The Romance capital of the World, challenged closely by Paris and to a lesser extent Verona and Florence (notice the large Italian contingent).  Well for someone who has not a single romantic bone in his body, this place made my heart sing.  A truly beautiful city filled with canals instead of roads, gondolas in place of cars and a relaxed atmosphere as opposed to the frenetic bustle of the big cities.  This place is a must see.

History spiel: Situated in the extreme north east of the country, Venice, was the gateway to the Orient became an independent Byzantine province in the 10th century.  Exclusive trading links with the East and victory in the Crusade of 1204 brought wealth and power which were eventually eroded between European and Turkish rivals.

Team Venice at Cafe Noir

Cafe Noir: Tiff, Amy, Ryan and Just

Cafe Noir: Tiff, Many, Bobby and Matt.

Gondola ride - one

Gondola ride - two

Just on the Gondola

The "street" signs

Harry's Bar - founded in 1931, this place is famous for its cocktails.  Ernest Hemmingway is one of the bar's many famous patrons

The Bellini's at Harry's Bar - champagne and peach juice, 20 euros and 200mls.

Tiff, Ryan and Amy - Harry's bar

Justin at the Academia - the world's greatest collection of Venetian paintings

Tiffs inside the Academia

Tiff and Fatty at Cafe Noir

The Palazzo Ducale (Doges' Palace) - official residence of each Venetian rules (doge) since the 9th century.

Tiffs at the dodgy palace

Santa Maria della Salute - built 1630 in thanksgiving for the deliverance from the plague epidemic, hence the name Salute which means health and salvation.

Coffee on the Grand Canal with the Santa Maria in the background

Tiffs drinking some coffee on the Grand Canal

Some snow by the Santa Maria

The Penny Guggenheim - arguably the greatest museum of mod3ern art.  Jackson Pollock, Picasso and Max Ernst are just some of the names displayed here.

Sitting on one of the exhibits - naughty boy

What is he holding?

A painting - very pretty

Just on the "street" in Venice

Tiffs on the street

Mozart lived and wrote here for some time - that shadowy figure is our cell phone wielding driver.

Ostello Venezia - The first place we stayed at

The Gigolo :)

The Realto Bridge - a very cool market place.

Tiffs by the bridge

Tiffs on Ponte dell' Academia - Santa Maria in the background

The Grand Canal

Tiffs at the Bulgari shop

Night time on the canal - one

Night time on the canal - two

Hotel Rio - The alley where our hotel was

Tiff by a Picasso - naughty taking photos!

Basilica di San Marco - body of Saint Mark was enshrined here.

Tiffs by the Church