Italy - Venice

Venice is beautiful. Venice is exhausting. Both statements are equally true.

It is exhausting because while the city is actually fairly compact, with the canals winding throughout you will frequently going up and down bridges to cross them. Even on flat ground, the uneven surface is tiring.

There are two points to make regarding that. One is that even though I am always in favor of wearing good shoes, there are times and places where it is even more important, and Venice is one of those places. Wear supportive shoes without tiny little heels that will catch between the stones and trip you.

The other is that Venice can be especially challenging for some physical disabilities. There is some helpful information on line: http://www.tripadvisor.com/Travel-g187870-c3011/Venice:Italy:Venice.For.The.Disabled.html

The good shoes and the planning ahead are worth it, because Venice is beautiful. It can be magical. It's worth going.

I was lucky to be there with someone who loves Venice and is very familiar with it. I wish I had written down the name of the "best pastry shop in Venice"; it was wonderful!

Still, there is a lot more there. There is the Caffe Florian, the oldest cafe in the world. This is a place that has been frequented by Casanova, Goethe, Proust, Dickens, and Lord Byron.

http://www.caffeflorian.com/en/

There is the Rialto Bridge and the Bridge of Sighs. There are palaces, cathedrals, and museums. And there are lions everywhere, symbol of St. Mark who is the patron saint of the city, and for whom the square is named.

There are gondolas. (Which only tourists take, because they are generally considered overpriced and touristy, but you know, if I were not there with a native I might go for it.)

There are islands you can visit. Murano is known for its glass, Burano for its lace, and Torcello is the oldest continuously populated region of Venice.

There is beauty and history all around you. You can simply wander around, and just see what you see, and it may very well be magic. I was watching a movie, Pane e tulipani, set in Venice, and one of the biggest thrill is when the heroine rounds a corner and there is a cistern I remembered passing. The simple things can be powerful.

However, it would also be completely possible to later regret missing something. One advantage of the link on Venice for the disabled is it focuses on planning what you want to see most, and then plotting your route efficiently, so it can be a useful resource for anyone.

I saw some things, there's a lot I didn't see. It is worth repeat visits.

"Serenissima", "Queen of the Adriatic", and "undoubtedly the most beautiful city built by man."

http://www.comune.venezia.it/flex/cm/pages/ServeBLOB.php/L/EN/IDPagina/1