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map you may spot a route which takes you past some other place of interest.

The Rialto is in the centre of a commercial district and has a steeply raked triangular shape. Views from the top of the bridge, which is lined with shops, give you a wide vista of the Grand Canal, and if you are there as the sun is lowering in the West the canal is bathed in a golden glow.

Another trip we took was to the Ghetto. It is the Venice ghetto that all the others are named after. Here the Jewish community was separated from fellow Venetians for centuries. Now it has a pleasant atmosphere of quiet squares and the tallest buildings in Venice. Only here were the buildings allowed to go to seven floors to house the confined multitude. Several synagogues and kosher eateries are of interest if you have the time.

We made one visit to an art gallery: L'Accademia. It houses mainly religious paintings of the middle ages but is a fascinating building in itself and if medieval art is your thing or you just want a flavour of the rich artistic history of Venice and a break from the crowds then this is recommended.

There are so many other places to visit in Venice that you really have to plan your trip. You may want to visit the great Palazzo of Ca' d'Oro or the marvels that await you in the dozens of churches which house masterpieces of art and sculpture. You may want to make an island tour of Burano, Murano and Toricello to get a feel for local life or you may want a trip to the Lido to take in some sun bathing. There are also the three great events of the Biennale, a two yearly festival of modern art (next one is 2009), the Venice Film Festival and the Venice Carnival which begins two weeks before Ash Wednesday and ends with the Mardi Gras (Shrove Tuesday) At these times hotel space may be at a premium so if you are going book well in advance and if you want to avoid these events check the calendar.

Venice is unique. For lovers, for art lovers, for historians or just those of us who want to find somewhere removed from the traffic jams and cares of the world surrounded by extraordinary architecture.

Learn more about this author, Ray Cook.
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