacari (bars) and cafes for as little as € 1 to € 3.

A lot of bars can be found along the Mercerie shopping strip that connects Piazza San Marco with the Rialto Bridge, Campo San Luca and Campo Santa Margherita. You can also opt for some fresh and tasty pizzas in the various informal sit-down pizzerias that dot the city for about 4€. But if you go to Venice and don’t sample a meal based on the day's catch (restaurants are legally bound to tell you if the fish used in the dish is frozen!) you would be missing out on a treat that is not inexpensive but oh-so-mouthwatering!

If you would rather have a sit down meal at a proper restaurant then here are some of your best bets:

Rosticceria San Bartolomeo – This one is a big, bustling fast-food emporio in the Rialto Bridge area and serves just about every kind of dish fro the region. Good value for money, visit this one especially if you are with a family. Another one for the ‘kidsy’ family is Pizzeria ae Oche (right)– the Venetian equivalent of a McDonald's. A great value for money idea, this one is quite popular with tourists who need a quick, big meal. One treat that you mustn’t miss in Venice is the Ai Tre Spiedi which, if not very remarkable to look at, offers a warm atmosphere, friendly service and great food…what more could you ask for?

Trattoria al Vecio Canton is a huge place near San Marco and specializes in the low prices- great food equation. Taverna San Trovaso is the one you should head to if you want a fun atmosphere and a laundry – list of great dishes right from pizzas to pastas and everything in between. Another option to explore on the same lines is Da Sandro which has a plus of outdoor seating.

You can get the whole enchilada on eating out in Venice here.

Night Life

For all its beauty and romantic leanings, Venice is not Berlin or London when it comes to some serious life after dark. But the city more than makes up for the lack of raucous bars and dance clubs with its slew of more somber, yet appealing options like concerts (Chiesa di Vivaldi) and world-class opera (La Fenice which reopened in 2004).

Venice is a quiet town in the evening and offers very little in the way of nightlife. For tourists and locals alike, Venetian nightlife mainly centers on the many cafe/bars in one of the world's most remarkable piazzas: Piazza San Marco. It is also the most expensive and touristy place to linger over a Campari or cappuccino, but a splurge that should not be dismissed too readily.

Emblem of the Caffè Florian

Another protagonist in the nightlife story is the hundreds of cafes which great for coffee and people watching. Among the best are the nostalgic 18th-century Caffè Florian on San Marco, Caffè Lavena on the opposite side of the square at San Marco and the cafe Quadri close by. In front of the pink-and-white marble Palazzo Ducale is the best deal of all - Caffè Chioggia – visit this café at midnight and watch the Moors strike the hour atop the Clock Tower from your outside table, while the quartet or pianist plays everything from quality jazz to pop until the wee hours.

Clubs and discos historically haven’t had a very long shelf life in Venice and for that kind of actions you should go to the Lido or mainland Mestre. For just plain hanging out in the late afternoon and early evening, popular squares that serve as meeting points include Campo San Bartolomeo, at the foot of the Rialto Bridge, and nearby Campo San Luca. Around here your best bets would be the popular Green Pub, Bareto Rosso and Bar Salus. Campo Santo Stefano is also an enjoyable place and the thing to do here is to sample the goods at the Bar/Gelateria Paolin - one of the city's best ice-cream sources. Also try Gelateria Nico on the Zattere in Dorsoduro for some delectable ice cream.

For occasional evenings of live music, cabaret, or just a relaxed late-night hangout, consider the ever popular Le Bistrot de Venise. The Devil's Forest Pub on Calle Stagneri is a good example of the Great Venetian Hangout do and the place is also a popular lunch time stop. Bácaro Jazz is one of the few happening cocktail bars in town and El Moro Pub at Calle delle Rasse is a big tourist draw. Try Paradiso Perduto on Fondamenta Della Misericordia for its live jazz performances several nights a week Torino Notte at Campo San Luca for some more live jazz. Venice is a quiet town at night and has few dance clubs but if you look hard you would find the best of the lot in Piccolo Mondo at Dorsoduro and Casanova near the train station on Lista di Spoagna.

