Day Three

No visit to Italy would be complete without a trip to Venice. Its charm will woo you instantly and provide some of your trip’s defining memories. After two days of touring indoor museums and historical sites, you might appreciate the fact that Venice is best enjoyed from the outdoors. 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.

 

As far as historical sites go, the primary tourist activity centers on St. Mark’s Square (Piazza San Marco), the city’s only piazza. 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.

 

By this time you may have had your fill of art and architecture, and Venice is a fine place to land if that is the case. Simply hop aboard a gondola, settle in, and enjoy the ride. Soak up your last remaining hours in this cultural wonderland, and bask in Italy’s warm evening glow before you have to depart.