Meet me in Venice…

Venice is more than just an island in the Adriatic. It’s a floating city, built on wood pilings on 118 submerged islands. There are 400 bridges and 170 canals connecting the narrow streets… perfect for getting lost.

If you’re a wanderer, or a poet, or a navigator, or a lover, Venice might be the place for you. Casanova, Marco Polo and Vivaldi were all born in this inspiring maritime destination.

If your sense of direction isn’t so good, you might consider visiting Venezia with a friend. The windy streets, interrupted incessantly by canals and dead ends, are a formidable opponent to the traveler who can’t find his/her way out of a paper bag.

Fortunately, the best way to experience Venice is by getting lost… there’s really no better way to explore.

Venice is known as “La Serenissima” – the most serenely beautiful one, though it doesn’t always live up to its serene nickname. During the day when thousands of cruise passengers are milling about, crowding the narrow alleyways, it’s best to avoid the high traffic areas like St. Mark’s Square and the Rialto Bridge.

Venice experiences annual flooding, known as Acqua Alta, where the lagoon washes into the city leaving up to 6 feet of water in the low-lying areas near the Piazza San Marco. If you’re in Venice anywhere from September to March, expect to have wet feet!

Venice’s downsides – crowds, floods, inflated tourist prices – are completely outmatched by its picturesque canals, ancient palaces and enchanting courtyards. If you travel during the off-season, or avoid the cruise crowds at popular tourist attractions during the day, you might just feel like you have Venice all to yourself.

Venice really is as beautiful and distinctive as it is in the pictures, and well worth a visit … and a long wander.

Just bring a map.