The best of Venice

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Venice is unquestionably one of the most photographed places in the world. Just google its name and you'll see a plethora of pics. There is something wrong with most of those images, though. They are all the same. Here we give some tips on the best photo spots of the city on the water including some commonplaces and some not so common. Piazza San Marco may look a bit more original if taken from above: you can climb to the balcony on the facade of the Basilica, for example, or higher on the Clock Tower. It stands at the beginning of the Mercerie, the itinerary linking the Piazza to Rialto, and is topped with the statues of two men called the Moors that hit the bell on the hour. From there, you’ll have the Basilica on the left, the Piazza on the right and opposite the water with San Giorgio island. Even higher is the Campanile , the bell tower, which stands out with its almost 100 meters. On the other side of the water, the shorter bell tower of San Giorgio is another great spot for ...

With all kinds of eateries mushrooming all around the city, it’s quite understandable if visitors have difficulties finding their bearings and picking the best restaurants in Venice. These suggestions come from my own experience so please be understanding if you’re not as satisfied as I have been with these establishments.  For good pizzas and delicious baccalà mantecato, your best bet is Vecia Gina   (closed on Wednesdays), a bar and restaurant on the former island of Sant’Elena, at the eastern tip of Venice.  Barbara and Andrea, the kind hosts, will do their best to make you feel at home.  For a taste of Sicily and Venice in one place, Vecio Portal (closed on Tuesdays) behind the Hotel Gabrielli, just off the Riva degli Schiavoni, offers tasty dishes from both lands,  thanks to its owner and cook,  Pino, who comes from Sicily, and his wife Daniela, who comes from Venice.   You can dine inside or al fresco in its fine garden. Consider also the day’s ...

If your trip is short and the days you can spend are fewer than the fingers of your left hand, you definitely want to follow our tips about the top 10 things to do in Venice. 1. Take a waterbus along the Grand Canal. The €7.50 fare is absolutely worth the cruise, especially if you take one of the older crafts that have seats in the front. The view is sensational, so bring your camera and a pair of binoculars to have close-range views of the buildings on the city’s main avenue. 2. Piazza San Marco is the salotto of the city, her reception room. Spend some time loitering and, after that, visit the Basilica and the Doge’s Palace . Their unparalleled architecture is a curtain-raiser about the splendid past of the city when she was a powerful nation with a mighty navy. 3. Visit the Fenice , one of the most important playhouses for the opera. Attend a show for which you can pick from the high-priced stalls to the inexpensive but not uncomfortable seats of the two top rows. Alternatively, ...