Here are the 10 reasons why I think you should go to Venice:
1. To marvel at every canal you encounter
…and every bridge you cross, and take hundreds of pictures that all look somewhat the same, but are all magical in their own way.
2. To refuel with Spritz, Venice’s quintessential cocktail
…and cichetti, local tapas-style bites made from seasonal ingredients.
3. To admire the rainbow of produce at the Rialto markets
…and find out what’s on season, what’s grown locally, and perhaps even chat with locals to learn a traditional recipe or two.
4. To enjoy a picnic on the banks of the Grand Canal
…made from bits and pieces gathered from the markets and neighboring shops. (Cured meats! Fine cheeses! Savory spreads! Veneto wines!)
5. To soak up the sun
…and stop to have an espresso or a drink on whatever terrace calls your name.
6. To sneak into an out-of-the-way restaurant
…listen to what the locals order, and then ask for the same thing, in Italian.
7. To get lost in the maze of narrow streets and alleys
…and rejoice when you start finding your way without the use of a map.
8. To watch the night fall over the city
…and feel yourself fall in love with the city, then and there.
9. To hop on a short ferryboat ride
…and end up in the brightest and most beautiful island you’ve possibly ever seen: Burano. These guys where on to the color blocking trend way before all of us were!
10. To walk through St. Mark’s Place past midnight
…when all the tourists are gone and all the locals are home, to soak in Venice’s ethereal beauty and feel like the city is yours, for the night.