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 Canal Grande, 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. ONLINE RESOURCES A sightseeing tour of a city Rome, Florence, Naples boggy: paludoso to charge: addebitare to crumble: sgretolarsi damp proof: a prova di umidità edge: limitare to flock to: riversarsi flooding: inondazione issue: questione lace: merletto not-to-be-missed: da non perdere sewerage: sistema fognario tidal: soggetto a marea to wander: viaggiare, andare in giro 176 Principal sights Venice s beating heart is St Mark s square, one of Europe s most elegant salons, encircled by stunning buildings: the imposing Bell Tower; St Mark s Basilica, rich in marble decorations and mosaics; the Ducal Palace, symbol of the golden times of The Republic of Venice ; the Moors Tower, which has marked time for Venice for centuries. Rialto Bridge 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 Peggy Guggenheim Collection, displaying important artworks from the 20th century, the Galleries of the Accademia, which house masterpieces of Venetian painting up to the 18th century, and Ca Rezzonico, home to the Museum of 18th century Venice, located in a renowned Renaissance palace. Leisure activities The historic cafés overlooking St Mark s square offer a pleasant break with live music and elegant interiors. Le Mercerie, 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. How to get there By air: Marco Polo airport (13 km from Venice) and Treviso airport (31 Km from Venice) are connected to Venice by a public bus service. By train: Santa Lucia railway station is located at the northern edge of Venice s historic city centre. Highspeed, domestic and international trains are operated. By car: Tronchetto and Piazzale Roma car parks are open everyday, 24/7.