tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-263409212024-02-20T09:42:53.119-08:00Venice HolidayIn this blog secrets, tips and useful infos for your holiday in Venice.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26340921.post-78818635008033931352009-01-20T02:26:00.000-08:002009-01-20T02:26:00.293-08:00Essential Venice Tour<span class="title2">1. Essential Venice<a name="EssentialVenice"></a></span> <p><img src="http://www.veniceguideandboat.it/img/fotoday1.gif" alt="The Doge's Palace" align="left" height="100" hspace="8" vspace="5" width="140" /> In the <strong>morning</strong> you will see the most important museum of Venice: the <strong>Doge's Palace</strong>. Visiting the former house of the Government of the ancient Venetian Republic you will learn about the origins and the History of Venice, and the main artists of the Venetian School of Painting. You will also see the Bridge of Sighs and the ancient Prison of Venice.</p> <p>After the palace you will see the <strong>Basilica of St Mark</strong> and admire 89.000 square feet of golden mosaics. </p> <p>There will be time for lunch if you want (we can suggest some of the best restaurants in the area)</p> <p><img src="http://www.veniceguideandboat.it/img/fotoday2.gif" alt="The Grand Canal in Venice" align="right" height="100" hspace="8" vspace="5" width="140" /> In the <strong>afternoon</strong> you will enjoy a boat tour to admire the <strong>city of Venice and it's Lagoon</strong> from the water perspective. This is when you will realize how huge is the Lagoon and how many different aspect it can offer. </p> <p><img src="http://www.veniceguideandboat.it/img/fotoday3.gif" alt="A Venetian Glass Master" align="left" height="160" hspace="8" vspace="5" width="120" /> At the end of the boat tour you will reach the <strong>Island of Murano</strong>, famous for its glassmaking. You will see one of the best know furnaces where the authentical production takes place. You will have some time for shopping and the you'll ride back passing by the old and glorious Shipyard and the island of Lido.</p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p><span class="title">DURATION:</span> 6 hrs </p> <p><span class="title">ADMISSIONS:</span> <br /> <strong> Doge's Palace:</strong> 12 € - 6,50 Students/kids<br /> <strong>Golden Screen of St Mark's Church:</strong> 1,50 € </p> <p><span class="title">TOUR PRICE</span> <br /> <strong>Private tour up to 6 persons</strong>: 620 euros + admission fees<br /> <strong>Group rate on request</strong></p> <p><span class="title">THE PRICE INCLUDES:</span> the service of a certified tour guide for 6 hours and the hiring of a private luxury water taxi for 1 hour plus the ride back to Venice. Please notice: due to a recent ordinance of the City Council, boat tours along the Grand Canal are allowed only after 5 pm. The boat tour therefore will not include this part of the city.<br /></p><p>Contact:<br /></p><p><a href="mailto:info@veniceguideandboat.it">info@veniceguideandboat.it</a> <br /> <img src="http://www.veniceguideandboat.it/img/logo.gif" alt="Venice Guide and Boat" /> <br /> <span class="subHeader">Fax: + 39 041 5262879</span> </p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26340921.post-6182144590972873482009-01-17T02:24:00.000-08:002009-01-17T02:24:01.150-08:00Relax Yourself In Venice<p>This tour is relaxing and offers a more general overview of Venice, and will take you to see the most picturesque corners of the city </p> <p><img src="http://www.veniceguideandboat.it/img/fotoday4.gif" alt="The mosaics in the Church of St Mark" align="left" height="100" hspace="8" vspace="5" width="140" /><strong>Morning:</strong> You will begin the tour with a walk through the Square of St Mark to see its most important monuments: the Bridge of Sighs, the Doge's Palace, the Bell tower and the Basilica of St Mark (a visit to the church and its treasuries is included). </p> <p><img src="http://www.veniceguideandboat.it/img/fotoday5.gif" alt="The Contarini Spiral Staircase" align="right" height="100" hspace="8" vspace="5" width="140" /> Then, leaving the crowd of tourists behind, you'll walk through narrow alleys and tranquil small square You'll then reach the famous Rialto bridge, linking the banks of the Grand Canal and cross over to the other side of the city, exploring the Rialto Market. You could then take a short break and taste genuine food and local wine in one of the typical eateries near Rialto </p> <p>In the <strong>early afternoon</strong> you'll be ready to start the boat excursion which will take you to visit the three islands of Murano, Burano and Torcello</p> <p><img src="http://www.veniceguideandboat.it/img/fotoday6.gif" alt="Colorful houses in Burano" align="left" height="100" hspace="8" vspace="5" width="140" /> You will see how glass is made in Murano, walk through the colorful alleys of little and quaint Burano, and then admire the oldest building preserved in the Venetian Lagoon. A visit to the splendid ancient mosaic of the Cathedral will take place before returning to Venice. </p> <p> </p> <p><span class="title">DURATION:</span> 6 hrs </p> <p><span class="title">ADMISSIONS:</span><br /> <strong>Museum of the Church of St Mark:</strong> 3,00 € <strong>Basilica of Santa Maria Assunta in Torcello</strong> 3,00 €</p> <p><span class="title">TOUR PRICE: </span><br /> <strong>Private tour up to 6 persons</strong>: 750 euros + admission fees<br /> <strong>Group rate on request</strong></p> <p><span class="title">THE PRICE INCLUDES:<br /></span> the service of a certified tour guide for 6 hours and the hiring of a private water taxi for 4 hours<br /></p><p>Contact:<br /></p><p><a href="mailto:info@veniceguideandboat.it">info@veniceguideandboat.it</a> <br /> <img src="http://www.veniceguideandboat.it/img/logo.gif" alt="Venice Guide and Boat" /> <br /> <span class="subHeader">Fax: + 39 041 5262879</span> </p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26340921.post-31411323213915119642009-01-14T02:22:00.000-08:002009-01-14T02:23:58.200-08:00Arts and Culture in Venice<span class="title2">3. Art and Culture in Venice<a name="ArtVenice"></a></span> <p>This option is designed for the appreciators of Art who are eager to discover the cultural treasuries Venice has to offer. </p> <p><img src="http://www.veniceguideandboat.it/img/fotoday7.gif" alt="A painting by Gentile Bellini in the Accademia Galleries in Venice" align="left" height="100" hspace="8" vspace="5" width="140" />The <strong>morning</strong> begins with the visit to one of the most important artistic sights in Venice: the Accademia Galleries where the richest collection of Venetian paintings is preserved.