http://www.travelsignposts.com Latest additions to the Italy section of the Travel Signposts website: information, resource links and over 10,000 photos of European and Mediterranean tourist destinations to help plan a European tour or river cruise. From professional travel photographer and writer Tony Page. http://www.travelsignposts.com/Venice/music.php Music in Venice: Concerts and Opera A commented selection of concert and opera links to Venice orchestras and theatres. Antonio Vivaldi, who lived in Venice for many years, composed over 60 works there and the city is also the 2006-06-22T09:28:54Z http://www.travelsignposts.com/Venice/lido.php The appeal of a beach so close to Venice is undeniable but needs a few caveats. When you arrive at the Lido you can see in distance Venice and the Campanile (S. Mark’s Belltower) only 15 minutes away by 2006-06-22T09:27:26Z http://www.travelsignposts.com/Venice/lido-hotels.php First, here are some select hotels recommended by several guides and reviews: Hotel des Bains **** Lungomare Marconi 17 - 30100 Venice (Lido di Venezia) Remember that grand hotel in the film "Death in Venice" where the composer Aschenbach 2006-06-22T09:24:47Z http://www.travelsignposts.com/Venice/index.php An ever-growing range of features, links and practical information to help you plan and enjoy your visit to Venice, including guides to hotel accommodation, restaurants, bars, tourist attractions, city neighbourhoods and getting about. There's a lot here already and 2006-06-22T09:23:36Z http://www.travelsignposts.com/Venice/history.php A Brief History of Venice Brief History | Interesting facts | Famous people Where it started According to tradition, Venice was founded in 421 AD on April 25th, St. Mark's Day (St. Mark is now the patron saint of 2006-06-22T09:22:34Z http://www.travelsignposts.com/Venice/gondola.php A Gondola can be up to 11 metres long and 600 kg in weight, but still only needs one man with his single oar to propel it along, albeit in a stately fashion. Not many people know that gondolas 2006-06-22T09:22:16Z http://www.travelsignposts.com/Venice/gaylesbian.php Gay and Lesbian Venice In February, Carnevale is a meeting point for gay people, but apart from that, although it's a marvellous city, if you're looking for gay-specific action: "Masks off, Venice has not much to offer to the 2006-06-22T09:21:50Z http://www.travelsignposts.com/Venice/dorsoduro.php Dorsoduro's name (literally 'hard ridge') probably reflects the nature of the land in this area, slightly higher and more solid than the other portions of land that emerged from the lagoon. It's a sprawling sestiere that extends over the 2006-06-22T09:21:24Z http://www.travelsignposts.com/Venice/dorsoduro-places.php The Tourist Board of Venice recommends quite a few places to see in Cannaregio: Church of the Gesuati The order of the Jesuits was suppressed in 1868 and the church and monastery were handed over to the Dominicans. In 2006-06-22T09:20:55Z http://www.travelsignposts.com/Venice/dorsoduro-hotels.php First, here are some select hotels recommended by several guides and reviews: American Hotel *** San Vio 628 - 30100 Venice The hotel American is located in the heart of Venice, in the picturesque Dorsoduro area, overlooking the San 2006-06-22T09:20:24Z http://www.travelsignposts.com/Venice/castello.php Castello is Venice's largest sestiere, extending from the Rialto to Sant'Elena at the eastern tip of the city. Its name is believed to derive from a fortress on the island of San Pietro, one of the earliest inhabited sites 2006-06-22T09:19:39Z http://www.travelsignposts.com/Venice/castello-places.php Campo Santa Maria Formosa ('Shapely St Mary'), is a large, bustling, irregular-shaped square that is very centrally located. It has a fine church, a small market,a couple of bars and an undertaker. Constantly buzzing with both Venetians and tourists, 2006-06-22T09:19:09Z http://www.travelsignposts.com/Venice/castello-hotels.php First, here are some select hotels recommended by several guides and reviews: Hotel Danieli ***** Castello 4196 - 30100 Venice The Hotel Danieli is a masterfully restored palace synonymous with the splendor and romance of Venice. The property lies 2006-06-22T09:18:43Z http://www.travelsignposts.com/Venice/cannaregio.php Cannaregio is