Elegant Venetian buildings and palaces peer over the ancient maze of narrow streets and labyrinth of canals that make up this unique city. Tourists naturally flock to Venice to experience its inimitable charm. The downside of this can be felt in the narrow streets and cramped piazzas of its sought-after areas. A good way to get to know a more personal side of Venice is to saunter through its romantic back streets and residential quarters.

Venice rests on one of a series of 117 islands distributed throughout the Venetian lagoon, at the northern end of the Adriatic Sea. This strategic position conferred on Venice economic and defensive advantages over its trading rivals. As the wealth of the city increased and its population grew, the composition of the city grew ever more dense and today only a handful of the islets that constitute the historic centre are not entirely developed.

The historic centre is divided into six quarters ( ). These are: San Marco, Dorsoduro, San Polo, Santa Croce, Cannaregio and Castello. The city's main thoroughfare is the Grand Canal that intersects each district as it meanders through the length of Venice, from the railway station to San Marco. An alternative to walking the bewildering streets of Venice is to cruise the waterways onboard the motorboat buses known as . These are the less romantic but also less expensive substitutes for the famous gondolas.

Venice extends beyond its six to the islands of Murano, Burano and Torcello. These are known for glass and lace-making respectively, and Torcello is noted for the magnificent Byzantine Basilica of Santa Maria Assunta that rests on its soil. Trips by boat to the islands provide a pleasant diversion from the busier historic quarters.

The Grand Canal (Canalazzo)

Address: Venice

St Mark's Square

Address: Venice

Rialto

Address: Venice

Basilica dei Frari

Address: San Polo 3003 Venice

Admission: EUR2.50 Open Monday to Saturday from 9am to 6pm, and Sunday from 1pm to 6pm. Closed to visitors during services.

Telephone: +39 041 272 8611

School of St Roch (Scuola di San Rocco)

Address: Campo San Rocco, San Polo 3054 Venice

Admission: EUR7 (with concessions available). Entry to the church is free The Scuola Grande is open daily from 9.30am to 5.30pm, except on New Year's Day, Easter and Christmas Day. The church is also open daily from 9.30am to 5.30pm, but on Christmas, Easter and New Year's Day it is only open in the mornings from 9.30am to 12.30pm. Holy Mass is at 8am on weekdays and 11am on Sundays and religious festivals.

Telephone: +39 041 523 4864

Peggy Guggenheim Collection

Address: Palazzo Venier dei Leoni, 701 Dorsoduro Venice

Admission: EUR12. Concessions are available Open every day except Tuesdays, from 10am to 6pm

Telephone: +39 041 240 5411

Verona

Address: Venice

Lido di Venetia

Address: Venice

Admission: ACTV boats charge EUR6 for a one-way trip, and between EUR13 and EUR31 for 24, 36 and 72-hour return tickets

Aqualandia

Address: Via Buonarroti 15, Lido de Jesolo Venice

Admission: EUR27 (adult), EUR23 (children). Free for children under 1 metre tall! Open daily from 28 May to 11 September, 10am to 6pm

Telephone: +39 042 137 1648

Padua (Padova)

Address: Venice

Bell Tower (Campanile di San Marco)

Address: San Marco, Piazza San Marco Venice

Admission: Adults: EUR8 Open in November to April from 7am to 3.45pm; and in July to September from 9am to 9pm

Telephone: +39 041 522 4064

Clock Tower (Torre dell'Orologio)

Address: San Marco, Piazza San Marco Venice

Admission: Adults: EUR12 Open daily from 9am to 3.30pm

Museum of Natural History

Address: Santa Croce 1730 - 30125 Venice

Admission: EUR4.50. Concessions are available. Open Wednesdays from 9am to 5pm, Saturdays and Sundays from 10am to 6pm. Closed on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, 1 May, Christmas Day and 1 January.

Telephone: +39 041 275 0206

Naval Museum (Museo Storico Navale)

Address: Riva degli Schiavoni, Castello Venice

Admission: EUR1.55 Open Monday to Friday from 8.45am to 1.30pm, and on Saturdays from 8.45am to 1pm. Closed on Sundays and public holidays.

Telephone: +39 041 2441 399

Murano

Address: Isola di Murano, Venice Venice

Remembrance Park (Parco delle Rimembranze)

Address: Via Sant'Elena Venice

Admission: Free

Po Delta Natural Park

Address: Ca' Vendramin Venice

Admission: Open daily

Telephone: +39 042 681 219

Gondola Rides

Address: Venice

Admission: EUR80 for a 40-minute ride (negotiable)

Carnival of Venice

Where: Centred on San Marco's Square,Venice

When: 11 – 21 February 2012

Festa del Redentore (Feast Day of the Redeemer)

Where: Giudecca Canal and St. Mark's Basin,Venice

When: 15 July 2012

Historical Regatta

Where: Grand Canal,Venice

When: 2 September 2012

International Festival of Contemporary Music

Where: Teatro La Fenice, Teatro Malibran, Piccolo Teatro Arsenale,Venice

When: 24 September to 1 October 2011

Barcolana

Where: Trieste, 65 miles (100km) east of Venice,Venice

When: 7 – 13 October 2012

La Vecia

Where: Lake Garda,Venice

When: March 2012 TBA

Su e Zo per i Ponti

Where: Venice, starts in front of Doge's Palace on Piazza San Marco.,Venice

When: 11 March 2012

La Sensa, Marriage to the Sea

Where: Lido,Venice

When: June 2012 TBA

Biennale

Where: Giardini Pubblici,Venice

When: 4 June to 27 November 2011

Venice Film Festival

Where: Lido,Venice

When: August to September 2012 TBA

Ristorante Quadri

Address: Piazza San Marco 120 Venice

Food Type: International

Vino Vino

Address: Campo Teatro 2007, St Marks Square. On Ponte delle Veste Venice

Food Type: Italian

Lineadombra

Address: Ponte dell'Umilta, Dorsoduro, 19 Venice

Food Type: Mediterranean

Trattoria Altanella

Address: Calle delle Erbe, 268, Giudecca Venice

Food Type: Local

Antico Martini

Address: Campo San Fantin (on the same square as La Fenice opera house) Venice

Food Type: Venetian

Trattoria alla Rivetta

Address: Castello 4625, Salizzada San Provolo Venice

Food Type: Seafood

Ca' d'Oro (Alla Vedova)

Address: Calle del Pistor, Cannaregio Venice

Food Type: Italian

Grand Canal

Address: Hotel Monaco, Calle Vallaresso, 1325 Venice

Food Type: Local

Ristorante Ai Quattro Rusteghi

Address: Campo del Ghetto Novo, Canareggio 2888 Venice

Food Type: Venetian

Cantinone-già Schiavi

Address: 992 Fondamenta San Trovaso, near the Accademia Bridge Venice

Food Type: Italian

La Cantina

Address: Campo San Felice (Strada Nuova), Cannaregio Venice

Food Type: Italian

Il Refolo

Address: 1459 Santa Croce, Campo San Giacomo dall'Orio Venice

Food Type: Pizzeria