Transportation is unique in Venice. You can get most anywhere by walking. You get to other islands by boat. There are boat stations sprinkled along the island edges. For newbies, it's daunting to figure out which boats are which. Once you become an expert at spotting your mode of transportation, navigating Venice will be easy.
Read MoreLido is an island, a long sandbar in the Venetian Lagoon, accessible by boat. The main street, Gran Viale Santa Maria Elisabetta is a wide street, lined with shops and eateries that leads from the lagoon (and vaporetto bus stop) to the wide open sea.
Read MoreWhat can be said about the Grand Canal in words? The colorful buildings and aqua green waters are much better captured in photos. Rich and noble families spent their wealth on decorating the back of their palazzos or palaces. A lot of these touches are maintained to this day, giving you a picturesque view as you cruise down the canal. Docks and piers extend into the canal from some of these palaces. Many palaces today are repurposed as museums, hotels, restaurants, etc. Few still serve as private residences.
Read MoreStand at Piazza San Marco (St. Mark's Square) and peer across the turquoise waters. A bell tower stands tall, just behind a white church. Remember the quest? Always seek a place that offers a new vantage point, preferably with a birdseye view of the city. There is no better way to know a city.
Read MoreThe gondolas pass under and all gaze in awe at the ornate structure above them. The white is startling against the blue skies. It is equally jarring against cloudy gray skies, also taking on a gray undertone. Visitors praise the beauty and romance. The Bridge of Sighs is a white limestone bridge that connects the prison to the interrogation rooms in the Doge's Palace.
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