- A distinguished 1,700-year-old city that was at the nexus of major European art, music and political developments. It was an instigator of the Renaissance and is thought to have been the world's first financial center. Today, it is one of 's most im- portant cities and a supremely romantic travel destination, where you can stroll along- side miles of winding canals. There are, in fact, 150 canals with more than 400 bridges that connect Venice's 118 small islands in the Venetian Lagoon, some large enough for magnificent churches and palaces, squares and museums, amazing restaurants and beautiful shops. The city hosts many great churches, museums and other places of interest; below is a guide to our top 10 favorites, which includes a unique gondola ride along the canals to view the sites. Mass transit on the canals and lagoon is by Vaporetto. Day tours outside the city are to Verona, Treviso, Vicenza and the Veneto Villas.

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1. Basilica San Marco 6. Palazzo Ducale (Doge) 2. Burano 7. Peggy Guggenheim Collection 3. Galleria dell’Accademia 8. 4. Gondola Ride 9. Bridge 5. Murano 10. Torcello 1. Basilica San Marco 2. Burano Island A multi-domed Byzantine Famous for artisan cathedral built in the lace, you can buy 11th century, containing lace products in many of the shops treasures including glis- or visit the Lace tening mosaics and Museum to find out paintings by leading Ve- more about the tradition of lace netian artists. making.

3. Galleria dell’Accademia 4. Gondola Ride Founded in 1750, the An expensive splurge best museum for view- for a romantic and ing Venetian art from memorable experience the 14th and 18th cen- to view the city away turies. Contains over from the busy Grand 800 paintings by Re- Canal and explore the naissance artists like network of narrow Bellini and Tiziano. waterways.

5. Murano Island 6. Palazzo Ducale (Doges Palace) A few centuries ago, all Residence of the glassmakers were re- Dukes of Venice dur- ing the 1000 year quired to live on the reign of the Republic island to protect the of Venice. Now a glass-making secrets. major museum where Today you can find out you can view the rooms occupied by all all about it in the glass branches of govern- museum. ment.

7. Peggy Guggenheim Collection 8. Piazza San Marco Housed in the collectors Largest square and former home, one of the city’s main meeting first contemporary art place at the mouth of museums in Italy. Fea- the . tures works from 20th Lined with cafes, century artists including shops, museums and Pollock, Klee and Mon- the Cathedral of St drian. Mark.

9. Rialto Bridge 10. Torcello Island

The oldest of the 4 A quiet, green island. bridges spanning the much of it is a nature reserve. Visit the 7th- Grand Canal, built in century Cathedral of 1590. Leads to the Rial- Santa Maria Dell'As- to Produce Market in sunta to see the the heart of Venice. spectacular 11th and 12th-century Byzan- tine mosaics.