Venice Travel Guide

Venice OVERVIEW

How come guide books extol its charm and travelers bash it for not living up to the glorious reputation? Perhaps the editors haven't been to Piazza San Marco and Gallerie dell'Accademia in the peak season or their gondolier simply didn't sing out of key? Or perhaps the self-appointed critics haven't taken a leisurely stroll along the labyrinthine, narrow passageways of the Castello district, missed the lovely churches of Cannaregio, lacked their favorite at the world-class Venice Film Festival, and forgot to breath a sigh on Ponte dei Sospiri before leaving the city? Pardon what might seem professional bias, but how can a city floating on water not be gorgeous?