What to do in the city

Basilica di San Marco (below) is a gem of Venice and a symbol of the power and wealth that once were the hallmarks of Venice. The basilica is home to one of the most celebrated Christian relics, the body of St. Mark.

The façade of the church is decorated beautifully with marble and amazing mosaics and the interior of the church has an endless array of mosaics on the walls and ceiling which filter sunlight to create an exotic, almost surreal atmosphere. Don’t miss the Pala d'Oro a 10th-century golden alterpiece embellished with precious gems and enameled panels.

Palazzo Ducale or the Doges Palace once served as the official Venetian residence of the Doges. A fantastic, Gothic-style palace, Palazzo Ducale was a showplace for the artistry, architecture and craftsmanship of the city in it’s hey days and still regales visitors with its opulence.

Canal Grande: (below) The Grand Canal is the single most important defining feature of this wonderful city. This great 'road of water' will hypnotize you with its brilliance as you glide along the Grand Canal and witness the opulent architecture enveloping it. It will be one of the most memorable boat rides of your life and with the splendor of Venice’s great history unfolding before your very eyes. Take a gondola for traversing the Grand Canal’ even if it looks too cheesy and kitsch – you won’t find it anywhere else!

Galleria Dell' Accademia: The Academia Gallery or the Galleria Della Accademia is home to the finest collection of Venetian art. Once here it would be hard to leave without giving time to renowned works, such as 'Pieta' by Titian, 'The Tempest' by Giorgione, Veronese's 'Christ in the House of Levi', and Bellini's 'Madonna Enthroned'. Keep at least half a day for this gallery for there are 24 separate rooms of this splendor her.

Ponte di Rialto: Arched high over the Grand Canal, Ponte di Rialto is the most famous of the city's bridges. Built seven times, today's bridge was constructed by Antonio di Ponte in 1591. It is in the centre of the city's old trading area and trades such as wine, coal and iron are still reflected in the nearby street names. To this day, shops are strung along this famous bridge, selling jewelery, linens and Murano glass.

Chiesa dei Frari: Due to the size and style of this massive church, dei Frari is often compared with the Church of San Giovanni e Paolo. The architecture displays fine detail around the plain brickwork, but due to the sheer size of the building it appears rather rigid and plain, although nonetheless pleasing to the eye. The outside appearance is reflective of the Franciscan lifestyle, which focused on spirituality and poverty. Inside, there are Venetian treasures including the extraordinary Titian altarpieces and Bellini's Madonna and Four Saints.

Scuola di San Giorgio degli Schiavoni: This structure was once a brotherhood devoted to charitable works and was the place where Vittore Carpaccio painted the Cycle of St. George. The building also houses many other works by Carpaccio and one painting of special note is St. George and the Dragon – a big favorite with tourists.

Scuola di San Rocco: Scuola di San Rocco is a rich vision with Tintoretto’s works demanding attention. San Rocco is a school of painting dedicated to Tintoretto and his spiritualistic paintings from the 16th century. This will be one of the most appealing galleries you will see in Venice.

Ca’d’ Oro: Ca’d’ Oro is a Venetian Gothic palace that captures your complete attention with its incredible opulence and Gothic architecture and décor. Ca’d’ Oro means House of Gold and the name befits the mansion that once had a gilded façade. Little evidence of its former glory is present today, thanks to erosion but the recent restoration has somewhat brought back the original majestic colors. Visit this mansion for its Franchetti Gallery, which among other pieces of Venetian Byzantine Art includes the famed Saint Sebastian by Mantegna.

Campo dei Santi Giovanni e Paolo: Formerly known as the Campo delle Maravege, this square is appropriately marvelous with a host of wonderful sights like the grand sculpture by Verrocchio and Monumento di Bartolomeo Colleoni.

Santa Maria Della Salute: The Ciesa di Santa Maria della Salute is a famous Venetian landmark, guarding the entrance to the Grand Canal. After the 1630 plague subsided, this gigantic, white, domed 17th-century church was designed by Longhena and officially dedicated to Our Lady of Good Health. Visit it for its majestic architecture and the bold Baroque style.

