Visit Venice (Venezia), Italy (UNESCO site)

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Venice, Italy is perhaps one of the most unique and lovely cities in the world. Built on a lagoon, Venice has remained virtually unchanged for the past 600 years. The main part of the city is spread over 120, or so, islands and is where the most frequently visited sites in the city are located. There are no automobiles in the city and the canals separating the land masses are Venice’s streets and byways. Movement between the islands is achieved by the use of many types of boats, possibly the most Venetian of which is the gondola, a human powered, flat bottomed boat moved about by a single person (the gondolier) standing on the bow of the long, thin boat while propelling it with a single, lengthy oar. Most Venetians now travel by water taxi or vaporetti (water buses) with the gondolas mostly used for romantic, leisurely rides geared toward tourists. Venice has the reputation of being the world’s most walkable city due to the absence of cars. Visitors to Venice find the architecture and artwork competing with the beautiful setting for their attention. Venice has an ancient history stretching back nearly 1,200 years with the city at various times being part of the Roman Empire, Austria, Hungary and Italy. Today, this Italian storehouse of famous artwork is heavily geared toward tourism with a large portion of its economy dependent upon visitors. Among the most favorite places of tourists are St. Mark’s Basilica with its world famous Byzantine architecture, the Piazza San Marco (or St. Mark’s Square) a meeting place for Venetians, both common folks and those of the ruling class, for 11 centuries, The Lido di Venezia, the home of the Venice Film Festival which takes place every September and the Doge Palace which presents fascinating artwork, weapons and maps worthy of anyone’s attention. Among the favorite galleries and museums found in Venice is Gallerie dell’Accademia, ensconced behind the walls of a former convent housing trophies from Napoleon’s conquests; Museo dela Musica presents a collection of rare musical instruments from the 17thto the 19thcenturies as part of tribute to the famous composer, Antonio Vivaldi; La Pieta, an iconic church where Vivaldi acted as concertmaster; Giudecca 795 with its presentation of contemporary art; the Peggy Guggenheim Museum with its nod toward expressionists and surrealism. Foodies are drawn to Venice to experience the abundant local seafood, pizzas, pasta dishes and pastries that contribute to Venice’s elevated reputation among epicureans. Shopping in Venice provides opportunities to view and perhaps purchase unique glassworks from artisans that are part of the local culture. Hotels with modern conveniences, bed and breakfast establishments, charming pubs and cafes all contribute to the quintessential Venetian experience Venice is served by the Marco Polo International Airportso named in honor of its famous citizen. The airport is on the mainland and is connected by land and bridge to Venice's main island. Some visitors reach Venice by way of Treviso Airport in Treviso, 30 km from Venice. A trip to Venice needs to be added to your list if you have dreamed of being rowed through the canals of this romantic city while, perhaps, being serenaded by your gondolier. You can spend time admiring the famous art and architecture and enjoying the local cuisine and culture. Start planning your trip to Venice, Italy now.

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