When I am in Venice, I feel like I'm *in* a painting...you know those paintings of street scenes, no one spectacular stand-out, just lots of interesting things? Rather than individual "important" buildings, it's the whole that's fascinating - the view across the Grand Canal is stunning, all of the buildings combined make the tableau; or walking along a small street and looking down a side canal where a boat is being poled and the sounds of the water lapping...at night, taking a vaporetto along the Grand Canal, the houses are lit up and you catch a peek of a crystal chandelier and a woman in a sleek black dress...

Is Venice worth it?<BR><BR>....more than any other city I know

This bears repeating--I too felt like I stepped into an oil painting when arriving in Venice by water taxi. Most expensive hotel ever but well worth the experience.