" When I went to Venice, my dream became my home" -Marcel Proust

Ponte di Realto - Venice's most famous bridge.
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Venice is amazing and truly a unique city. It is also about 2 degrees of being underwater...so plan accordingly.

For the most expensive city in Italy we were able to get around cheaper than anywhere else in Europe (either we are getting smart or just got lucky). We didn't stay on Venezia Island, rather on one next to it and apaprently where all the locals have fled to, called Mestre. From there one can either take a ferry to the mainland(expensive), or bus it. I think we were quite lucky in our timing as the tourist crowds weren't too bad i.e. we hadn't reached the point where you had to be shepherded by the polizei.

Looking almost like it did in the 13th century, Venice's masterpiece and one of my favorites is Piazza San Marco with the stunningly beautiful Basilica di San Marco.

Hoping for a glimpse of Giacomo Casanova....
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Venice - beguilingly and suspiciously beatiful (Thomas Mann), city of dreams. Charming, intriguing, disorienting and attracting visitors so much that numbers have to be restricted in the summer.

Looking almost like it did in the 13th century, Venice's masterpiece and one of my favorites is Piazza San Marco with the stunningly beautiful Basilica di San Marco.  It was originally built as a resting place for S. Mark in 828, but has since then undergone 2 more reconstructions.  The strong Byzantine influence and the richly embellished interior makes it one of the most remarkable and memorable Roman Catholic churches. On it is mounted a replica (original is inside) of the Quadriga, the four famous bronze horses stolen from Constantinopole. Napoleon was also guilty of  appropriating and then mouting it on the Arch de Triumph by the Louvre, in Paris. A replica still stands there after the original was returned. Quite the horses!!!!

Ponte dei Sospiri(Bridge of Sighs) that connects the Doges palace(on the right) to the dungeons (on the left). The sigh is that of prisoners being led away,never to see Venice again.
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The Grand Canal, even with its murky waters fascinates leaving you gasping for breath (sometimes almost literally I hear!). For the budget conscious take a vaporetto, instead of the appalingly priced gondolas, fo a ride along the canal.

Be sure to stop and admire the unique and stunning masks. You may even get lucky and see an artist at work.