</p> <p><img src="http://www.veniceguideandboat.it/img/fotoday8.gif" alt="The Grand Canal of Venice" align="right" height="100" hspace="8" vspace="5" width="140" /> A private boat will then take you for a ride in around Venice, to admire wondeful architecture and their architectural styles as well as the Venetian Lagoon. At the end of the tour there'll be a short break for lunch if needed. </p> <p><img src="http://www.veniceguideandboat.it/img/fotoday9.gif" alt="The way to Calvary by Tintoretto" align="left" height="100" hspace="8" vspace="5" width="140" /> In the <strong>afternoon</strong> the tour will continue visiting the ancient Brotherhood of St Roch, where you will see more than 50 large canvasses painted by Tintoretto, one of the greatest Renaissance painters Venice ever had. The Frari's Church will then follow to see Titian's masterpiece, the Assumpion of the Virgin Mary, and other works of art. </p> <p><span class="title">DURATION:</span> 6 hrs </p> <p><span class="title">ADMISSIONS:</span><br /> <strong>Accademia Galleries </strong>Regular: 6,50 €<br /> Students 18-25 years (only E.E.C citizens): 3,25 €<br /> Senior E.E.C citizens over 65: free (ID required)<br /> <strong>Frari's Church</strong> : 2.50 €<br /> <strong>Scuola di Sar Rocco : </strong><br /> Regular: 5.50 €<br /> Groups: 4.00 €</p> <p><span class="title">TOUR PRICE:</span><br /> <strong>Private tour up to 6 persons</strong>: 520 euros + admission fees<br /> <strong>Group rate on request</strong></p> <p><span class="title">THE PRICE INCLUDES:</span> the service of a certified tour guide and the hiring of a private luxury water taxi. This tour can easily be customize in case you would like to see different museums rather than those included.<br /></p><p><br /></p><p>contact:</p><p><a href="mailto:info@veniceguideandboat.it">info@veniceguideandboat.it</a> <br /> <img src="http://www.veniceguideandboat.it/img/logo.gif" alt="Venice Guide and Boat" /> <br /> <span class="subHeader">Fax: + 39 041 5262879</span> </p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26340921.post-12635968569649600502008-11-09T08:03:00.000-08:002008-11-09T08:06:08.380-08:00RELOCATE TO ITALY IMMEDIATELYLET US HELP YOU <a href="http://alessiobel.italyhomes.hop.clickbank.net/?tid=CHOLLYMI ">RELOCATE TO ITALY IMMEDIATELY</a><br />AND FIND A GORGEOUS VILLA FOR HALF THE COST!<br />Would YOU like to move into a mansion on the Italian coast? -and be able to do it quick and easy with a relocation system wherever you want in the country?<br /><br />Real estate agents and Italian government officials operate everyday under the pretense that you do not know anything about the biz and Italian legal system, therefore they can take their sweet time, costing you a big headache and empty pockets! Well.... <a href="http://alessiobel.italyhomes.hop.clickbank.net/?tid=CHOLLYMI ">not anymore!</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26340921.post-52872267887643033382008-11-04T08:04:00.000-08:002008-12-28T06:27:11.581-08:00Art in Venice - Accademia Galleries<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnPWIBWP7aycxOMBPe_sLoOOYpqUEk539K1qWemRMC8uhcqUT5HmV5yospXs3LLJkvJ3NEy-3PvscFbNokNiyXzQi8-ooKE7CJlu_9uWwWOvVQutfA0P_AJsk1uFmMCt1BTYwITw/s1600-h/Gallerie_facc.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 309px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnPWIBWP7aycxOMBPe_sLoOOYpqUEk539K1qWemRMC8uhcqUT5HmV5yospXs3LLJkvJ3NEy-3PvscFbNokNiyXzQi8-ooKE7CJlu_9uWwWOvVQutfA0P_AJsk1uFmMCt1BTYwITw/s320/Gallerie_facc.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264835073528197618" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />The monumental estate of the Accademia Galleries is located in the prestigious centre of the Scuola Grande of Santa Maria della Carità, one of the most ancient lay fraternal orders of the city. The homonymous church of Santa Maria and the monastery of the Canonici Lateranensi, built by Andrea Palladio, are integral parts of the Accademia.<br /><br /><br />A very rich collection of Venetian paintings from Veneto as well, from the Bizantine and Gothic fourteenth century to the artists of the Renaissance, Bellini, Carpaccio, Giorgione, Veronese, Tintoretto and Tiziano until Gianbattista Tiepolo and the Vedutisti of the eighteenth century, Canaletto, Guardi, Bellotto, Longhi. These artists will influence the whole history of European painting.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">ADDRESS</span><br /><br />Accademia Galleries<br />Campo della Carità<br />Dorsoduro n. 1050 - Venice<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">OPENING TIME</span><br /><br />Monday from 8.15 am until 2.00 pm (last entrance at 1.15 pm)<br />From Tuesday to Sunday from 8.15 am until 7.15 pm (last entrance at 6.30 pm)<br />Closed on: 1 January, 1 May, 25 December<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">TICKETS</span><br /><br /><br />Full price ticket: € 6,50 (+ € 1,00 as reservation fee)<br />Reduced price ticket: € 3,25 (+ € 1,00 as reservation fee)<br /><br /> 1.<br /> •European citizens aged 18 to 25 with identification document<br /> 2.<br /> •Permanent state teachers without their school group<br /><br />Free ticket: € 0,00 (+ € 1,00 as reservation fee)<br /><br /> 1.<br /> •European citizens under 18 years of age<br /> 2.<br /> •European citizens over 65 years of age<br /> 3.<br /> •European teachers and students from the school of architecture, preservation of the cultural heritage, science of liberal education and from the courses of art degree or literary subjects with an archaeological or artistic curriculum from the faculty of literature and philosophy<br /> 4.<br /> •Employed for the Ministry of Culture and Heritage<br /> 5.<br /> •Members of voluntary associations which promote and popularize the knowledge of the cultural heritage (on the basis of special agreement stipulated with the Ministry – art. 12, 8th paragraph of the Code)<br /> 6.<br /> •Members of the ICOM (International Council of Museums)<br /> 7.<br /> •European disabled people attende by a membeer of their family or by a care worker<br /> 8.<br /> •journalists<br /><br />Free ticket: € 0,00 (+ € 5,00 as reservation fee for group)<br /><br /> 1.<br /> •Students and teachers of European Private and Public Schools<br /> 2.<br /> •Licensed tourist guides<br /> 3.<br /> •Licensed interpreters in collaboration with tourist guides<br /><br />Free ticket: € 0,00 without the reservation fee<br /><br />1.<br />•European tourist guides in the exercise of their duties<br /> 2.<br />•Tourist interpreters working with a tourist guide<br /><br />Group ticket for 3 museums (Accademia + Ca' d'Oro + Oriental Art Museum)<br />Validity: 3 months from the first date of entrance<br />Full price: € 11,00 (+ € 1,00 as reservation fee)<br />Reduced price: € 5,50 (+ € 1,00 as reservation fee)<br /><br /> 1.<br />•European citizens aged 18 to 25 with identification document<br /> 2.<br />•Permanent state teachers without their school group<br /><br />For all the citizens from Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Lichtenstein, the same facilities of United Europe citizens will be available.