Venice, Italy

ORIENTATION: make sure to arrive to Santa Maria Lucia station, not the first Venice stop (Maestre). Typically you'll want to use the Vaparetto (water bus run by ACTV - they have 1 and 3 day tickets 10E, 22E) or your legs to get around. Water taxis and gondolas are extremely expensive and likely to leave you frustrated. Walking can be very confusing, but yellow signs help with famous sights. Vaporetto is the way to go for transports (ACTV is the company). Water Taxi is about 60E. Gondola very expensive negiotiate beforehand – 100E/HR is about the rate. Trahetti (ferry).

Hotels:

Novecento - San Marco, 2683/84, 30124 VENEZIA - 041 2413765 - This is a great little boutique hotel. Old antique furnishing, but modern bathrooms, etc. Very clean and a great location (5 min walk from San Marco Square). Extremely quiet and a great staff. Directions: Take Vaparetto Line 1 getting off at Santa Maria Del Giglio (or Giglio). Take the walkway straight ahead to the square. Just before you get to the church straight ahead, take the stairs to the left. Veer to the right and continue up the stairs. Follow to the next courtyard. Novecento is on the far walkway on the lefthand side across the walkway. http://www.novecento.biz/dynalay.asp?PAGINA=45&navigazione_principale=2

La Calcina - recommended from a travel magazine under "cheap weekends"

Attractions – if you are really into sightseeing, then get a Chorus Pass for all churches in Venezia

• St. Marks Square – sunrise is supposed to be beautiful in the square. Watch in amazement as tourists feed pigeons climbing all over them.
• Ca d Oro – M (8-14), others 8:15-19:15, 5E – Cannaregio district -
• Campinile di San Marco – 9:30-16:15, 6E great views, you'll go up via the elevator
• Ca Rezzonico – 10-17 (no Tues), 6.5E - 19th century Venetian life
• Collezion Guggenhiem – 10-18 (no Tues), 10E – in the Dorsoduro area
• San Marco– (10-16:30), Sun (14-16) 2-6E
• Doge's Palace & Bridge of Sighs – (9-17), 11E – staircase worthwhile – in the San Marco area - try the secret itineraries tour
• Gall Dell Accademia - (M 8-14, 8-19 other) 6.5E – in the Dorsoduro area - largest collection of Venetian art in the world.
• Musueo Civico Corner (9-5), 11E
• Scuola di Schiavoni (no M, 10-12:30 & 15-18), 3E – Castello district
• Scuola di San Rocco (only S or M), 7:30-12:30 (& 2-4 Sun), 6E – in the San Polo area
• Trip to Pauda? University town
• Grand Canal - #1, 4 and 82 have great nighttime façade views
• Churches – San Zaccaria 10-12,16-18 free
• Islands – Lido (good beach), Murano (known for glass),

Food

• al Paradiso Ristorante - excellent spot near the Rialto (but off the tourist stops). Closest Vaparetto stop is Papadopoli. Excellent seafood/pasta. Calle de Paradiso
• Il Prato - Calle de Ostreghe - http://www.ilpratovenezia.com/ - looks like they also have a Las Vegas restaurant
• Al Ponte di Rialto- great pizza (by the slice), off the Grand Canal (SW of the Rialto Bridge). Grab a slice and go!
• Café Florian - famous spot, but you'll pay for the history!
• Quaddry’s
• Nuovo Galeon - Venetian cuisine
• Harry’s (famous Hemingway bar) - world famous bellinis
• La Colombina - just off Strada Nuova in Cannaregio
• Imagina - spritz hour bar recommended from cheap travel magazine
• Cantina do Spade (cicchetti)
• Le Bistrot de Venise, Gelateria Nico

Shopping

• Pauly & Co. - Venetian Glass
• Venini - Venitian Glass
• Rivoaltus Legatoria - leather journals sold on Rialto Bridge
• Rialto - bridge and market area has local merchants