Venezia, the Floating City
Città galleggiante
Venice is one of the most beautiful and romantic cities in Italy with its winding canals, narrow streets, and beautiful Piazza San Marco.
One of the best things to do in Venice is to take some time wandering along the canals off the main tourist track. Venice has many fine attractions and museums. Here are some of the top things to see in Venice:
· San Marco Square - Piazza San Marco is the main square of Venice surrounded by chic sidewalk cafes and fancy shops. While it's a great place to enjoy the scenery and people, you will definitely pay top price to sit at an outdoor table. In the evening, you can listen to live music, too. Walking in the piazza and taking photos is, of course, free.
· Saint Mark's Basilica - Basilica di San Marco is a beautiful church blending the architecture of East and West. It was consecrated in 832 AD.
· Doge's Palace - Palazzo Ducale, also on St. Mark's Square, is the most impressive building in Venice and well worth a tour. It was the political and judicial hub of Venetian government until the fall of the Venetian Republic in 1797. The palace was connected to its prisons by the famous "Bridge of Sighs."
· Grand Canal - Canal Grande is the main thoroughfare of Venice. It's full of all kinds of boats and liined with beautiful buildings.
· Rialto Bridge (Ponte di Rialto), the main bridge crossing the Grand Canal in the heart of Venice, is over 400 years old. Nearby is the Rialto Market, an interesting and lively food market with lots of little shops.
Galleria del'Accademia is one of Italy's best art museums with 24 rooms in 3 historic buildings. Get there early to avoid the crowds.
The hotel I stayed in was conviently located near the train station. Hotel tre Arche. It was clean and the staff very accomodating. Not to mention that January had the best rates.
Hotel tre Arche
Fondamenta di Cannaregio, 923, Venezia
+39 041 524 4356
www.hoteltrearchi.com
