Venice, Italy

Venice, Italy

Carnevale in Venice, Italy (cc)

Venice Travel Guide

Introduction

Venice, Venezia in Italian, is arguably the most romantic city in the world. It sits on a lagoon, crisscrossed by canals navigated by gondoliers in sleek, black gondolas, with centuries-old palaces heaped with art and treasures reflected upon the shimmering waters, colorful revelers in costumes and gilded masks filling the streets on Carnavale nights, and violinists serenading couples in unpretentious cafés tucked away on dimly-lit alleys and cobbled, medieval squares where flower-vendors sell roses for a king's ransom. Indeed, despite the dilapidation and scarring that have come with age, Venice remains an alluring city of exotic glamor where visitors poke around in the small, quaint shops and art galleries lining its ancient streets, typically outnumbering residents on any given day. And should it come as any surprise that this city of beauty, romance and mystique has spawned an endless stream of monikers? La Serenissima Repubblica ("the most serene republic"), "City of Light," "City of Water," "Queen of the Adriatic," "City of Canals," "City of Bridges," "City of Masks" and the "Floating City" come to mind – even though some say it's sinking! Hah! little do they know, the nay sayers, that Venice has pulling power well beyond their lifetimes!

Location

Venice, the capital of the Veneto region of Italy, is situated on the Venetian Lagoon in the northeastern part of the country, along the Gulf of Venice. It is 24 miles (39 km) south of Treviso, or 44 miles (71 km) east of Vicenza.

How to Get There

Sightseeing

Neighborhoods

How to Get Around

Where to Stay

Where to Eat

Where to Party

Essential Information

Nearby Destinations

How to Get There

Sightseeing

Main Neighborhoods

Venice is built on 117 islands in the Venetian Lagoon, crisscrossed by 177 canals and connected by 408 bridges, with three of them – including the Rialto – spanning the Grand Canal. Six sestieri, or districts, make up the city, three to the east of the Grand Canal and three to the west of it .