In the city of Venice, capital of the Veneto region, in northeastern Italy

 "Venice appeared to me as in a recurring dream, a place once visited and now fixed in memory like images on a photographer’s plates so that my return was akin to turning the leaves of a portfolio: a scene of the gondolas moored by the railway station; the Grand Canal in the twilight; the Rialto bridge; the Piazza San Marco; the shimmering, rippling wonderland; the bustling water traffic; the fish market; the Lido beach and boardwalk; Teeny in the launch; the singing, gesturing gondoliers; the bourgeois tourists drinking coffee at Florian’s; the importunate beggars; and, the drowned girl’s ghost haunting the Bridge of Sighs...." -- Gary Inbinder

=====================================================================
(in the capital of the Veneto region, in northeastern Italy) Imagine the audacity of building a city of marble palaces on a lagoon -- and that was only the beginning. The centuries-old buildings and bridges, the quiet canals and cobblestone alleyways, the labyrinth of eye-catching islands -- it doesn’t get mch dreamier than Venice. And, while the capital of the Veneto is quite a stunner, it is also a real city. The Grand Canal and Piazza San Marco are the center of tourist activity, and the surrounding streets are filled with stylish cafes and gelaterias, souvenir shops, and one-off boutiques, as well as gorgeous Renaissance palaces and Gothic churches. Once you have checked off the must-see landmarks (don’t miss the Campanile and Gallerie dell'Accademia), get to know the lesser known neighborhoods like Cannaregio, Dorsoduro, and Castello where locals crowd trattorias for afternoon aperitivo.

+ Venice is built on a group of 118 small islands that are separated by expanses of open water and by canals; portions of the city are linked by more than 400 bridges. The islands are in the shallow Venetian Lagoon, an enclosed bay that lies between the mouths of the Po and the Piave rivers. (The lagoon and the historic parts of the city within the lagoon were inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987.)

+ Losing yourself in Venezia's charm is easy, but there are an endless number of bucket list activities and century-old landmarks to see while you are here. Touring top attractions like St. Mark's Basilica and the Doge's Palace is a must-do, but you may also want to dive into lesser-known pursuits that are specific to this region of Italy, such the local culture and the history of the famous "City of Canals."

+ Venice is so very popular (especially at this time of the year) for a reason, and you will quickly discover why as you get lost in the city's alleys, marvel at the extravagant houses and explore decades-old basilicas and museums that display Italian treasures. Of course, no trip to Venice is complete without a gondola ride through its maze of canals. (You can book a gondola ride ahead of time, but you can also keep your travel day open and find an available gondolier from early morning to after hours.)