Visit Venice

Venice, or Venezia to its natives, is in Northern Italy and is the capital region of Veneto. Also known as the "La Dominante". "Serenissima", ":Queen of the Adriatic", "City of Water", "City of Bridges" and "City of Light"

Upon a visit to this enchanting city, one will definitely be drawn to its majestic sites, its historical background and its hospitable people. The sestieri is said to be the primary traditional divisions of Venice. This city is actually divided into six districts namely the Cannaregio, San Polo, Dorsoduro, Santa Croce, San Marco and Castello.

Most famous for its gondola rides, this activity has already been subject to several films including "Chasing Liberty" starring Mandy Moore and the music video by Gareth Gates called "Stupid Mistake" The gondola was one of the first major means of transportation. Until today, many tourists say that a visit to Italy will never be complete without the Gondola experience. When in Venice, gondolas are not the only attractions. The Gondolas share the spotlight with the Rio della Verona and the Grand Canal in which a gondola passes through. Rio della Verona is a small canal in Venice while Grand Canal is one of the largest in Italy and has been two of the centers of tourism due to gondolas. Aside from these two, a lesser famous but equally beautiful is a bridge in Venice is known as the Rialto. It is one of the three bridges across the Grand Canal. This bridge is also the most famous around Venice.

Palaces are bountiful in this city. One of the most famous palaces is the Palazzo Grassi also known as the Palazzo Grassi-Stucky which is a splendid white marble palace on the Grand Canal. Doge's Palace is a melodramatic Gothic place in Venice. It is also called Palazzo Ducale di Venezia. It was the former residence of the Doge of Venice. Today, it houses the political institutions of the Republic of Venice.

Beautifully designed churches can also be found here in Venice. One of the most beautiful churches in the world, Saint Mark's Basilica is the cathedral of Venice. It is also one of the best examples of the Byzantine Architecture. A favorite picture spot among the tourists, this cathedral has also served as the backdrop for tourist post cards and souvenir photos.

Visiting Venice is not as hard as other people think. In fact, many travel agencies include Venice in their packages for cheaper prices. As for food trips, the Aliani, located in San Polo 654 is best known for food and drinks, the Antica Modisteria Guiliana Longo is known for its accessories, the AraBa Fenice is best to go when sopping for women's clothing, toys can be best bought in Bambolandia while the Codognato is the best place to go for jewelry.

So whether one is traveling with a loved one of with the whole family, Venice is surely one of the must-not-miss travel sights in the world. When in Venice, one can easily forget problems and soak up under the sun while riding in gondolas. This place is spectacular and mesmerizing.