Venice

Theanne is going to learn as much as possible about Livorno in Italy as it has personal connections with her late husband and she has a liking for all things Italian!
I remembered I have had two visits to Italy, visiting Venice each time.The first trip I took to Italy I stayed on Lake Garda and took the train for a day trip to Venice where it was so hot we could not walk around!
The second visit I stayed in Venice for 4 days in April 2007 and it was flooded! I know you are saying it is supposed to be they have canals instead of streets!Twice yearly the canals actually rise and flood the walkways and squares.
Pic above is the Bridge of Sighs, so called as it was the last glimpse prisoners got of the outside world as they went from the Doges Palace to the prison.
The entrance to St Marks Cathedral was flooded and these high wooden ramps were placed around for people to walk on, they were also around the squares and anywhere the water would rise at high tide.
St Marks Sq, at times most of it was under a couple of inches of water!
Our hotel was on the Grand Canal, even though there are Gondolas outside we took the water bus everywhere which was the cheapest option for getting around. On my first trip I did take the obligatory Gondola ride which I think everyone does,it was 80e for about 20 mins! Our laughing Gondolier did sing for no extra charge and took us through some of the Grand Canal under the Rialto Bridge.
The Rialto Bridge, spanning the Grand Canal it is lined with shops selling very touristy stuff at a price.
The 2 boats in the foreground are actually delivery boats as all commerce and services are done from boats including Police and Fire Brigade.
We visited Art galleries and museums and walked through narrow winding streets, Venice has a mystique all of its own whether wet or dry.We also found Harry's Bar, famous because Hemingway was a regular visitor and they invented the Bellini cocktail which you can still buy there at a very exhorbitant price!