3.2 Cities Venice A not-to-be-missed destination in any tour of Italy, every corner of this lagoon city testifies to its artistic and cultural vitality. A museum under the sky which can be seen in all its glory as one wanders^ along the waters of the , the city’s main waterway, served by an efficient service of public waterbuses; the Venetians also say that the best way to get to know their fantastic city is walking with your “nose in the air” without referring to a map. Canal Grande Principal sights Venice’s beating heart is , one of Europe’s most elegant salons, encircled by stunning buildings: the imposing Bell Tower; , rich in marble decorations and mosaics; the , symbol of the golden times of “The Republic of Venice”; the , which has marked time for Venice for centuries. is the oldest of the four bridges crossing the Grand Canal. Rebuilt several times since its first construction in 1173, it is a popular shopping area and offers a panoramic viewpoint over the Grand Canal. Among the numerous museums, the most visited are the , displaying important artworks from the 20 century, the Galleries of the , which house masterpieces of Venetian painting up to the 18 century, and , home to the Museum of 18 century Venice, located in a renowned Renaissance palace. St Mark’s square St Mark’s Basilica Ducal Palace Moors’ Tower Rialto Bridge Peggy Guggenheim Collection th Accademia th Ca’ Rezzonico th Leisure activities The historic overlooking St Mark’s square offer a pleasant break with live music and elegant interiors. , the area between Rialto Bridge and St Mark’s square, is the right place to go shopping; it has plenty of international fashion boutiques and artisan shops selling precious textiles and glassware. The city is surrounded by more than one hundred islands. The most visited for a daily excursion from Venice are Burano, world-famous for its lace , and Murano, world-renowned for its artistic glassware production. cafés Le Mercerie How to get there : Marco Polo airport (13 km from Venice) and Treviso airport (31 km from Venice) are connected to Venice by a public bus service. By air : Santa Lucia railway station is located at the northern edge^ of Venice’s historic city centre. High-speed, domestic and international trains are operated. By train : Tronchetto and Piazzale Roma car parks are open everyday, 24/7. By car Glossary : paludoso : addebitare : sgretolarsi : a prova di umidità : limitare : inondazione : questione : merletto : da non perdere : sistema fognario : soggetto a maree : viaggiare, andare in giro boggy to charge to crumble damn proof edge flooding issue lace not-to-be-missed sewerage tidal to wander