Start at Piazza San Marco and take in the view. From the Palazzo Ducale to the Basilica San Marco you are standing in a museum. It is worth taking the time to go into the palace and basilica to see first hand extraordinary sights, but should you not want to join the queues to go in walk along the waters edge towards the Bridge of Sighs before turning into the maze of streets and allow yourself to get lost.
By lunch time make your way towards the Rialto Market and the many cicchetti wine bars where you can pick up a variety of light bites while sampling an array of good wines by the glass. After lunch catch the vaporetto for a quick ride to the Dorsoduro area for the best Venetian artisan shopping directly from many of the artist’s studios. Also at much better prices then shops around St. Mark’s Square. Should you choose a bit of art the Accademia filled with the finest Venetian art or the Ca’Rezzonico a palazzo of 18th Venice is a treat worth visiting. End your tour where you started back at Piazza San Marco at Caffe Florian and sit in the oldest cafe is Europe while the orchestra plays on the piazza and you enjoy coffee or an aperitivo.
