I went to Venice abou 3-20-2008. You have got to see it to believe it. Its an amazing place and an amazing story. It was about 38 degrees at night. No smells at all. Don't order water at the restaurant, they will charge you 5 euros for a bottle, and 2 pennies for a slice of a carrot at a restaurant on the water. Go to the restaurants in a couple of blocks, less touristy, eager to serve.

I'm not so into northern Italy. Venice is smelly. Very beautiful though, and individual in that it's man made.

Marvelous city with a great history that had an independent existence until Napoleon, in 1797, ended its independence as a republic.

One poem, a sonnet, that I have memorized is Wordsworth's "On the Extinction of the Venetian Republic."

The poet tells, in fourteen lines, the glorious history and then decay of this great republic.

"ONCE did She hold the gorgeous east in fee;

And was the safeguard of the west:the worth

Of Venice did not fall below her birth,

Venice, the eldest Child of Liberty.

She was a maiden City, bright and free;

No guile seduced, no force could violate;

And, when she took unto herself a Mate,

She must espouse the everlasting Sea.

And what if she had seen those glories fade,

Those titles vanish, and that strength decay;

Yet shall some tribute of regret be paid

When her long life hath reached its final day:

Men are we, and must grieve when even the Shade

Of that which once was great, is passed away."

Wordsworth uses the Italian Sonnet form here and that is suitable for the subject.

The poem rhymes in the form: abba, bccb, dedede.

In other words, the 1st and fourth lines rhyme. The second, third, fifth and eighth lines rhyme and so on.

We went to Venice for our honeymoon - and it was perfect! We were there the 3rd week of June. It was a bit hot - hotter than normal - low 90s F. But it was fun to stay in that city for a whole week - very un-normal so I've heard from many people. Because it was our honeymoon - and we're a little older (have a little more $$), we stayed the first 3 nights at the Gritti Palace and had a view of the Grand Canal. Fabulous place and fabulously expensive - antiques, chandeliers, great coffee, quiet A.C. the the next 4 nights we spent at San Moise; it was on a dead-end street on a smaller canal. LOVELY. We saw up to 7 gondolas at one time. We would open our tall Euro windows and let the drapes gently flow and just listen to the gondoliers singing. It was magical and gorgeous. I did not find the shopkeepers rude at all. And I was amazed at the low prices for the glass objects - yes I'm sure some of it was made in Taiwian hahaha, but we found beautiful little object d'art for all our family members. We bought a beautiful cobalt vase, a whimsical cobalt blue martini pitcher, and a very Venetian cranberry-colored hanging lamp for our lower deck (where we have summer parties). I actually didn't smell any bad odors like everyone is explaining; maybe that happens more in August after it's been hot for a couple months. We live in a big coffee town - Seattle - but the coffee setup is quite different in Venice - much more civilized actually - people actually sit down and enjoy sipping their coffee whereas we in Seattle fill up a big paper cup and hit the road. I would definitely go back to Venice for another visit yet there are so many other places we want to see. I would go when the temps are in the 70s F. and I would wear VERY comfortable shoes and walk and walk everywhere and see EVERYTHING. I highly recommend this city - and stay for the night - there are reasonable (if simple) places to spend the night. It is a very quiet city with low crime, so you won't have to worry about the usual types of things when looking for a place to lay your head.

Venice is the best

The whole city is beutiful but terribly polluted! I'm pretty sure that if you fall in the water, you'll probably die from all the garbage and sewege it must have in it. The whole romantic aspect of Venice is drowned out by the horrible smell!

Go in early fall, after the summer crowds have died down a bit, but before it gets too cold. And stay in venice! I think a lot of people with negative impressions only go there during the day. The best time to be there is at night- you basically have the place to yourself. Very romantic. The Hotel Danelli was great. Worth the extra $$$.

When I went to Italy, I guess I expected some scene from a romantic move where couples ride everywhere on gondolas. What I got was a little different. Some of the countryside is beautiful, don't get me wrong, but the cities are nasty. The water that floods Venice smells like sewage. There is a HUGE pigeon population and pigeon poop on every exterior surface. People bring their dogs into restaraunts with them. They do not respect civilized customs like queuing lines. I went into a shop to get a sandwich and people just cut in front of me like nothing. Catch the Basilica de San Marcos; It is absolutely amazing. But, watch out for pickpockets, we hat two in our group of fifty fall victim. Overall, parts were beautiful, but it was not my favorite destination at all.

I used to live here and guide tourists from Punta Sabbione by vaparetto down the Grand Canal and to the Rialto Bridge. I lost count of the gasps I heard at the sights to behold as we passed the Basilica....Venice as a city has no equal anywhere else. The smell is only noticeable really during the hot summer months and is caused by the growth of algae in the marshlands of this part of the Adriatic Coast.

The best European city.

Very dirty, smelly and run down. On the other hand one of the most exotic and romantic locations in the world - gondolas, canals: fantastic. Overall, no older or more steeped in history than many other places, and it smells awful, and is very touristy, yet an amazing place. Utterly unique. But the smell!

