Situated in a northeastern Italian lagoon, Venice is an architectural wonderland entirely constructed on water. This exceptional city enjoys a Mediterranean climate with hot summers and cool winters. However, the fall season often brings the "acqua alta" or the high tides, adding a mysterious allure to the city.

Venetian culture is heavily influenced by its maritime past, reflected in its Byzantine and Gothic architecture inherited from years of trading. Contemporary Venetians balance their profound traditions and the demands of living in a city that hosts over 20 million tourists each year. Locals' everyday life is considerably centered around water, with water buses, known as vaporetti, accounting for public transportation, and gondolas enduring as Venetian cultural symbols.

Setting Venice apart is its total lack of roadways, replaced by 150 canals and more than 400 bridges that interconnect 118 tiny islands. The city's core, Piazza San Marco, displays the impressive St. Mark's Basilica and Doge's Palace, while the Grand Canal meanders through the city in a reverse S-shape, bordered by vibrant palazzo facades seemingly floating on water.

In terms of cuisine, Venetian fare predominantly features fresh seafood from the lagoon, with squid ink risotto and creamed cod standing out as signature dishes. The city's cicchetti culture—small servings dished up in traditional wine bars called bacari—provides an authentic experience of local life, distant from tourist hotspots.

Make sure to wander through the less crowded Cannaregio district, where the Jewish heritage and local life intertwine in peaceful squares or campos. Visitors can likewise seize the opportunity to explore the Rialto Market at dawn as delivery boats arrive with fresh produce and seafood. Displaying an intriguing contrast to Venice's medieval backdrop is the Peggy Guggenheim Collection of contemporary art.