Venice My Love . . .

When traveling to Venezia be prepared to both remember & forget everything you have heard or read about the most unique city in the world; La Serenissima, The Most Serene Republic. We firmly believe that if you are going to Venice, the best formula for experiencing the wonders that she has to offer begins with reading a few guide books, getting a feel for the layout of the islands, making a few notes of names of famous sights and recommended restaurants, taking them to Venice with you, maybe even reading over them a little on the flight . . . then simply leaving it all behind. Leave every book in your room or apartment and enjoy the thrill of discovery. We find it much more adventurous and entertaining to explore Venice on our own, following any path we choose and stumbling upon the great treasures that Venezia has to offer. This way you cand find yourself in tiny calles, far off the beaten path and suddenly a warm, cozy trattoria will appear. You sit down to have an afternoon snack and a bottle of prosecco, only to realize that yes - you do recognize the name of this place and it is world famous for its seafood risotto!! But the fun is that you just stumbled upon this great find. Likewise and even more so for the churches. We can't really imagine following directions to find our way around Venice. They are confusing and time consuming. The grand churches that consigned work from the most prestigious artists of the time are more magnificent than most museums around the world. Let us just say that directions and addresses are hard to follow in Venezia. Better off to wander and live by the old adage of "Never pass a church without going inside!" The churches are many in Venice and the ones not worth going in are few. Regardless of your religion, take a moment to go inside as many as possible. In our opinion, these are the most perfect places to relax and reflect. Simply be thankful that you are there and that you are blessed in so many ways. It is also a good time to just be still and let Venice speak to you. She may speak to you in a church, through a famous work of art, a decadently crumbling palazzo, one of the many canales, the open sea, or somewhere else along the way. But if your goal is to absorb the mystery of Venice and appreciate that she still stands today in much the same ways she did many centuries ago . . . if you listen, she will speak. And we are certain that you will fall in love.