Venice Italy

I really liked the Secret Itineraries tour at the Doge's Palace. I wanted to take Alessandro's cicchetti tour (email: alessandro@schezzini.it) and there's a website (google him), but there's a minimum number of people and he didn't get enough for the one night I could do it. He gets great reviews.

RowVenice sounds like fun - learn how to row a gondola. And it's cheaper than a gondola ride.

Ride the vaporetto up and down the Grand Canal - if you can't get a front seat (some don't have them), the very back is next best, and just enjoy watching Venice glide by. Beautiful in the early morning mists, during bustling midday and late a night too.

I haven't shopped for shoes and wouldn't expect any bargains. Rick's Venice guidebook suggests Daniela Ghezzo and Giovanna Zanella.

Thanks for sharing the Row Venice activity! Looking forward to being back in Venice this year.

You might want to post your question in the Destination Q&A section of the Travel Forum instead of the Hotel & Restaurant Reviews section - probably will receive more responses.

Giovanna Zanella makes amazing shoes---you can see her working in her shop from the window. But there are no bargains.

http://www.giovannazanella.it

I bought a great pair of shoes at a shop along Strada Nuova--- lovely and not too expensive. I don't remember the name but could find it.