Ca' Rezzonico: Ca’ Rezzonico enthralls visitors year after year with its dazzling ballroom and the bold, Baroque style. Make time to see the Museo del Settecento Veneziano housed in the mansion, for its fine pieces from 18th-century Venetian artists. Of special note is an arresting series of frescoes by Tiepolo.

Chiesa di San Sebastiano: Rich decoration embellishes the inside of this 16th-century church where the painter Veronese established his reputation by painting amazing frescoes whilst still in his twenties. Veronese continued to produce astounding works within the church, throughout his career and was eventually buried here. The opulent nature of Veronese's art beautifies the church and makes it so unique.

Chiesa di San Zaccaria: Chiesa di San Zaccaria is a beautiful 15th century church built on the site of a previous 9th century church. San Zaccaria is worth spending a couple of hours just to be able to see all the paintings that literally cover its insides wall to wall. See if you can spot Bellini's 'Sacra Conversazione' and Tiepolo's 'Flight into Egypt'.

Venice in a day

For being spread over 117 islands, the historic center of Venice is small enough to be covered in one day. The best way to start a wonderful day in this shimmering city on the Adriatic would be to take a scenic boat ride down the Grand Canal to reach St. Mark's Square. You would be able to see the whole city and get your bearings. Once you reach the St. Mark's Square is the heart of Venice, step out to spend a few hours in the several museums in the area. Walk out on to the St. Mark's Square and behold the magnificent view of the basilica and the bell tower. You can also take a good look inside the basilica, provided there aren’t huge snaking lines of tourists wanting to do the same thing. The church is one of the most beautiful, well adorned pieces of Christian architecture you are ever likely to come across any where else in the world. Pay special attention to the golden mosaics and a magnificent 10th century altarpiece.

After seeing the church, head towards the Doge's Palace. The museum inside the palace is too huge to soak all in on just one visit. What you can do however, is to concentrate on just a few pieces. Don’t leave without having been to the inner courtyard which you would enter through Porta Della Carta, located right next to the basilica. The inner courtyard features the Giant's Staircase which was used for the crowning of the doges.

Take a walk along the palace towards the water to enjoy the scenic views of the island of San Giorgio Maggiore and then head east to Ponte della Paglia from which you can have a good look at the famous Bridge of Sighs. Finish your tour of the area with a drink in St. Mark's Square, listening to music played by open-air orchestras.

Head off to the Rialto Bridge which lies north of St. Mark's Square by following the yellow signs on buildings from St. Mark's Square. In your 30 minute walk, you will pass many shops selling glass souvenirs, designer clothing, handbags and sweets...indulge! When you finally get there, enjoy spectacular views of the Grand Canal from the top of the bridge. Make time for some pizza/pasta lunch at one of the many cafes and enjoy the sea of humanity rolling by. Sometimes, just watching others can be a lot of fun!

Late in the afternoon, head southwest towards Sampo Santo Stefano and dine at Ristorante Masaniello which has tables in the square. Finish your tour of Venice at the nearby Accademia Bridge (right) where you can catch a vaporetto heading back to your car or the train station.

Shopping

Shopping in Venice is a wide & varied and time consuming job. However the city’s redeeming beauty and exoticness make it better. Before you start out with your market hopping here are two things you must know –

The merchants of Venice are not great on bargaining – you have a better chance of a spot discount if you pay cash or buy more than one item. Secondly, everything in Venice is more expensive than on the mainland, so if you plan to visit cities like Florence or Rome, leave leather and clothes for later. That said, there are few people who can resist the charms of making a killing in the inexpensive trinket stores and mid range to upscale boutiques that line the narrow alleys in Mercerie running north between Piazza San Marco and the Rialto Bridge.

If you are not too willing to part with a lot of Euros, keep Calle Larga XXII Marzo, the heaven of astronomically expensive clothing and gift boutiques, just for window-shopping. Visit the narrow Frezzeria close to Piazza San Marco for souvenir shops and more affordable clothing stores. The Rialto Market is a mixed bag with cheap T-shirts, glow-in-the-dark plastic gondolas, and campy glass trinkets.