<br />Temporary free passes for some studying reasons can be allowed by the Special Board for the Venetian Museum Pole. Extra free entrances: Week of Culture, Children at the Museum.<br /><br />The entrance is allowed only on the booked day and time. If that is not possible because of any circumstance beyond one's control, the entrace will be allowed in the following days, even beyond the validity of the ticket, according to the availability.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">ACCESSIBILITY FOR DISABLED PEOPLE</span><br /><br /><br />It is necessary to go up some stairs in order to enter the museum from Campo della Carità; the exibition rooms are on the first floor that can be reached through 2 flights of stairs located next to the ticket office (ground floor).<br /><br />A lift chair is available in order to reach the first floor (according to the availability of the State staff which visitors have to get in touch with through a specific request calling the n° 041.52.22.247).<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">COLLECTION OF THE TICKETS</span><br /><br /><br />Tickets have to be collected at the ticket office next to the entrance of the museum. Visitors have to turn up at the front desk at least 20 minutes in advance with the BOOKING REFERENCE, otherwise the entrance will not be allowed.<br /><br />In the case of payment by credit card, the card's owner's presence is necessary, showing his or her identification document or, in the case of his or her absence, a proxy and a copy of the document are requested.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">TELEPHONE RESERVATIONS</span><br /><br /><br />The Call Centre is the new centre for information and reservations. With a phonecall it is possible to receive information and updated news about the museum as well as booking the day and the time of the tour, didactic tour service and the headsets.<br /><br />The way of payment is personalized according to the customers' needs: the payment can be done by bank transfer, by postal order or by credit card (VISA or MASTERCARD).<br /><br />The number of the Call Centre is the following: (+39) 041 52 00 345<br /><br />The telephone service is operating:<br /><br /> 1.<br /> from Monday to Friday from 9.00 am until 6.00 pm<br /> 2.<br /> Saturday from 9.00 am until 2.00 pm<br /> 3.<br /> Closed on holidays.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">DIDACTIC ITINERARIES</span><br /><br />Specific didactic prgrammes have been conceived for school groups.<br /><br />Today the project is firstly based on the differentiation of the offer according to the age bracket: many different itineraries are planned not only for the choise of the subject but also for the importance of the topics and for the type of language used.<br /><br />All the itineraries allow the active involvement of young visitors and the allow a better approach to the works of art through a recreational experience. This is thought as a chance for having fun but also as a motivating force towards a gradual comprehension of the work of art.<br /><br />From time to time, visitors will analyze all the artistic currents, kinds of objects, pictorial techniques, fashions and customs. During the itinerary, didactic materials and working papers are given for a better and depper vision and in order to give a boost to curiosity by playing.<br /><br />Available didactic tours:<br /><br /> 1.<br />The Nativity: the Child's birth seen by the great masters (recommended to primary and secondary schools)<br /> 2.<br />First steps through art: let's learn to read paintings (recommended to primary schools)<br /> 3.<br />Portray through the centuries (recommended to secondary and high schools)<br /> 4.<br />The legend of St. Orsola's story told by Vittore Carpaccio (recommended to primary, secondary and high schools)<br /> 5.<br />Venetian society in the paintings of the XV century. The cycle of miracles of the Holy Cross. (recommended to primary, secondary and high schools)<br /> 6.<br />The Venetian recognition: Masterpieces from Bellini to Tiziano (recommended to secondary and high schools)<br /> 7.<br />Venetian paintings through the centuries: from the golden icons to eighteenth century paintins (for adults only)<br /><br />Didactic tours for school groups: € 65,00 (from a minimun of 10 to a maximum of 25 visitors including tour leaders and teachers). Time of the visit: ABOUT 1 HOUR<br /><br />Guided Tours for adults: € 85,00 (from a minimun of 10 to a maximum of 25 visitors including tour leaders and teachers). Time of the visit: ABOUT 1 HOUR AND 30 MINUTES<br /><br />Visits are explained in Italian and in English, but only upon specific request.<br />The phone reservation is compulsory.<br />The number of the Call Centre is the following: (+39) 041 52 00 345<br /><br />The telephone service is operating:<br /><br /><br /> 1.<br /> from Monday to Friday from 9.00 am until 6.00 pm<br /> 2.<br /> Saturday from 9.00 am until 2.00 pm<br /> 3.<br /> Closed on holidays.<br /><br />School groups that are located in the area of expertise of the Supervision, some agreement can be taken into account with the Didactic Section (041.52.22.247) and for gree didactic itineraries as well.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">HEADSETS</span><br /><br />In order to suggest a different offer for the visit according to the visitors' wishes and expectations, the visit can be made in many different ways: the headsets service is a additional suggestion above the catalogue or the publishing guides.<br /><br />Many different technological possibilities can be taken into account, which are expressly made for differentiated customers: from the simple portable walkman, to the more sophisticated MP3 set, to the new generation organizers with liquid crystal video display in order to complete the explanations with some immages as well.<br /><br />Texts are specially written by historians of art and thought for a wide public.<br />The headsets offer the visitors the chance to choose freely his own itinerary and to have nearely endless time for hearing. Such a service is available also at the G. Franchetti Gallery at the Ca’ d'Oro.<br />The following languages are available: Italian, French, English, German, Spanish and Japanese.<br />Single Headset: € 5,00<br />Double Headset: € 7,00<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">BOOKSHOP</span><br /><br />The bookshop offers publishing products about museums (monographies, guides, abstracts) and sectorial publications, in particular about Venetian Art. The last publishing news, such as temporary expositions catalogues, are available.<br /><br />Moreover, multimedia products, objects made of paper and cardboard, gidts and fency goods inspired by the paintings kept into the Museum (postcards, posters and videos).