I forgot to say hotels. We like the Due Torri in Rome and love the Accademia in Venice. It used to be the Russian Embassy, is 2 minutes from the Accademia museum and the wonderful walk along the Zattere and between 10 and 15 minutes to the Piazza San Marco. There are also other very nice hotels in the Dorsoduro area, especially La Calcina. The Alberetti gets also gets very good reviews, but the rooms are plainer.