Venice, Italy

We stayed at the Antica Locanda Sturion-a hotel located on the Grand Canal, a stone's throw from the Rialto bridge. It's a bit pricy--though one of the lower cost options for a hotel on the Grand Canal, but we decided to splurge since we were coming from Sydney, Australia, and thought we needed the comfort. There are cheaper options for lodging in Venice.



Check out their live web cam of the Rialto Bridge! There is a fantastic continental breakfast included with your stay. This is no average continental breakfast; they served brei cheese, fresh fruit, yogurt and granola, and they serve a variety of tea and coffee.



However, you shoudl be warned that there are 4 flights of stairs that greet you as you enter the Antica Locanda Sturion.

St. Mark's Square (a.k.a. Piazza San Marco)

You can't go to Venice with out heading to St. Mark's Square! Here are a couple of our favorite things about Piazza San Marco:

• Caffe Florian--We enjoyed coffee at one of the oldest cafe's in Italy. Legend has it that the first cappuccino was served here. Ashley Ordered one for 7$! It had better be good! That's like 3 Cutters Point Cappuccinos!

• St. Mark's Basilica--It is free to get into the church, but there are a couple tricks to this amazing site! Thanks to our Rick Steves guide to Italy, we were able to bypass the 2-hour long line to get into the Basilica. Here is the secret:
• Backpacks are not allowed in the Basilica, so you can skip the line and check your backpack for FREE at the nearby Ateneo S. Basso (0pen Mon-Sat 9:30am-5:20pm; Sun 2:00pm-4:00pm)...Here is how you do it: From Piazetta dei Leoncini (to the left of the Basilica), head down Calle S. Basso, 2nd door on your right
• Leave your bag and pick up a tag; 2 people per tag are allowed into the basilica; just go to the front of the line to the gatekeeper and show them your tag.
• Shoulders must be covered! But ladies, if you are in Venice during a hot time of year, and want to wear a tank top, bring a pagmina or shawl with you to throw over your shoulders.
  



• Frari Church --This is a great place to see some amazing art, including Renaissance artists: Donatello, Titian, and Bellini. Plus, it is a cheap alternative to a museum with an entry fee of only 2.50Euro.



• Don't pay for an audio guide, but do eavesdrop on guided tours for some great information about these works of art.
• You must cover your shoulders when inside the church.
• It is one of the few places you can take pictures inside!

But we didn't just stop at the limits of Venice! We hopped in a rental car, not just any car, a Smart Car (to truly understand, you will have to click on the link to Smart Car and see the picture). We started to head west...

Padua (Padova)
Padua is near Venice and a fun stop for one night. You can visit St. Anthony's Basilica and see his 800-year-old tongue on display. St. Anthony is the patron saint of donkeys, pregnant women, and amputees among other things.One of our favorite activities in all of Italy was to eat pizza.

Verona- Home of Juliet (of Romeo and Juliet). This is not a town that is built for pedestrians. It is a long walk to get most places, but there is a wonderful clash of the old and new in the middle of Verona. We even got to check out out some ruins. Verona is a one-day stop (maybe just one afternoon).