<br /><br />The bookshop has the same opening time of the museum.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">LEFT LUGGAGE OFFICE</span><br /><br />There is a left luggage office inside the museum. The price of the service is of Euro 0,50 apiece. Objects bigger than 20x30x15 cm, such as voluminous bags or with jutting out elements, rucksacks and umbrellas or other elements which might be dangerous. Their dangerousness will be weigh up by the overseersUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26340921.post-29555604719959577782008-10-29T14:49:00.001-07:002008-10-29T14:54:09.032-07:00Holidays in VeniceA holiday in Venice has never been more accessible to more people. The cost of a flight to Venice has come down considerably since the age of the budget carrier and a hotel in Venice nowadays no longer needs to break the bank…<br /><br />Venice is a city of romance, rivaling Paris in the minds of romantic couples. Known as the city of canals, there is enough to do to make an entire holiday in Venice or simply a relaxing weekend break in Venice.<br /><br />As the capital of the region of Veneto and the main city in the region, a Venice holiday has so much to offer. In years gone by, people flocked to the city as it was one of the major sea powers in Europe and nowadays much of this heritage is still in evidence. But it is its world famous canals that make short breaks to Venice such an attractive proposition. The canals serve the function of roads and due to which every form of transport is on water or on foot. Its appeal is wide-ranging: From romantic boyfriends making proposals of marriage on a gondola to older couples sipping freshly poured coffee in St. Mark's Square, a Venice holiday truly bridges the generation gap. No longer the reserve of movie stars and the rich and famous, holidays in Venice have broad appeal. Whether you are a student of history, a lover of fine art and architecture or just one of many people that revel in the Italian way of life, a weekend break in Venice is a must. And its not just for the first time visitor – far from it – even the most well-seasoned travellers are unlikely to have experienced all of its 150 canals and 118 islands so there is always an excuse to take a short break to Venice and discover something new.<br /><br />As undeniably one of Europe's most beautiful cities, a city break to Venice is a must for any self-respecting traveller. With a flight to Venice often costing little more than the tax and fuel surcharges, there is no longer any excuse not to take a short break to Venice and cross this magnificent city off of the list of places to visit. Alongside its canals, fantastic museums, restaurants and bars, there is a hotel in Venice to match every budget and taste making a weekend break in Venice an ideal choice Holidays in Venice are holidays in style. Long considered to be one of the most romantic cities in the world, this becomes apparent even before you get to the city. Even from the approach on the flight to Venice, you see that the city is actually built on water; you know that this is going to be a holiday with a difference! Having landed at Marco Polo Airport, you can take a public water bus (or private water taxi which is more expensive but faster) to Piazza San Marco (St Mark's Square) from where you then make your way to your hotel.<br /><br />There are no cars, bikes or any form of motorised vehicles in the historical centre making your Venice holiday a wonderfully pleasant if slightly surreal experience. Indeed, the only way to explore the city is by foot or, of course, by gondola. Highlights of any city break to Venice should include a visit to the Guggenheim art gallery, an evening spent at the casino, shopping in Venice Market by Rialto Bridge and taking in the view at sunset from outside St Mark's Basilica.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26340921.post-36469134406224143932008-10-29T14:49:00.000-07:002008-10-29T14:51:09.680-07:00Holidays in VeniceA holiday in Venice has never been more accessible to more people. The cost of a flight to Venice has come down considerably since the age of the budget carrier and a hotel in Venice nowadays no longer needs to break the bank…<br /><br />Venice is a city of romance, rivaling Paris in the minds of romantic couples. Known as the city of canals, there is enough to do to make an entire holiday in Venice or simply a relaxing weekend break in Venice.<br /><br />As the capital of the region of Veneto and the main city in the region, a Venice holiday has so much to offer. In years gone by, people flocked to the city as it was one of the major sea powers in Europe and nowadays much of this heritage is still in evidence. But it is its world famous canals that make short breaks to Venice such an attractive proposition. The canals serve the function of roads and due to which every form of transport is on water or on foot. Its appeal is wide-ranging: From romantic boyfriends making proposals of marriage on a gondola to older couples sipping freshly poured coffee in St. Mark's Square, a Venice holiday truly bridges the generation gap. No longer the reserve of movie stars and the rich and famous, holidays in Venice have broad appeal. Whether you are a student of history, a lover of fine art and architecture or just one of many people that revel in the Italian way of life, a weekend break in Venice is a must. And its not just for the first time visitor – far from it – even the most well-seasoned travellers are unlikely to have experienced all of its 150 canals and 118 islands so there is always an excuse to take a short break to Venice and discover something new.<br /><br />As undeniably one of Europe's most beautiful cities, a city break to Venice is a must for any self-respecting traveller. With a flight to Venice often costing little more than the tax and fuel surcharges, there is no longer any excuse not to take a short break to Venice and cross this magnificent city off of the list of places to visit. Alongside its canals, fantastic museums, restaurants and bars, there is a hotel in Venice to match every budget and taste making a weekend break in Venice an ideal choice Holidays in Venice are holidays in style. Long considered to be one of the most romantic cities in the world, this becomes apparent even before you get to the city. Even from the approach on the flight to Venice, you see that the city is actually built on water; you know that this is going to be a holiday with a difference! Having landed at Marco Polo Airport, you can take a public water bus (or private water taxi which is more expensive but faster) to Piazza San Marco (St Mark's Square) from where you then make your way to your hotel.