Venice Sunset ItalyA city for meanderers, Venice rewards every minute devoted to penetrating its maze of intertwined lanes, narrow waterways and storybook bridges. While millions stream into this tiny city and succumb to its magic, it is easy enough to find peace and discover the extraordinary. After all, there is hardly a building that isn’t a unique monument or a palace.  Lose yourself in the labyrinth, that is part of the fun! Even the most imaginative theme park creator could never have come up with the extraordinary city that is Venice. It is a romantic, hedonistic, mysterious place, the setting for many novels and for even more films.

Located in the extreme northeast of Italy, Venice was founded more than 1,500 years ago and served as a gateway to the Orient. The city is an archipelago of 117 islands glued together by 400 bridges. The historic city centre of Venice is divided into six quarters and slender oak and pine piles, which are driven deep into the ground to create a solid foundation, support all buildings.

Exclusive trading links with the East and victorious wars brought wealth and power to Venice, resulting in the city’s famous attractions and landmarks. Here is a list of a few that you should not miss.

Piazza San Marco

Piazza San Marco ItalyThe only true piazza in Venice, Piazza San Marco was originally built to house government offices and, at least to my mind, to give the pigeons a place to scrounge for food. Affectionately referred to by Napoleon as the “finest drawing room in Europe,” the piazza is dominated by two important historic sights, the Basilica San Marco and the Palazzo Ducale, a triumph of Gothic architecture. At the northeast corner, you will find a clock tower, completed in 1506, with a Latin inscription that translates to "I number only peaceful hours." The piazza is the lowest point in Venice and tends to flood during heavy rains or rising waters.

The Grand Canal

The Grand Canal is a long stretch of water that runs right through the city and is often referred to as 'the most beautiful street in the whole of Venice'. The best way to view it as it winds through the heart of the city is from a vaperetto, or waterbus. The palaces lining the waterway were built over a span of five centuries and present a panoramic survey of the city’s history. The first bridge ever built over the canal was the Rialto Bridge, which has since become one of the city’s main symbols. Traveling along this canal and many others is a great way to see the city and there are many different modes of transportation available. Public transport in Venice consists mainly of waterbuses (vaporetti) and there are also water-taxis (motoscafi), which are faster, more modern motorboats. Of course, who could think of Venice without picturing the well-known and much loved Venetian gondolas?

Rialto Bridge

Rialto Bridge Venice ItalyWhile the boutiques that line it are quite pricey, a stroll across this beautiful stone bridge is free and the views are picture-perfect. The bridge, which spans the Grand Canal in the commercial heart of the city, has three walkways: two along the outer balustrades, and a wider central walkway leading between two rows of small shops that sell jewelry, linens and Murano glass. The bridge, which takes its name from, “rivo alto” or “high bank”, was one of the first areas of Venice to be inhabited. Locals and visitors alike jostle among the various stalls. This is a wonderful place to watch and photograph the constant activity of boats on the Grand Canal.    Please take into consideration that the bridge consists primarily of steps, making it a challenge for tourists with strollers or wheelchairs.

Bridge of Sighs

The "Bridge of Sighs" leads from The Doge's Palace into the prison on the opposite bank of the Rio del Palazzo. Constructed around 1600, the bridge acquired its world famous name during the late 18th century when Lord Byron romanticized the sound of sighs from condemned prisoners.

A Ride in a Gondola

Gondolas Venice ItalyYes, they are expensive, and yes, they are for tourists, but you might later regret not taking a gondola ride. The ubiquitous gondola has been a part of the Venice scene since the 11^th century and one cannot imagine Venice without it. With its slim hull and flat underside, the gondola is perfectly crafted to negotiate the narrow, shallow canals.  In 1562, the powers that be in Venice decreed that all gondolas should be painted black to stop people from making an ostentatious show of their wealth.

Campanile

For an aerial view of the city, head to the Campanile Bell Tower, which at 325 ft.-high, is the tallest structure in Venice. During peak season, arrive at 9am sharp to avoid waiting in line for the elevator.

Basilica San Marco

Basilica San Marco Venice ItalyEasily the largest tourist attraction in Venice, the Basilica holds a wealth of art, architecture and history. It blends architectural and decorative styles of East and West creating one of the grandest buildings in Europe. Particular beauties include the Cavalli di San Marco (bronze horses), which were brought from Constantinople in 1204, and the golden mosaic ceilings, a must-see.

Peggy Guggenheim Collection

Eccentric millionaire art collector Peggy Guggenheim (1898-1979) called the unfinished Palazzo Venier dei Leoni home for 30 years. A high –spirited woman, Guggenheim left behind a collection representing most of the major art movements of the 20th century. Works by Picasso, Dali and Miro make this an essential visit. The Guggenheim is one of the most visited sights of Venice and the best place in the city to see modern art. The light-filled rooms and the large modern paintings provide a striking contrast to the Renaissance art you see everywhere else. Buried with her in the sculpture garden are her cherished dogs.

Doge's Palace

Doge's Palace Venice ItalyPalazzo Ducale di Venezia, a stunning gothic palace, was the residence of the Doge of Venice. It was founded in the 9^th century, but the present palace owes its external appearance to the 14^th and 15^th centuries. The highlight for many is the breathtaking climb up the Scala d'Oro (Golden Staircase). Many of the palace's interior rooms are richly stuccoed; their upper walls and ceilings are also decorated with magnificent works of art. The Sala dello Scudo, once part of the doge’s private apartments, are covered with maps of the world. In the center of the room are two giant 18^th century globes. The basement of the Doge's Palace once housed prisoners, such as Casanova, who managed to escape in 1756.

Accademia

Speaking of renaissance art, the place to go is the Accademia, which has a matchless collection of paintings providing a complete spectrum of the Venetian school from the medieval period through the Renaissance and to the Baroque. Although the city is dotted by works of the greats, this one-stop treasure represents a single, intense lesson in the greatness of Venetian art. The basis of the collection was established in 1750. In 1807, Napoleon moved the collection to these premises and enriched it with works of art removed from churches and monasteries. This is a good place to see art by Bellini, Giorgione, Titian and others.

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	Top 10 Venice (EYEWITNESS TOP 10 TRAVEL GUIDE) author: DK Publishing ASIN or ISBN-10: 0756623863
	Venice & The Veneto (Eyewitness Travel Guides) author: Christopher Catling,Susie Boulton ASIN or ISBN-10: 0789495740