Don’t leave Venice without considering some of its unique crafts like the glassware from Murano, the delicate and extremely expensive lace from Burano and the cartapesta (papier-mâché) Carnevale masks you'll find in endless botteghe. The only trouble with local handmade crafts is that they are expensive and things like glass are tough to take back. Still, if you are determined there is always a way!

If you can, time your visit with the tri-annual Mercatino dell'Antiquariato (Antiques Fair) that takes place in the charming Campo San Maurizio between Piazza San Marco and Campo Santo Stefano. Check for dates for the 3-day weekend market that usually takes place around the first weekend of April, mid-September, and the weekend before Christmas. Here you can find everything from exquisite pieces of Murano glass to Venetian-pearl glass beads, vintage Italian posters and antique postcards of Venice that could be from the 1930s or the 1830s. albeit expensive, some amount of antique lace is also available as is museum-quality hand-blown glass from a local master.

For art lovers, Libreria Bertoni Mario in San Marco (Rio terra dei Assassini) is a great place to pick up art books and other colorful hardbacks on history and Italian sights at discounts up to 40% and 50%. Food lovers will find charmingly packaged food products to take back as gifts at the famous pasta manufacturer Giacomo Rizzo near the major Coin department store, northeast of the Rialto Bridge at Calle San Giovanni Grisostomo this is Pasta-made-interesting with shapes like gondolas, colorful carnival hats, and dozens of other imaginatively shaped possibilities, colored and flavored with squash, beet, and spinach! Try Giancarlo Vio's Pasticceria Marchini to indulge that sweet tooth and take your pick from a selection of traditional cookies -- delicate baicoli, cornmeal raisin zaleti, and the S-shaped buranelli.

For superior glass products go to Venini on Piazetta dei Leoni or the spacious emporium of quality glass items at Marco Polo close to the Piazza San Marco. Buy Venetian pearls and fragile trinkets at Anticlea on the Campo San Provolo near the Church of San Zaccaria and exquisite jewelry at Chimento on Campo S. Moisè.

Secret Venice

Venice is a maze of wonderment and discovery. If you just follow your heart and walk around without a destination in mind, chances are you will discover something not many people know about. Here are some such things you may want to check out:

Go surfing in Venice – it is one of the most unlikely and one of the best places to test your skills and max out the fun

Visit the Isola San Michele, left– a beautiful old graveyard and the final resting place of Ezra Pound and Igor Stravinsky.

The Tip Master

General

Venice is insanely expensive, so try to make all hotel bookings in advance and buy as many museum tickets online as possible. You may save some on online discounts

Venice is a very safe city but you need to safeguard against pick pocketing and bag snatching

The Acqua Alta happens mostly during the fall and winter months and you may want to carry rubber boots to keep yourself dry

Families

Venice is an expensive and when vacationing with family, costs inevitably escalate. Keep your budget from running askew by staying in Bed & Breakfasts or apartments where you pay less, get more privacy and can cook your meals when possible

With kids in tow make sure to keep some snacks and drinking water with you

During summer, Venice gets unbearably hot with mosquitoes to keep you company – carry bug repellants and some basic soothing cream to stay comfortable

Couples

- Experience the world’s most romantic city in the world with your partner by planning a walking tour with no destinations! Just walking around hand in hand and expecting to discover something new has its own rewards

- Plan a gondola ride, even if it sounds too cheesy because this is the only place in the world where you can do it – and it is fun

- Take off a day to go to the Lido and just vegetate on the beach or watch the sun set on the Venetian Lagoon

What they say

World66.com recommends giving precedence to the Peggy Guggenheim Collection in your check list. Works by Jackson Pollock, Max Ernst, Picasso and Dali are must –sees.

The NY Times suggests staying at the la Villagiatura and eating out at the Trattoria Altanella.

Venice virtual Tour

If you want to explore Venice from your computer, you can do this downloading this files to use with Google Earth software:

Venice virtual tour (kmz file)