With its scenic canals, world-famous landmarks and impressive buildings, Venice provides an unique experience for the world traveler looking for a romantic city, good food and beautiful backdrops.

Those who call Venice home are living the good life, and they travel around the city in traditional gondolas or the more modern water buses that glide through the narrow streets and across the Grand Canal. They are also adept at dealing with the throngs of visitors that invade their city every summer. So what would they tell you to visit if you’re in Venice for the first time?

St. Mark’s Square is Venice’s central meeting place, and its atmosphere can only be described as crowded and carnival-like. It is also home to some favorite attractions—St. Mark’s Cathedral, the Campanile (the city’s tallest structure), the Doge’s Palace, and many museums.

The cathedral, which has various beautiful chapels, is a unique and tasteful blend of Romanesque, Byzantine, and Arabesque architecture. When you visit, be sure to see the Treasury, the Sanctuary, and the Museo as well.

As you tour the Doges Palace, you will be reminded of the prominent place Venice held in past centuries both as the Mediterranean’s mercantile center and as a dominant power on the sea.

In the Napoleon wing of St. Marks Square, the Museo Correr is home to an impressive collection of the city’s historic art and artifacts from the Middle Ages through the Renaissance period.

Your many dining options in the city will range from the traditional ultra-high-end restaurant to the super-casual eatery, and fish reigns supreme on the menu. Often, it is the mid-range restaurants that are more experimental and up-to-date when it comes to the combination of ingredients they use in their dishes. Those who prefer unpretentious surroundings and good food can also visit a trattoria, where simpler versions of famous Venetian dishes are served at reasonable prices.

Bustling Venice quiets down after dark, and for locals and visitors alike, the nightlife generally centers around the many café/bars that dot St. Marks Square, and the experience can be a memorable one.

If you are the adventuresome type and bring small children with you, they will be excited about playing among the pigeon’s in St. Marks Square. Walking in the city is easy, but when they need a break, you can visit one of the gelatarias that are virtually everywhere and pacify them with a special ice cream treat. Since kids are sure to enjoy a boat ride, you can hop on a vaporetto at any stop, and they run continuously. You also might want to take them on a boat trip to the island of Murano, well-known for glass-blowing, or to visit the Lido (the city’s beach).

Venice’s Peggy Guggenheim Museum is well-suited to children, and you can get there after a 20-minute walk from St. Marks Square by heading for Accademia Bridge, or by opting for a ferry boat ride. They will be surprisingly attracted to the surrealist modern art, they can play in the lovely sculpture garden, and the large patio faces the Grand Canal.

But Venice is also great for newlyweds or couples. Just walk around every little corner, over the small bridges, enjoy the water and the good food. Venice is one of Italy’s best!

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