Hey i am italian...so who better than me knows about this city? It's beautiful, full of history...and incredibly unique... If you like old cities, with culture and strong customs...this place is full of traditions.. and the scenery is....lovely Visit Palazzo Ducale, Piazza San Marco, Il Ponte dei sospiri, La Basilica di San Marco, and the beautiful islands like Murano , Burano .....and discover the beauties

Venice is one of the most unique cities in the world. It is built on a string of low lying islands at the end of the Adriatic Sea. When you first enter the city, you wonder why the sea hasn't swept up the place. Venice is right at sea level, just a few steps above water. Start out with the sights in St. Marks Square like the Basilica with lots of interesting mosaics dating to the 13th Century I think and the Palace Ducale. After that, it should be your perogative to get lost in the city. Go as far away from the touristy areas as possible; that's where you find the real and far more interesting Venice, lots of nice buildings, narrow canals plus good and cheap restaurants. It's best to explore the city in the early morning before the hoards of tourists arrive at Midday. Go to the out islands like Murano or Burano for a get a better feel for the city. Just going to Venice and seeing St. Marks isn't enough, there are many sides to this large city which was once the capital of a vast Meditteranean Empire. It's one of the most expensive cities in the world, but it's definitely well worth it.

As many other reviewers have noted, Venice is a one-of-a-kind city. It can be smelly, especially during the summer. The Venetians are sort of rude and snooty, and prey on tourists. Prices in the tourist trap areas are outrageous (try the back streets or alleys for decent prices and good food). Don't bothger going during the winter; Venice is the coldest place I have ever been on a February night - hard to believe this is Sunny Italy on a night like that. All of that said, Venice remains unique and is one of the wonders of the world. Go on a warm day during the summer and just take in the sights and marvel at what merchants with money were able to do with it.

it was very dirty and smelly but ok looking

Venezia, an exotic & unique architecture. Fantastic!!!!!

Gawd it's filthy and very touristy but you have to love it. St. Mark's was great, even if it's 11 Euros for a slice of Tiramisu at a cafe there. I got lost in the streets and saw some great live music. I wish gondolier's would really sing like they used to: mine attempted to sing "I Got You (I Feel Good)" in Italian which was amusing, but there's nothing like a good barcarolle.

Definitely unlike anywhere else in the world. Make sure you've got a clear map if you're walking around, it's easy to get lost with all of the canals and dark alleys... but getting lost in Venizia isn't the worst thing in the world. There's always a neat little shop or a restaurant around the corner. Go to San Marco Square in the morning before anyone else is around to appreciate the true beauty of the most heavily touristed area in the city. Gondola rides are overrated and overpriced.

Nothing could have prepared me for the beauty of Venice. I arrived in the city at dusk, in the mist, and it looked like something out of another time. I spent three days there sightseeing, touring the canals, visiting museums, shopping, and wandering the streets. St. Mark's Basilica and the Palazzo Ducale were magnificent, and I really enjoyed a couple of hours at an outdoor cafe (Caffe Florian) in St. Mark's Square. One day I went to Murano, the island famous for glassblowing, which was a lot of fun, and I spent quite a bit of time at the Rialto market. The best part of Venice, though, was just walking around and marveling at the incredibly beautiful old buildings and breathtaking views at every turn. I loved watching and hearing the gondoliers as they made their way through the canals, especially at night. Venice is an extremely romantic city, no doubt. On a more practical note, Venice is pretty expensive across the board. You also need to be prepared to carry your luggage on your own for long distances (there are no cars in Venice) or be willing to pay for a water taxi. I was fortunate to be in Venice when it was dry and smelled fine, but I know that it can flood and be pretty stinky. Despite these drawbacks, Venice is definitely worth visiting. I've never seen a more attractive city.

Venice is beautiful and mystical. It is a place to visit with a spouse or lover. I found that 75% of the Venetians are rude and obnoxious to the American tourist. It would seem that the prerequisite for employment in Venice is rudeness.

Without a doubt, Venice is the most unique, fascinating and romantic city in the world. It is also a safe, easily walkable place with friendly residents willing to help with directions.

Absolutely stunning. Yes the water smells during the summer, and there are a lot of tourists, and the city is a little run down, but Venice remains one of the most beautiful man made creations on the planet. It's architecture blends beautifully into its canals, and vice versa. It's piazzas are gorgeous - you have not experienced a romantic moment until you sit in Piazza San Marco, have a cup of coffee or a glass of wine, and listen to the sounds of classical music wafting up into the night.

When I stepped out of the train station, my first reaction was WOW. Venice is a truly magical city and different from anywhere else in the world. People had told me that it smelled and was dirty, but I didn't find that at all (and I was there in the middle of the summer). The water taxis make getting around easy, but the best way to get around Venice is to walk. Just follow all of the different winding paths and see where they take you. If you are looking for a side trip, check out Murano, a local village where glass-blowing is king.

So unique and beautiful!! No cars makes wandering around Venice even more enjoyable. It's almost ethereal floating along the canals at night. Bellissimo!

My expectations were pretty high when I visited Venice, so high it would have been very difficult for the city to live up to them. Also, I was there with a college friend instead of a girlfriend, so it may not have been the ideal situation. But I spent three days there, and wished I'd left after two. Tourists everywhere, expensive food, expensive hotels, and some not-so-great smells floating around. Still, the city is beautiful and unique, and I really enjoyed walking around some of the thin corridors through the residential parts of the city.