Page 11 - AAA Now! – AAA Northway – Fall 2022

TRAVE
L
Experience Romantic
Venice, Italy
A trip to Italy is truly a celebration of life, where you will discover immense cultural and historical wealth, superb cuisine and friendly people.
For 400 years the romantic city of Venice in the northern Italian region of Veneto has attracted the finest painters, architects and craftsmen in the world. Spend your days exploring the magnificent sites of this 1,700-year-old city, such as the Piazza San Marco, with its stunning St. Mark’s Basilica and the Doge’s Palace, where all
the most religious and civil ceremonies have been held. Walk through narrow alleys and across the curved bridges of this picturesque city, taking in the shops where famous Venetian glass and lace are on display. Sip an espresso at a sidewalk cafe and experience the unique atmosphere that makes Venice one of the most visited cities in the world.
If you’re a romantic at
heart, you will not want to
miss taking a gondola ride.
The Bridge of Sighs is always
a popular place to kiss, but if
you’re looking to escape the
crowds, you may want to find a quiet ride on the back canals, such as the San Polo neighborhood.
There are 150 canals with more than 400 bridges
that connect Venice’s 118 small islands in the Venetian Lagoon. If you choose to dine near the famous Rialto Bridge, a stone arch that crosses the Grand Canal, you can watch the gondolas and their stripe-shirted gondoliers lazily drift along the Grand Canal. While a prime tourist attraction today, the
Rialto Bridge was once a mecca for trade when Venice was a maritime power.
Venice is, as one might expect, also known for its fabulous museums. The Accademia Gallery of Venice is one of Italy’s most important art museums, with 24 rooms in three historic buildings. The museum boasts stunning Venetian treasures. Stroll the halls where paintings from the 14th to 18th centuries are represented, including those by renowned Italian artists like Canaletto, Veronese, Bellini and Da Vinci.
Italians have a saying, “Dolce vita.”The literal translation is sweet life, and that is what they offer. The
manifestation of dolce vita varies from city to coast to island, but the message is the same: Life here is meant to be enjoyed.
FALL 2022
11
Now!