<br /><br />There are no cars, bikes or any form of motorised vehicles in the historical centre making your Venice holiday a wonderfully pleasant if slightly surreal experience. Indeed, the only way to explore the city is by foot or, of course, by gondola. Highlights of any city break to Venice should include a visit to the Guggenheim art gallery, an evening spent at the casino, shopping in Venice Market by Rialto Bridge and taking in the view at sunset from outside St Mark's Basilica.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26340921.post-46521491480397826382008-01-19T00:59:00.001-08:002008-01-19T00:59:55.919-08:00Quick Tips about VeniceWhen to come <br /><br />Venice draws legions of tourists during the peak travel months of June through September. The ten-day Carnival in February is another time when hotel space and elbow room are in short supply.<br /><br />To my way of thinking, the best time to visit is from late October into April (excluding the massively popular Venice Carnival, which is usually in February). You may encounter fog, rain, or acqua alta flooding during the winter months, but mild and sunny days are also common. Air fares and hotel prices are lower, too--which means you can allocate your travel budget over a longer period and give Venice the time it deserves.<br /><br />How long to stay<br /><br />Venetophiles may consider this next piece of advice to be sacrilege, but here it is: If you're pressed for time, you can grasp the essence of Venice in a single day. A vaporetto ride up the Grand Canal, a morning of exploring the back streets, an hour in St. Mark's Square and Basilica, and a flying trip through the Accademia art museum are better than skipping Venice altogether.<br /><br />Still, it's much nicer to spend a few days in Venice--or, preferably, a week or longer.<br /><br />For one thing, opening times (especially out of season) make it difficult to visit more than a sampling of museums and churches in a day or two. There's also a lot to see beyond the usual tourist attractions: e.g., the islands of the lagoon, the ancient Jewish Ghetto, and the bridges, canals, campi, and shops of neighborhoods that hurried and harried tourists never see. Finally, Venice is a convenient hub for day trips to cities and towns throughout the Veneto region.<br /><br />Where to stay<br /><br />Venice has hundreds of hotels, B&BS, hostels, and vacation rentals. However, most are relatively small by mainland standards, and it can be difficult to find a room during high season or on holiday weekends, so it pays to book early. For advice on accommodations, see "Where to Sleep in Venice." <br /><br />How to arrive<br /><br />Don't drive to Venice unless you have to. Garages are expensive, and finding a parking spot can be a nuisance in high season.<br /><br />Train service to Venice is frequent. Just be sure that you're booked to Venice's Santa Lucia station, not the mainland stop of Venezia-Mestre. <br /><br />Major airlines connect London, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, and other European gateways to Venice's efficient Marco Polo Airport. The aerial view of the lagoon and nearby Dolomites is spectacular, and the airport boat ride into the city is a great way to approach Venice for the first time.<br /><br />Planning resources<br /><br />You'll find plenty of useful information in my Venice articles and Venice Travel Planner. Still, there's no substitute for a great guidebook, and here are some of my personal favorites.<br /><br />Knopf Guides: Venice<br />Probably the most comprehensive and elegant guide to the city of Venice, with hundreds of photographs and color illustrations to augment the highly readable text (translated from the French by Anthony Roberts). The emphasis is on history, architecture, and art, but you'll also find a large section of practical advice and maps. <br /><br />Eyewitness Travel Guides:<br />Venice & the Veneto<br />The British firm of Dorling Kindersley is famous for its visual encyclopedic guides, and this title from the Eyewitness series lives up to the reputation of its predecessors. The book is packed with photographs, three-dimensional renderings, historical tidbits, and travel advice. It makes a slight sacrifice of depth to breadth by including chapters on the Veneto Plain, Verona and Lake Gardia, and the Dolomites.<br /><br />Fodor's Exploring Venice<br />A handsome alternative to Knopf's Venice as an all-around city guide, though the binding isn't as sturdy and it lacks the beautiful illustrations of its rival. Jammed with photos, maps, historical sidebars, lively quotations, and practical travel advice. Includes short chapters on Padova, Verona, and Vicenza. <br /><br />Michelin Green Guide: Venice<br />Michelin crams an astonishing quantity of information into its tall and narrow Green Guides, which fit perfectly into a purse or camera bag. The traditional black-and-white etchings have been replaced by color photos, but the maps, building plans, and descriptions are up to the usual high Michelin standard.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26340921.post-78014406598291370702007-12-17T05:36:00.001-08:002007-12-17T05:36:25.833-08:00"Venetian Winter"Every year at the approaching of the Christmas Holidays, the great Russian writer and poet Josif Brodskji used to leave his town and come to Venice. For him it was the only ideal period of the year to live the Lagoon city. The mist, subdued colours, the babbling of the water, were not disturbed by the swarm of tourists. This greyish and toned-down climate allowed him to forget about himself in a city stopping for a just a while to show-off. Today Venice is not about to run this risk: cultural and musical events fill and liven-up every day the ancient City of the Doges. Plus this year the 'Venetian Winter' has been enriched more than ever with events; many are the happenings planned, especially on the terra firma. Having foregone for some time now the role and nickname of sleeping city, Mestre in fact, is getting ready to set-up and launch a season laden with events and appointments. A long winter posed to be a rich and captivating one.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26340921.post-71661941857437995302007-04-14T13:51:00.000-07:002007-11-01T02:44:25.329-07:00Venezia - La SerenissimaHow to explore La Serenissima without getting lost<br />Send Photo to a Friend<br />Venice - Typical campo connecting calle in Venezia<br />Typical campo connecting calle in Venezia<br />Venezia has a very confusing grid plan especially for those of us most familiar with modern American cities. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Exploring the calli, canales, and campi of Venezia</span> can be very much like working your way through a tricky maze, However, if you first understand the basic plan by which Venezia was built, navigating the city is much easier.