From Popes to painters, paramours and poets to political puerility and potentates, Italy has it all. Its dreamy light and sumptuous landscapes seem made for romance, with attractions including Roman ruins, Renaissance art, tiny medieval hill towns, skiing in the Alps and the canals of Venice.

Venezia, La Serenissima, Queen of the Adriatic, city of canals and palaces. Venice's nature is dual: water and land, a long history, airy delicacy and dim melancholy. If this precious place does sink, the world will be the poorer. For a thousand years the city was one of the most enduring mercantile sea powers on the face of the earth. Today the brilliance and influence have long since faded, leaving a town of tarnished glories, out of time and out of place, so achingly beautiful it's hard not to look for the back of the set.

The romance that is Venice will last even beyond a time when man begins to wonder at its existence. Venice is built on the water in a lagoon. It's small, traffic-free streets along the winding canals make for great walking. It actually consists of 117 bodies of land connected by more than 400 bridges over its 150 canals. Venice has many magnificent churches and palaces, lively squares, and interesting shops.

Seafood is a big part of Venetian cuisine as are polenta and rice. Seppia, cuttlefish, is popular and risotto nero is a rice dish coloured with its ink. Try zuppa di pesce fish soup here, too. Radicchio trevisano, red chicory, comes from nearby Treviso. Cicchetti, little appetizers, are found in the bars in Venice and are often eaten before lunch (similar to Spanish tapas). Venetian glass, especially from the island of Murano, is a specialty. Carnevale masks make great gifts or souvenirs. Venice is also known for its marbled paper and you might find some good lace here, too. You will also see many nice watercolours of Venetian scenes.

One of the best things to do in Venice is to take some time wandering along the canals off the main tourist track. Venice has many fine attractions and museums. Here are some of the top things to see in Venice:

• San Marco Square - Piazza San Marco is the main square of Venice surrounded by chic sidewalk cafes and fancy shops. While it's a great place to enjoy the scenery and people, you will definitely pay top price to sit at an outdoor table. In the evening, you can listen to live music, too. Walking in the piazza and taking photos is, of course, free.
• Saint Mark's Basilica - Basilica di San Marco is a beautiful church blending the architecture of East and West. It was consecrated in 832 AD.
• Doge's Palace - Palazzo Ducale, also on St. Mark's Square, is the most impressive building in Venice and well worth a tour. It was the political and judicial hub of Venetian government until the fall of the Venetian Republic in 1797. The famous “Bridge of Sighs” connected the palace to its prisons.
• Grand Canal - Canal Grande is the main thoroughfare of Venice. It's full of all kinds of boats and lined with beautiful buildings.
• Rialto Bridge (Ponte di Rialto), the main bridge crossing the Grand Canal in the heart of Venice, is over 400 years old. Nearby is the Rialto Market, an interesting and lively food market with lots of little shops.
• Galleria del'Accademia is one of Italy's best art museums with 24 rooms in 3 historic buildings. Get there early to avoid the crowds.