Venice

New for spring 2015, Venice has made it illegal to feed the birds. You may enjoy looking at them and taking photographs, but please do not feed them. La Serenissima (the most serene) is an enchanting city between sea and sky made up of 118 islands, 180 canals and connected by 400 bridges set in a crescent-shaped lagoon unique in the world for its topographical features. Venice is a special delight to visitors: no other city offers the extraordinary thrill of getting around by gondola and boat. Of course one can go on foot, because here is a labyrinth of small streets with hump-backed bridges spanning the many canals. Must sees: Piazza San Marco, the Bridge of Sighs, the Bridge of Rialto, St. Mark’s Cathedral, the Clock Tower, the Doges' Palace. A ride in the famous gondolas can be pre-booked or if space allows booked locally. Private gondolas are quite expensive however you can book a shared gondola (up to 6 people) and they are quite affordable. A half day to Murano and Burano is a must do if you have time. This can easily be done by the ACTV/Vaporetto public boat service. Ask locally for timetables. Murano is famous for its glass blowing and Burano for its lace making. If time allows also visit Torcello to see two churches. There are a few outdoor shops in Torcello specializing in typical Venetian souvenirs that are much cheaper than Burano, Murano and Venice. You can do Murano, Burano & Torcello as a group tour however you will be limited in your time in each location. While in Venice you will see many masks for sale. Most of these are not made locally. For an authentic mask (slightly more expensive) visit Ca’ Macana. Here they have hundreds of masks in many different designs and shapes for sale. You can also book a course and make your own mask to take home. Ca’ Macana is located at the Ca’ Rezzonico ACTV stop. See enclosed brochure. We also recommend a guided walking tour, which can be arranged locally at your hotel.