Venice

Built on about 118 small islands, the city of Venice is a traveler's fairy tale. It’s a dream destination for those who want to explore the 1,500 year old city by foot or by water. Venice is also known as ‘a fairy city of the heart,’ and ‘The Most Serene City.’ Masked gondoliers, winding canals, and sumptuous architectural treasures like Piazza San Marco and the Ducal Palace set the tone for romance. But, like in all fairy tales, there are monsters to battle: namely summer crowds, shockingly steep prices, high-tide floods, and low-tide stench.

City Attractions
Venice is a commercial, industrial and tourist hub of Italy and one of Italy's major ports. Rich in history and legends Venice introduces the tourist to a fantastic carousel of endless calli, campielli, channels, churches, museums and splendid buildings that show Venice as the meeting of east and west. The city’s patron is St. Mark's Square with the Basilica of Saint Mark on it. Other landmarks other than this are the Bell Tower, the Palace of the Doges, the Academy of Fine Arts, the campanile, the Moors' Clocktower, the elegant Old Library and St. Moses' Church. Venice and its lagoon are listed as World Heritage Sites by UNESCO.

Some of the numerous attractions of the city include churches of Santa Maria Gloriosa del Frari, the Scuola degli Schiavoni, the palaces Ca' d'Oro, Rezzonico, San Zanipolo, San Zaccaria, the Scuola di San Rocco and Pesaro. The fashionable beach resort of Lido di Venezia, situated on a nearby island is also eye catching. The city is also famous for its unique carnival and one of Europe's oldest film festivals, ‘The Biennale del Cinema.’

Other Facts
The shop windows, full of glasses and colored masks accompany the walk up to St. Mark Square, but as soon as you turn a corner there you find the unusual Venice: narrow alleys, passing the façade of building seemingly frozen in ages. This is the real Venice, unknown to the tourist. This is the real Venetian life. By following the more hidden itineraries someone can find timeless history.

The Grand Canal in Venice, Italy is a long stretch of water that runs right through the city and is often referred to as 'the most beautiful street in the whole of Venice'. The first bridge ever built over the canal was the Rialto Bridge, which has since become one of the main symbols associated with Venice.