Venice (Venezia)

Many would argue there is no more romantic place on earth than Venice. The city was formed when Venetians fled to a collection of tiny islands to escape barbarian attacks. They formed a magical city that delights tourists to this day. Sadly, the charm comes at a price: Venice is sinking at a rate of six centimeters per decade. Uncontrolled tides, pollution, and simple old age are wearing on Venice, and it is inevitable that much of the city’s prized art will be lost to deterioration if nothing is done to change the pattern. Still, for now it is a charming city that is just as enchanting as you imagine it in your mind to be.

 

The primary tourist activity centers on St. Mark’s Square (Piazza San Marco), the city’s only piazza. In Venice the streets are canals and transportation is by gondola, vaporetto (motorboat), and taxi acquei (water taxi). The Grand Canal (Canal Grande) is the main thoroughfare. It is wonderful to tour via any of the transportation options.

 

The Basilica di San Marco dominates the piazza. It is Venice’s most famous church and a splendid example of Byzantine architecture. The Palace of the Doges (Palazzo Ducale) housed political offices and dates back to 1309. The Galleria dell’Accademia has a wealth of works by 14^th century artists and the Collezione Peggy Guggenheim has a brilliant collection of modern art.

 

The nearby town of Murano is famous for handmade glass, and the village of Burano is just as famous for lace making.