Venice is a city unlike any other. No matter how often you've seen it in photos and films, the real thing is more dreamlike than you could imagine. With canals where streets should be, water shimmers everywhere. The fabulous palaces and churches reflect centuries of history in what was a wealthy trading center between Europe and the Orient. Getting lost in the narrow alleyways is a quintessential part of exploring Venice, but at some point you'll almost surely end up in Piazza San Marco, where tourists and locals congregate for a coffee or an aperitif.
- Landmarks The Rialto bridge and Palazzo Ducale are simply unforgettable.
- Festivals Carnevale and the Biennale are celebrations of art, film, music, and dance.
- Art Titian, Tintoretto, and Tiepolo, as well as contemporary artists, are represented.
- Seafood Fish so fresh many restaurants boast they don't even own a refrigerator.
- Churches The Basilica di San Marco and Santa Maria della Salute are two of many.
- Shopping Spectacular masks, candy-colored glass, paper goods, lace, and linens.
