The Place:

Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region. A city that has inspired artists and travelers for centuries

It is the only city in the world built entirely on water. Venice is built on an archipelago of 117 islands formed by 177 canals in a shallow lagoon, connected by 409 bridges. In the old centre, the canals serve the function of roads, and almost every form of transport is on water or on foot.

Get to:

By Air:
Venice is served by the Marco Polo International Airport, or Aeroporto di Venezia Marco Polo, named in honor of its famous citizen. Airport is connected by land to Venice main island (Piazzale Roma, the bus terminal) by the ACTV lines (for example line 5 aerobus) and by sea to Venice, Murano and Lido by Alilaguna lines. Some airlines market Treviso Airport in Treviso, 30 km from Venice, as a Venice gateway.

By Rail:
Venice is serviced by regional and national trains, which can connect the city to Rome in 3.5 hours and to Milan in 2.5 hours. Treviso is thirty-five minutes away. Florence and Padua are two of the stops between Rome and Venice. The St. Lucia station is a few steps away from a vaporetti stop.

What to Do

Despite its watery character, you will find that you can get around most of the city on foot. If you leave behind the crowds of San Marco, you will soon find yourself immersed in a warren of narrow alleys, back canals. Wherever you go there will be cafes where you can linger alfresco, or tiny bars where you can enjoy a glass of wine and Venetian tapas.

For those who have found time from the romanticism of the place, there are islands to explore, easily reached by frequent ferries. Murano is famous for its glass making, Burano for its lace and Torcello for its cathedrals. Lido, a long strip of land between the city and the Adriatic, glories in its role as a superior film set.

And also don’t go expecting to have the city to yourself. Even in the foot-stomping chill of January, Venice has its admirers.