Venice's second largest sestiere, stretching across the north-west of the city with its main thoroughfare, the Strada Nuova, lined by shops, bars and restaurants and running from the S. Lucia train station to the Rialto Bridge. It's 2006-06-22T09:18:07Z http://www.travelsignposts.com/Venice/cannaregio-places.php Church of Santa Maria di Nazareth o dei Carmelitani Scalzi (Barefoot Carmelites) This church was built in 1660 from a design by Baldassarre Longhena. The grandiose façade was created by Giuseppe Sardi. The first chapel of the right-hand nave 2006-06-22T09:17:24Z http://www.travelsignposts.com/Venice/cannaregio-hotels.php First, here are some select hotels recommended by several guides and reviews: Hotel Giorgione **** Strada Statale Apostoli 4587 - Cannaregio - 30131 Venice Hotel Giorgione, only 3 minutes from the Rialto Bridge and an easy 10 minute walk 2006-06-22T09:16:59Z http://www.travelsignposts.com/Venice/barsnightlife.php Bars and Nightlife in Venice It's certainly not Paris or Las Vegas, but Venice has it's own unique scene going from the Casino to the more attractive aspect of the many bars and restaurants where, mirabile dictu, you can 2006-06-22T09:07:18Z http://www.travelsignposts.com/Venice/art-artists.php Venice has many interesting art galleries, museums and churches where you can see some marvellous and frequently world-renowned works of art, including exceptional portraits and other paintings by some of the Italy's most famous artists. You'll find paintings and 2006-06-22T09:06:37Z http://www.travelsignposts.com/Venice/arriveplane.php Marco Polo Airport "reflects the uniqueness of Venice. The airport's architectural features highlight the lagoon environment and are suggestive of the city's civil and industrial architecture (such as the historic Arsenal). The visual impact is strong. With the city 2006-06-22T09:04:14Z http://www.travelsignposts.com/Venice/arrivecar.php If you're arriving by car and want to give the Autostrada a miss, try the state roads (SS.309 Romea from the Adriatic Coast, SS.14 from Trieste, SS.13 from Treviso, SS.11 from Padua). Check out the Società Autostrade website for 2006-06-22T09:04:00Z http://www.travelsignposts.com/Venice/arrive-depart.php Arriving and Departing in Venice Arriving in Venice is different from arriving in other cities, because there are no roads in the central city area where you'll probably be staying - hotel transfers and downtown transportation are a bit 2006-06-22T09:02:07Z http://www.travelsignposts.com/Venice/webcams.php Webcams over S.Mark's Square, Canal Grande, Rialto and elsewhere. They're not always working, but interesting nonetheless! Refresh the page to see a new view. More links at the bottom of the page. Webcam on St. Mark's Square looking out 2006-06-22T08:54:34Z http://www.travelsignposts.com/Venice/museums-galleries.php Museums and Galleries in Venice In Venice, the Academy Galleries (Accademia) house the major collections of Venetian painting from the 14th to the 18th centuries; the G. Franchetti Gallery also has important paintings, and the Guggenheim collection exhibits international 2006-06-22T08:54:33Z http://www.travelsignposts.com/Venice/media.php Media in Venice Il Gazzettino La Nuova Venezia  Travel Signposts 29/4-8 Kareela Road, Cremorne Point 2090, Australia tel:+61 (2) 9953 4425 fax:+61 (2) 9909 8534 This web site copyright 2006 Travel Signposts and ZambaGrafix Web site designed by ZambaGrafix 2006-06-22T08:54:33Z http://www.travelsignposts.com/Venice/flooding.php We've all heard about Venice flooding and seen the news shots of people wading through the waters in St Mark's Square. But actually Venice only has Acqua Alta (high water) in Autumn and Winter when some streets and squares 2006-06-22T08:54:32Z http://www.travelsignposts.com/Venice/city-maps.php Maps of Venice Historic City Centre and the Lagoon You'll certainly need a map to get around Venice when you're there - the one given out free by the Venice Tourist Authority is very useful - but it's also 2006-06-22T08:54:32Z http://www.travelsignposts.com/Venice/indexmap.php An ever-growing range of features, links and practical information to help you plan and enjoy your visit to Venice, including guides to hotel accommodation, restaurants, bars, tourist attractions, city neighbourhoods