Italy's famous 'floating' city, Venice - La Serenissima - is a place of canals and palaces and quite possibly the most romantic city you'll ever visit. Full of amazing museums, beautiful buildings, and many small bridges, it is very easy to get lost as you wind through the city's maze of streets. It is truly a walking city, no room for cars or scooters here. This is where the best way to travel is by water taxi or the ever-romantic gondola.

MUST-SEE ATTRACTIONS

Piazzetta San Marco (St. Mark's Square)
This famous square located right on Venice's shores, features many cafes, even more pigeons and a constant traffic of people, from visitors enjoying the scene to waiters serving up espressos and gelatos. Napoleon once dubbed this square the 'finest drawing room in Europe'.

The Doge's Palace
Once home to the doge and to all arms of government, including prisons, the Doge's apartments are grandiose to say the least. It is here where you will find many splendid works by Tintoretto and Veronese, including Tintoretto's Paradiso, one of the world's largest oil paintings, and Veronese's Apotheosis of Venice. A trail of corridors leads you to the small, enclosed Bridge of Sighs (Ponte dei Sospiri), which was invented in 19th century when Lord Bryon helped to popularize the belief that the bridge's name was inspired by the sighs of the condemned prisoners as they were led through it to the executioner.

Ponte di Rialto (Rialto Bridge)
Located in the city's commercial centre, this was the first bridge built over the Grand Canal. Although still famous for its fruit and vegetable market, the bridge is also site of many stalls selling tourist souvenirs.

Basilica di San Marco (St. Mark's Basilica)
Once of the most spectacular places of worship in the world, this Basilica was modeled on Constantinople's Church of the Twelve Apostles and consecrated in 1094. Due to the Venetian Republic's former maritime and commercial past, its adornments include an incredible array of plundered treasures.


HIDDEN TREASURES

Squero di San Trovaso
Located on the banks of one of the city's most attractive waterways ? the Rio di San Trovaso ? this is one of the few working 'squeros' or gondola workshops left. Witness the masterful craftsmanship of these beautiful boats.

Peggy Guggenheim Collection
When millionaire art collector Peggy Guggenheim died, she left behind a vast collection of art that represents most of the major movements of the 20th century. Housed in what was Ms. Guggenheim's home for 30 years, the unfinished Palazzo Venier dei Leoni features works by Picasso, Dali and Miro. This is a must-see for art enthusiasts.

Gallerie dell'Accademia
Home to Venice's single most important art collection, the pieces here clearly illustrates the progress from the 14th to the 18th centuries. Highlights include Paola Veneziano's Madonna and Child with Two Donors and Carpaccio's altarpiece Crucifixion and Apotheosis.


TOP SHOPPING

• There are no shortage of shops selling the classic Venetian items such as Murano glass, lace, marbled paper and Carnevale masks.



• Il Grifone is a one-man leather workshop and a great place to buy quality handmade bags, belts, wallets, and more, at reasonable prices.



• For antiques, Antiquus is a great little shop that boasts a solid collection of old masters, silverware and antique jewellery.

• As soon as you see the maze of streets that wind throughout Venice, you'll know you will be doing a lot of walking. Be sure to bring comfortable shoes.



• Avoid wearing short skirts or shorts or showing bare arms in most churches (women should take a light shawl).



• Beware of pickpockets in tourist areas, as well as the false water-taxi drivers who look official and approach tourists with stories of having the only kind of vehicle available to transfer people from Tronchetto to destinations elsewhere in Venice.



• Summer is hot with high humidity so dress appropriately and drink lots of water. Spring is often crisp and clear with pleasant temperatures.