<br /><br />The only way to intimately explore Venezia without getting lost is to first understand how the city grew together and evolved. Visualize Venezia not as a single city, but as a conglomeration of many small villages with no open spaces in between. The business and social center of each village is its campo. <span style="font-weight: bold;">There are more than 100 campi spread semi uniformly across Venezia</span>. Villages or neighborhoods were built around their campo. A chiesa or church was built in such a way as to become the centerpiece of the campo. As the population of the city declined, many chiesas were converted to community halls or movie theaters. A pozzo ( cistern ) was built in the center of each campo to collect rainwater from the roofs as a " fresh " water supply. <span style="font-weight: bold;">The buildings bordering the campi contain bottegas ( shops )</span> on the ground floors and living quarters on the upper floors. <span style="font-weight: bold;">These local bottegas are the best places to dine or get refreshment in Venezia.</span><br /><br />Keeping the city development plan in mind, buy a map that lists the names of most of the campi and shows their shapes. Because the campi have irregular shapes, you can use the map and perhaps a compass to orientate yourself within a campo.<br /><br />Select the neighborhoods of Venezia you wish to explore, then plan the approximate route on your map. When you have explored your first campo and wish to proceed to the next, find the calle ( street ) on your map that connencts the campo you are in with the next campo you wish to visit. Take advantage of the irregular shape of the campo to help you locate the start of the calle.<br /><br />Calles that connect campos tend to be wider and have more traffic than other streets. It is easy to wander off your calle without being aware that you did. If you find yourself at the edge of a rio ( a narrow waterway ) or canal with no bridge or fondamenta running along side of it, you are on a short dead end street. Enjoy the view, turn around, and relocate the calle that you veered off of.<br /><br />If you make a few wrong turns and other bobbles, you will be back on track soon. Enjoy the exquisite adventure and don't give into frustration. You are in Venezia where making small mistakes is part of the enjoyment of your journey. Navigating Venezia for the first time is much like playing through a Vivaldi tune for the first time.<br /><br />ciao !<br />Send Photo to a Friend<br />Venice - Chiesa Santa Maria dei Miracoli<br />Chiesa Santa Maria dei Miracoli<br /><br /><br />More tips for enjoying your stay in La Serenissima<br />Select anytime except August for your visit to Venezia. Most Italianos are on vacation in August when crowds in Italia's most popular tourist destinations are the heaviest. The Adriatic coast including Venezia is usually hot, humid, and mosquito infested in July and August. Many hotels and other tourist venues are not air conditioned. The best times to visit are April, May, October, late September, and of course during Carnivale, which is just before Ash Wednesday.<br /><br />The ideal time to visit Venezia's most popular attractions is before 10 AM on any day of the week. Piazza San Marco is not even crowded early in the morning. A drawback is that you will miss the best street musicians. Whenever it gets too crowded for at the best known places in Venezia, it is time to start your exploration of the remainder of the city, which by the way is about 90 % of the city. Most of the best things to see and experience in La Serenissima are seldom or never crowded with tourists. A good example is chiesa <span style="font-weight: bold;">Santa Maria dei Miracoli</span> ( the wedding church ) .Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26340921.post-1494002034686977852007-03-18T06:04:00.000-07:002007-03-18T06:05:50.050-07:00Venice - Go with the flowAlice Beer travelled to Venice to discover if the city lives up to its romantic reputation.<br /><br />Founded some 1500 years ago, Venice is built on a series of mud flats off the North East coast of Italy. It became established as Europe's main trading post, and over the years, has been home to famous writers such as Ruskin and Lord Byron.<br />Go with the flow<br /><br />Now, this unique city attracts the attention of between 10 and 12 million tourists each year, outnumbering residents by 3 to 1. It is certainly a city of fabulous facades, and famous films shot here include Death in Venice, Don't Look Now and Moonraker.<br /><br />If you want to tour the city's canals then the most romantic way is by gondola. It costs around £40 per person for 50 minutes for up to 5 people sharing. Although now a cliché, it's still a romantic way to get around Venice, and you get a different perspective of the city as the gondolas cut gracefully through the water.<br /><br />A less romantic but cheaper and quicker way to get around is by water-bus. There are two basic types of boat - the vaporetti on the heavily used routes, and the smaller motoscafi on the less used circular routes. It costs around £2 for the 20-minute ride from the hotel to St Mark's Square. In the Square, which was featured in the film The Talented Mr Ripley, you can sit, relax and spend some time watching the world go by.<br /> <br />Language tips<br /> <br /><br />What time does the next vaporetto leave?<br />A che ora parte il prossimo vaporetto?<br /><br />I wouldn't like to swim in that<br />Non nuoterei mai là dentro<br /><br />I think I'm getting a bit seasick<br />Penso di avere il mal di mare<br /><br />Or you can head just around the corner to Harry's Bar, Ernest Hemingway's favourite watering hole. This bar is famous for its cocktails, in particular, the Bellini, made with fresh peach juice and Prosecco.<br /><br />To follow the classic line-up of all things Venetian - after gondolas and Bellinis - you can't miss out on Vivaldi. Born in Venice in 1678 he helped design the church of 'La Pieta', on Castello, south of St. Marks Square. He did this to ensure it had the best accoustics. It now puts on two concerts a week, with tickets from around £13.<br /><br />A good time to explore the city is early in the morning when the streets are deserted. However, if you want to avoid the crowds during the day the quietest month to visit is in January. But make sure you wrap up as the winds off the Adriatic Sea can be icy cold. Although there are many bridges that join up the 118 islands that make up the city, only three bridges cross over the Grand Canal, which curves in an S-shape through the city's centre. One is called the Rialto, and is big enough to house the shops that sell fake Gucci, Nike and so on.<br /><br />Soaring above the watery streets is the Campanile in St Mark's Square. Re-built after it collapsed in 1902, the new bell-tower stands at just under 100m, making it the city's tallest building. The views are fantastic, and the bells are impressive.