Venice, Italy: A Travel Guide

As a travel destination, the first thing to say about Venice is that it truly lives up to the hype surrounding its romance and history. The city really is one of a kind, and it should not be missed by any traveler in the region. That said, it is recommended to visit during the off-season, and that is because Venice can become nearly impossible to navigate during peak periods because of the high density of tourists. At its best, it's a challenge, at its worst, it's unbearably bad. So, considered yourself forewarned.

Once you're in Venice, however, the first thing any visitor should know is how to get around. In Venice, there are no streets and no vehicular traffic. No parking lots, no parking garages. You have to walk; so please have comfortable shoes. Of course, there are the canals, and they have their own version of public transport. It's called the vaparetto. It works just like a metro system, but instead of underground trains, it has boats. It's by far the best way to get around Venice. (Forget the gondolas, they're obscenely expensive; it can be equated to hiring a limousine in an ordinary city.)

The first stop for any visitor to Venice is Piazza San Marco, or in English, St. Mark's Square. Dating to the early 12^th Century, the square is well known for being one of the most beautiful public squares in the world. Napoleon once called this square "the drawing room of Europe." It is the most famous landmark in Venice.

Abutting St. Mark's Square is St. Mark's Basilica, which dates to 1094 and is the most important church structure in Venice. Considered one of the finest examples of Byzantine architecture in Venice, St. Mark's once well-represented the power and wealth of the Republic of Venice. Today, the church's former golden opulence is a bit faded, but it is still an impressive building. Admission is free, but the museums within the church charge small admission fees.

Also located on St. Mark's Square is the Doge's Palace, the historic seat of the governmental administration of the republic of Venice. It is open to the public for tours, and for those interested in understanding the history of Venice, this palace is a "must see" site. Art lovers will also be impressed. Among the hundreds of great pieces of art on display is one that is reputedly the largest canvas painting in the world, a work by Tintoretto called Paradise.

Acqua Alta (or High Water) is the name given to the flooding that regularly occurs in Venice, and it has become a bit of a tourist curiosity. Because St. Mark's Square is one of the lowest points in Venice and because of its location on the Adriatic Sea, St. Mark's Square is the place that is most regularly flooded. It usually occurs in the winter months and during full moons. Platforms are placed in the square for pedestrians during the time of significant flooding.

The most famous eatery in Venice is Caffe Florian. Located on St. Mark's Square, it is a coffee house that dates to 1720 and is arguably the oldest coffee house in continuous operation in the world. Historically known as a center of art and intellectualism as well as coffee, the café can boast that such luminaries as Goethe, Casanova, Byron, Proust, and even Charles Dickens were frequent patrons. Today, the café maintains much of the elegance and charm it did in the past, but today it is a bit of a tourist trap. It is very nice, but it is also very expensive.

People don't often think of Jewish Heritage when they think of Venice, but they should, because Venice is home to the world's first Jewish ghetto. In 1516, all the Jews living in Venice were restricted to living in one area that was gated and guarded by Venetian military personnel. It wasn't until the invasion of Napoleon in 1797 that the gates were torn down and Jews permitted to live in other areas of the city. For the visitor today, there is the Jewish Museum of Venice, as well as seven synagogues within the area of the old ghetto that are open to the public.

If you're a fan of the history of architecture, you're probably familiar with the name Andrea Palladio. And Venice is home to one of Palladio's greatest triumphs, the San Giorgio Maggiore, a church located on the island of San Giorgio Maggiore. (The island and church can be seen from the water's edge of St. Mark's Square.) It was Palladio's last project, begun in 1566 and finished in 1610. Palladio not only designed the building, but oversaw its construction.

A surprising little gem is the Peggy Guggenheim Collection in Venice. Located overlooking the Grand Canal of Venice, this museum is housed in was what Ms. Guggenheim Venetian residence, and its collection is primarily comprised of her private art collection. So, if you're looking for any of the old masters here, you've come to the wrong place. Instead, Guggenheim's tastes favored the schools of Cubism, Surrealism, and Abstract Expressionism. There is one room that is devotedly solely to Jackson Pollack.(or High Water) is the name given to the flooding that regularly occurs in Venice, and it has become a bit of a tourist curiosity. Because St. Mark's Square is one of the lowest points in Venice and because of its location on the Adriatic Sea, St. Mark's Square is the place that is most regularly flooded. It usually occurs in the winter months and during full moons. Platforms are placed in the square for pedestrians during the time of significant flooding.