The city is built on 117 small... by ainhoaflies
The city is built on 117 small islands, and is linked to the mainland service town of Mestre by a road and rail causeway. The Grand Canal insinuates itself around the city, emerging at the unforgettable vista of Piazza San Marco, boasting its campanile, Doges' Palace, St Mark's Basilica and elegant pigeon-filled piazza. The Bridge of Sighs links the palace to the gloomy old prisons, and the bobbing gondolas are overlooked by the stunning Santa Maria della Salute, San Giorgio Maggiore and del Redentore churches.
To appreciate the fine palaces that line the Grand Canal, swallow your 'but I'm not really a tourist' and take a gondola.
The Accademia Bridge leads to a quieter Venice and the Galleria dell'Accademia, with its collection of Venetian masters.
The nearby Peggy Guggenheim Gallery updates your walk through history and art, with its fine collection of early-20th-century works.
