The Delicious Italy - Venice

"Not all who wander are lost."
        - J.R.R. Tolkien

This quote captures the way I felt about visiting this beautiful little city in Italy perfectly. My favorite destination on this trip, Venice. I fell in love with that city as soon as we stepped into it. This is a city where one can wander and wander and never become bored or feel lost. It is so authentic; there are no cars, just boats in the canals and little cobble stone streets to wander down. The streets are lined with colorful buildings, and the cutest little shops and restaurants.

Although you could be perfectly happy just wandering through the streets of this unique little city for hours on end, there are some famous sights to see. The first being St. Marks Square, this is the most popular attraction in Venice. It is where the Basilica of San Marco stands, a beautiful, huge church that is entirely made of marble. The basilica has a separate bell tower which is 323 feet tall. Another famous building in this square is Doge's Palace, a beautiful Gothic building.

Another famous sight is Rialto Bridge which crosses the Grand Canal. This is such a big attraction simply because it is the busiest bridge in Venice. Walking along it you'll see all sorts of shops and little market-style kiosks.

Don't forget to explore around Venice as well. There are many small islands surrounding this city that can be forgotten. First, there is the island Murano; this is where the famous murano glass is made. I recommend stopping in the Murano Glass Factory to watch how these works of art are created.

Another island to see is San Michele. This island is entirely a cemetery; although being there can be very sobering, it is also the most magnificent cemetery I've ever seen. There are sculptures and roses covering this island, and each headstone is a work of art.

Then there is Burano, an island that you will not want to miss out on. It is a fishing village where all of the buildings are bright vivid colors, it was adorable! Walking through a city that brightly colored is sure to put a smile on your face! The majority of it is little, unique shops that are famous for their lace or their fish.

There is also a nice day trip you can do from Venice to Verona. In Verona you can see Juliet's Balcony. The tunnel leading up to Juliet's house is covered in love notes. Once you are through the tunnel you are in a small square where you can see the balcony, house, and a statue of Juliet. As legend has it, if you rub the statue's right breast then you will have good luck, so don't forget to do that before leaving.