and getting about. There's a lot here already and 2006-06-22T08:52:28Z http://www.travelsignposts.com/Italy/food-in-Rome.php Food in Rome and Lazio Perhaps the most savoury of all Italian regional cuisines, and perhaps due to its central location, the food in Rome and the surrounding district of Lazio offers an incredible variety of dishes and ingredients. Classic 2006-05-29T01:58:18Z http://www.travelsignposts.com/Italy/when-to-travel-to-italy.php Italy's sun-filled summers are legendary, but autumns can be magic Italy doesn't have one but several climates: in the north it's cooler and wetter whereas in the Mezzogiorno, the bright, sun-soaked region of southern Italy, the weather can range from 2006-05-29T01:54:11Z http://www.travelsignposts.com/Italy/food-in-southern-italy.php Food in Naples and Campania; Abruzzo, Molise and Puglia; Basilicata and Calabria; Sicily and Sardinia The south of Italy, especially the far south, is a different country when compared to the north, and food in Southern Italy is similarly different. 2006-05-29T01:54:11Z http://www.travelsignposts.com/Italy/useful-facts-for-travel-to-italy.php Useful facts for travel to Italy, dates and links to plan a tour One important factor may be the festival calendar. Like Spain, Italy has a lot of festivals and saint's days etc. and you may wish to co-ordinate your 2006-05-29T01:54:11Z http://www.travelsignposts.com/Italy/tour-routes-in-italy.php Places in Italy you shouldn't miss, sample tour routes A comprehensive tour of Italy would take a long time, and if limited to the usually visited sights would omit many interesting experiences. However, here is my offering, and I'd say 2006-05-29T01:54:11Z http://www.travelsignposts.com/Italy/food-in-italy.php In Italy, food preparation is an art form, and the way it's eaten a crucial part of culture. "The main characteristic of Italian cooking," according to the Italian Tourist Board website, "is its healthy balance, the excellent basic ingredients being 2006-05-29T01:54:11Z http://www.travelsignposts.com/Italy/regional-specialities.php In Italy, food preparation is an art form, and the way it's eaten a crucial part of culture.   Food in Northeast Italy: Trentino-Alto Adige; the Veneto and Friuli. Food in Northwest Italy: Lombardy; Valle D'Aosta and Piedmont; Liguria. Food 2006-05-29T01:54:11Z http://www.travelsignposts.com/Italy/food-in-northwest-italy.php Food in Liguria; Valle D'Aosta and Piedmont; Lombardy It may be on the Italian side of the border, but the cuisine of Valle d'Aosta and Piedmont is strongly influenced by neighbouring France, as is much of the food of Northwest 2006-05-29T01:54:11Z http://www.travelsignposts.com/Italy/italy-travel.php Rome, Florence, Venice, Ferrari, Armani, Sophia Loren... need we say more? I love Italy. Travel in Italy should mean swanning round in a red Ferrari convertible between legendary hotels in legendary places like the Hotel Cipriani in Venice, the Hassler 2006-05-29T01:54:11Z http://www.travelsignposts.com/Italy/italian-weights-measures.php Italian Weights and Measures and their equivalents In general, weights & measures in Italy are metric, as in France. Kilometre 1000 metres Metre Decimetre 1/10 of a metre Centimetre 1/100 of a metre Millimetre 1/1000 of a metre Hectare 100 2006-05-29T01:54:11Z http://www.travelsignposts.com/Italy/food-in-northeast-italy.php Food in Trentino-Alto Adige; the Veneto and Friuli Food in Northeast Italy often comprises dishes rich with creamy and meaty sauces, and risotto and polenta are often eaten instead of pasta. Trentino-Alto Adige stretches from the Dolomite mountains in the 2006-05-29T01:54:11Z http://www.travelsignposts.com/Italy/food-in-central-italy.php Food in Emilia Romagna; Tuscany; Umbria; Le Marche Food in Central Italy may be the most familiar to tourists, but is nonetheless highly regarded by italians. Emilia-Romagna, the gastronomic heart of Italy, is the birthplace of balsamic vinegar (Modena), prosciutto 2006-05-29T01:54:11Z http://www.travelsignposts.com/Venice/venice-4-star-hotels.php Monaco and Grand Canal **** (San Marco) The hotel Monaco & Grand Canal, is housed in a charming building dating back to the 17th century situated in the centre of Venice, facing the Canal Grande, overlooking the Basilica della 2006-03-16T07:41:02Z