Seaport and one of the world's greatest architectural and cultural treasures, Venice is world renowned as a city of canals and bridges built on a group of islands in the Lagoon of Venice near the northern end of the Adriatic sea. Altogether there are more than 200 canals, which are literally the streets and avenues of Venice and about 400 bridges crossing the waterways. Travel is primarily by vaporetti (motorboats). The world-famous black gondolas, propelled by gondoliers are used mainly for short canal passages - especially the tourists!

The main thoroughfare through Venice is the Grand Canal lined with magnificent palaces built in fabulous Renaissance and Baroque styles. T here are three bridges which cross the Grand Canal - the Ponte Degli Scalzi, the Ponte del Rialto and the Ponte del Academia.

The Piazza San Marco (St, Mark's Square) is the centre from which you can most easily reach all of the Venice's most famous landmarks. These include :
St. Marks Basilica - a cathedral built in the 11th century and a treasure house of incredible relics collected over the centuries. The Campanile - a 325 foot high bell tower that dominates St. Marks. The original 1100 year old building collapsed in 1802 and was built in 1912. It affords incredible views of the old city and beyond. The Doge's Palace - for centuries this was the seat of government and is full of famous paintings. The Bridge of Sighs leads from the upper story of the Doges' Palace and provided prisoners with their last chance of seeing Venice before being incarcerated in the republic's prison.
Casanova was held prisoner here before his audacious escape.

Nearby in the Venice Lagoon are the islands of San Michele, Murano, Burano, Mazzorbo, Torcello, and the Lido di Venezia. In 1296, the glassblowers of Venice moved to an island called Murano - now the delicacy and colour of Venetian glass is prized worldwide.
The island of Burano is famous for its lace.