Venice

How much research have you done already on Venice? Do you have a good guidebook or two?

I booked using tickitaly.com The earlier you book the better change of getting the English tour at the time you want. If 20th century art is your thing, then the Guggenheim. Purchase Rick's Venice 2012 book and do the walks from Rialto to Frari, and Rialto to St. Marks, and the Grand canal cruises will expose you to a lot of Venice. You might not be able to tour a lot of the museums but in my opinion walking and soaking up the streets and bridges is why you are there!

I have Rick Steves Italy 2012 and read some things on the internet about Venice. I know that there is St. Mark's square to see and the canals to navigate. I know that this is the place to buy lace and see glass blown. I'm just trying to get a feel for the city.

The best thing to do in Venice is just wandering the streets, enjoying the atmosphere and the beautiful buildings and canals. Every time we go, I visit Saint Mark's and the small museum on the upper level. I love the mosaics in St. Mark's! Also, Santa Maria dei Miracoli is a beautiful jewel-box of a church.

Hi Heather, you mentioned lace. If you would like to buy authentic Burano handmade lace (dying art; only a few women left on the island still make it), be prepared to pay approx 40 euros for a handkerchief with a 2 square inch section of lace; the shopowner I spoke to said it takes 4 days to make this type of handkerchief (last summer's price). There is lots of much less expensive lace available, but it will not be authentic/handmade

Heather, regarding lace and glass, be sure what you buy is actually made in Venice. Sadly, there is lots of "imported" stuff for sale.