<br /><br />Venice is certainly touristy but it is an enchanting city - the hotel has stunning views of the Grand Canal and as a romantic place to visit, you can understand why it is at the top of the list.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26340921.post-75417054969455589902007-02-24T13:09:00.000-08:002007-02-24T13:11:29.394-08:00Veneto is mainly known for the beautiful city of Venice, unique in the world for its extraordinary atmosphere (the Lagoon Islands), history and art: built on the water, for centuries (10th to 17th century) it used to be one of the most important naval powers and created extraordinary works of architecture, art and literature. You will need at least a week to live and understand this beautiful city. Agriturist selected for you in the province of Venice 6 offers of farmhouse accomodation which will give you the opportunity to visit the Serenissima (that is how the Republic of Venice used to be called) enjoying the peace of the near countryside. <p> But Veneto is not only Venice. You cannot miss to visit Verona, for instance, on the river Adige (in Italy second in lenght only to Po), very close to Garda Lake, where William Shakespeare set his Romeo and Juliet, with its Roman Arena (1st century AD), its medieval and renaissance buildings (like Catselvecchio), and the gothic (like S. Anastasia) or renaissance (like S. Giorgio in Braida) churches. Agriturist selected for you 11 offers of agritourism, of farm holidays, in the province of Verona. </p><p> Also Padua needs to be mentioned, with its S. Antonio Basilica, decorated by Donatello, who created the monument to Gattamelata, great commander of the Republic of Venice. Or Vicenza, real architectural beauty, where also Andrea Palladio, great architect of the Republic of Venice and author of the famous villas which you can admire in the countryside, worked. </p><p> We recommend that you look for detailed information in a guide to find out about all the many other worthseeing towns: Treviso, Belluno, and Rovigo, province capital cities, Monselice (you can ahve a walk on the hill that dominates the city with its Castle, Old Duomo and the Seven Churches Sanctuary), Marostica (with its huge chessboard in Castle Square, where during the second week-end of september of even years they play chess with human pieces), or Montagnana (with its extraordinary ancient walls, where they produce an excellent PDO ham: Veneto Berico Euganeo). </p><p> The countryside has a rich and various agriculture: in the valley breedings and fields, on the hills olive groves (extra-virgin olive oil PDO -protected designation of origin- “Veneto Colli Euganei, Monti Berici, Mt. Grappa Plateau”), vineyards (22 wines DOC -designation of origin checked- and 3 DOCG -designation of origin checked and guaranteed). There are 19 PDO and PGI (protected geographical indication) products: the abovemnetioned olive oil and ham, rice, cold pork meat, heese, fruit and vegetable, chestnuts). There are a lot of farmhouse accomodations with their restaurants where you can try the tasty specialities of the local cuisine. </p><p> If you are fond of green holidays, in Veneto you can find one of the 22 Italian National Parks: the Belluno Dolomites National Park. </p><p> Agriturist selected for you almost 100 offers of farm stay in Veneto, in the seven provinces of the region: Venice, Belluno, Padova, Rovigo, Treviso, Verona, and Vicenza.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26340921.post-1167383000244828112006-12-29T01:02:00.000-08:002006-12-29T01:03:20.253-08:00Venice holidayCan anyone recommend a cheap and cheerful place for a family of 4 (children aged 8 and 5) to stay in Venice? Emma Hope <br/><br/>The Guardian, Saturday November 6 2004 <br/><br/><br/><br/>· You pay over the odds to stay in a hotel or pension in Venice itself, and trailing in from dreary Mestre strips much of the glamour from the Venice experience. It depends what time of year you intend to take your children to Venice, of course, but when the weather's warm the best-ever idea is to camp on the Lido.<br/><br/><br/><br/>We stayed with Canvas Holidays at a seaside site, which allowed us either to spend all morning on the beach and then shower, change and take the steamer in to Venice around lunchtime, or we enjoyed the sights of Venice first thing, came "home" during the siesta and relaxed on the beach on our return. It was a brilliant combination. I can't specify a site because they may have changed in the intervening years but ours, though fairly simple, was perfectly adequate. As we stayed there during the early summer it was far from crowded and quiet enough for a nightingale to serenade us at night. <br/><br/>Kirsten Cubitt, Sheffield<br/><br/><br/><br/>· We returned ten days ago from Villa Stella in Venice with our 10-year-old twin daughters. The hotel has its own grounds, a TV in the family room and a lovely breakfast buffet. There are local shops next door. It's situated on the Lido, a 20 minute trip on the vaporetto and two bus stops from the boat pier. There are wonderful views of St Mark's Square and the Doge's Palace from the boat.<br/><br/><br/><br/>The staff were very friendly and sent detailed directions to the hotel. The price was reasonable; look out for offers at different times of the year. We also saved loads of money by buying a Venice Ticket for the buses and the boats. These are available at train and vaporetto stops and are valid for 24 or 72 hours.<br/><br/>Judith Horsfall<br/><br/><br/><br/>· I can recommend Venexia Apartment in central Venice; it is near to the best bits but still quiet. We found that using hostelworld.com got us some interesting and cheap places to stay.<br/><br/> <style>i{content: normal !important}</style>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26340921.post-1145564504586405312006-04-20T13:21:00.000-07:002006-04-20T13:21:44.606-07:00Hotels in Venice<table class="parag" border="0" width="98%"><tbody><tr><td><div align="center"><a href="http://www.turismovenezia.it/eng/dynalay.asp?PAGINA=437" target="_blank"><img src="http://english.comune.venezia.it/turismo/images/apt.jpg" alt="APT - Tourist Board of Venice" border="0" height="100" width="77" /></a> </div></td> <td> </td> <td align="justify"> <b><a href="http://www.turismovenezia.it/eng/dynalay.asp?PAGINA=437" target="_blank">APT</a></b><br /> <i>Official website of the Tourist Board of Venice.<br /> It includes a database of accommodation facilities in Venice and in other towns in the province, searchable by area, star rating or type (hotel, youth hostel, camping, farm house etc.).<br /> English version available. </i><br /><br /></td> </tr> <tr> <td><a href="http://www.veniceinfo.it/" target="_blank"><img src="http://english.comune.venezia.it/turismo/images/ava.jpg" alt="Venice Hoteliers Association" border="0" height="52" width="110" /></a></td> <td> </td> <td align="justify"><b><a href="http://www.veniceinfo.it/" target="_blank">Venice Hoteliers Association </a></b><br /><i>Official website of the Venice Hoteliers Association.