I will be visiting Venice this summer. I am seriously considering staying in the Accademia area. Please share your opinion about whether this is a well-positioned area that is close to the sites but also outside the masses. <BR><BR>Also, I would love suggestions on wonderful restaurants. I am looking for dining with local charm, good service, and excellent food.<BR><BR>And, if there are any must see sites that are off the beaten path, I would love to know about them.<BR><BR>Thanks so much!

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Anne, you will get differing opinions of the best location in Venice. We prefer the other side of the Grand Canal near the Santa Maria del Giglio stop---:10 minutes max to the Rialto, the Accademia, or to San Marco. However, the Pensione Accademia is very nice and a decent location.

HI Anne,<BR><BR>I stayed at the Hotel Galleria and the Pensione La Calcina, both of which are near the Accademia in the Dorsodoro(sp) area. La Calcina is a 3 star and Galleria is a 1 star. I enjoyed my stay at both, and thought they were in an excellent area. I could see the bridge from my room at Galleria. An easy vaparetto ride from the train station.

We loved the area around the Accademia - particulrly between the Accademia and the Zattere. Still very close to everything but out of the main areas of congestion. The Accademia vaporetto stop is also one of the ones that both the No 1 &amp; 82 stop at - so you can choose between. Great local restaurants and bacaros as well.

Anne<BR>Look for the Bovolo staircase, a spiral marble stair case built on the exterior of a building, built around 1492 when Columbus was just finding the new world.<BR>Gorgeous, and unexpected.<BR><BR>I have a file on Venice; if you'd like to see it, email me.

Hi Anne<BR><BR>I stayed in this area in April 01 and thought it was the perfect location. It's very quiet at night and you really get a sense of the real Venice, away from the hordes at St Mark's - but still near enough to be walkable. We stayed at the Locanda San Barnaba which was really lovely. Highly recommended!<BR><BR>I recommend Harry's Dolci on the Giudecca island for a leisurely lunch or dinner. Lovely puddings! Also the restaurants along the Zattere with outdoor tables facing the Giudecca canal are great for lunchtime pizza. My no. 1 must see off the beaten track would be Burano island - a 40 minute ferry ride from Venice but well worth it for a magical visit!<BR><BR>Good luck and enjoy your trip!<BR>Zoe

Anne: I also love Dorsoduro and the Zattere. It's a great place to watch the sun come up very early in the morning. Do not miss the Accademia! A world class museum. Breathtaking paintings and many of the rooms have large cards in English explaining the paintings.

I second Zoe's recommendation. Love Dorsoduro, away from the major crowds but just a short walk or vaporetto ride from everything. Also stayed at Locanda San Barnaba and would recommend it.<BR><BR>

Refer to this simple map: http://www.room-service.co.uk/ITALY-BROCH/venicemap.html<BR><BR>To me, Venice appears as a hand in a boxing glove (right) poised to squeeze the head of a fish which is, in turn, about to bite the gloved thumb. The main axis of the masses is between San Marco and Rialto, slicing the base of the thumb. You'll be happily over in the lower jaw of the fish, on the other side of the Grand Canal, away from them. <BR><BR>If you end up staying in the Accademia area, be sure to visit the picturesque squero (gondola workshop) nearby, and take a walk along the the Zattere. <BR><BR>Venice is beautiful and incomparable.

Thanks to all for sharing your opinions and valuable information. I would love to know about more off the beaten track discoveries as well as wonderful restaurants.