<br /> It offers a database enabling users to locate the hotel that is most suitable to their needs, by choosing the area (Venice, islands, beaches, mainland), the star rating, the services provided (air conditioning, equipment for the disabled, car-park, restaurant, beach, congress room).<br /> Online booking available.<br /> English, French, German and Spanish versions available.</i><br /><br /></td> </tr> <tr> <td><a href="http://www.venicehotels.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://english.comune.venezia.it/turismo/images/AVAL.jpg" alt="Venice Lido Hoteliers Association" border="0" height="21" width="110" /></a></td> <td> </td> <td align="justify"><b><a href="http://www.venicehotels.com/" target="_blank">Venice Hotels</a></b><br /><i>Website featuring the member hotels of the Venice Lido Hoteliers Association, with the goal of allowing direct contact, through the Internet, between guests and hoteliers, without intermediaries.<br /> It contains a list of Lido hotels sorted by star rating. Links are provided to the websites of all hotels.<br /> Online booking available.<br /> English version available. </i><br /><br /></td> </tr> <tr> <td><a href="http://www.alata.it/booking/hotels.asp" target="_blank"><img src="http://english.comune.venezia.it/turismo/images/alata1.gif" alt="Alata" border="0" height="30" width="110" /></a></td> <td> </td> <td align="justify"> <a href="http://www.alata.it/booking/hotels.asp" target="_blank"><b>ALATA</b></a><br /> <i>Portal of Alata, an association of local authorities of the Northern Adriatic area which is committed to putting on the net information about the tourist resources of its territory.<br /> It features a database of hotels, youth hostels, room rentals and other accommodation facilities in Venice and the Veneto, Emilia-Romagna, Trentino and Friuli-Venezia Giulia regions.<br /> Online booking available.<br /> In Italian only. </i><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26340921.post-1145310696198538462006-04-17T14:50:00.000-07:002006-04-17T14:51:36.210-07:00Venice is a city where you can<p>Now you're in Venice! Venice is a city where you can</p> <br /> <ul><li><strong>Take a stroll on foot.</strong><br /> <br /> You'll get to know all of its out of the way and <a href="http://www.comune.venezia.it/rol2/ling6.asp?ipo=&C=&Nuovo=1">unusual nooks and crannies</a>, perhaps far off the more beaten paths. Distances are short: Get a map of the city, but don’t bother to get “lost” in the back streets, bridges and campi (squares) that make up the real Venice..<br /> <br /> Yellow signs, usually on the wall of a corner building, will direct you to the major spots.<br /> <img src="http://english.comune.venezia.it/turismo/images/cartello.jpg" alt="a yellow sign" height="60" vspace="5" width="186" /><br /> Keep right when walking in the city street. Never stop on bridges.<br /> <br /> Do not be bewildered by “acqua alta” (<a href="http://english.comune.venezia.it/turismo/faq.asp#12">flooding</a>) : you can still visit the city by using the wooden walkways.<br /> For information, visit the website of the <a href="http://www.comune.venezia.it/maree/en_previsione.asp">Centro Maree</a> (Tide Forecasts and Reporting Centre) or call 041.2411996.<br /> <br /> To enjoy a virtual vist of Venice and find information relating to tourist attractions, consult the map <a href="http://194.243.104.176/website/vetour_eng/viewer.htm">Virtual Venice </a><br /> <br /> </li><li><strong>Take the vaporetto</strong> (water bus, <a href="http://www.actv.it/eng/home.php" target="_blank">ACTV</a> public transportation).<br /> <br /> <img src="http://english.comune.venezia.it/turismo/images/vaporetto.jpg" alt="vaporetto" align="left" hspace="10" vspace="5" />At <a href="http://www.hellovenezia.it/en/home.php" target="_blank">this website</a> you can find information about <a href="http://www.hellovenezia.it/en/linee.php" target="_blank">routes</a>, <a href="http://www.hellovenezia.it/en/tariffe.html" target="_blank">fares</a> and <a href="http://www.hellovenezia.it/orari_fr.html" target="_blank">timetable</a>.<br /> <br /> You can buy the <a href="http://www.actv.it/eng/home.php" target="_blank">ACTV</a> tickets at the ticket booths at the docks or the VE.LA. ticket offices.<br /> You can also buy tickets from one of the many authorised sellers (tobacconists’, newspaper stores and some cafés): remember to stamp your ticket in the yellow machine before getting on the vaporetto.<br /> Tickets are not sold on board the boats. If you find yourself on board without a ticket, inform the ACTV crew immediately so as to avoid paying a fine.<br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.venicecard.com/cose_eng.jsp" target="_blank">Venicecard</a> is a ticket that allows you to use the main tourist services that the City offers to the visitor.<br /> <br /> For travelling in tranquility please follow some simple <a href="http://www.hellovenezia.it/en/per_viaggiare.html" target="_blank">suggestions</a>. <br /> <br /> At the boat stop there are maps depicting the directions all boats stopping there are going: the vaporetto is an easy way to admire all the mansions and buildings that overlook the Grand Canal and the lagoon.<br /> <br /> <br /> </li><li><strong>Cross the Grand Canal on (<em>traghetti</em>) ferry crossing.</strong><br /> <br /> <img src="http://english.comune.venezia.it/turismo/images/traghetto.jpg" alt="A 'traghetto' (ferry crossing)" align="left" hspace="10" vspace="5" />You can feel the excitement of a gondola ride cheaply by using the ferry crossings that link the various parts of the two sides of the Grand Canal. Venetians use this transportation when they need to move quickly from one side of the Grand Canal to another without crossing one of its three bridges. There is a gondola ferry at San Marcuola, Santa Sofia, San Tomà, San Samuele, Santa Maria del Giglio, and the Dogana (crossable when the strand is repaired).<br /> <br /> The fare is � 0,40.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> </li><li><strong>Take a water taxi</strong>, recognisable by the yellow strip on the sides and the concession number.<br /> <img src="http://english.comune.venezia.it/turismo/images/taxi.jpg" alt="a water taxi" height="97" vspace="5" width="160" /><br /> <br /> <br /> </li><li><strong>Take a gondola</strong>, surely the most romantic way to sightsee in Venice.<br /> The institution for the preservation of the gondola and the protection of the gondolier publishes the <a href="http://www.gondolavenezia.it/history_tariffe.asp?Pag=43" target="_blank">fares</a> on its official web site.<br /> <img src="http://english.comune.venezia.it/turismo/images/Gondola.jpg" alt="Gondola" height="140" hspace="5" vspace="5" width="130" /> </li></ul>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0