Valentine's Day  Happy Valentine's Day(2008)
From 101lifeStyle.com Valentine's Day Romantic Destinations: Valentine's Day Romantic Cities:  2.Venice - A Romantic Destination: Venice is a city in northern Italy, the capital of region Veneto. Venice has been known as the "Queen of the Adriatic", "City of Water", "City of Bridges", and "The City of Light". The city stretches across 117 small islands in the marshy Venetian Lagoon along the Adriatic Sea in northeast Italy. The saltwater lagoon stretches along the shoreline between the mouths of the Po (south) and the Piave (north) Rivers. Things To Do / See: Venice is one of the world's most romantic cities and a great choice for a romantic honeymoon or a place to propose. The best thing to do here is take a stroll along some of the many romantic canals and waterways. You'll instantly fall in love with this fascinating place.  A.Take A Romantic Gondola Ride On The Grand Canal:
The Grand Canal, Venice's main thoroughfare is lined with spectacular buildings and all kinds of boats. It's an idyllic location and a great place to go riding a gondola. The best time to go on a romantic gondola ride is in the evening when traffic on the water slows down. It also provides a romantic atmosphere as you cruise by the many sights in Venice. You can usually book a gondola ride through your hotel, but if not, many gondoliers stand near bridges offering gondola rides in St. Mark's Square during the evening hours. The banks of the Grand Canal are lined with some of the most beautiful buildings of the city, amongst the many palazzos are the Ca' Rezzonico, Ca d'Oro, Ca' Foscari, Palazzo Barbarigo and the Palazzo Venier dei Leoni, housing the Peggy Guggenheim Collection. The churches along the canal include Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute and Il Redentore. You can relish the place by taking a ferry ride across the canal by standing-up on the deck of a simple gondola called traghetto.
 B.The Piazza San Marco:
Also known as St Mark's Square, The Piazza San Marco is Venice's main square and is located right in the heart of the city. The square itself is truly stunning; packed with stylish sidewalk cafes and designer shops; it's also a great place to enjoy the scenery and people. In the evenings, you can listen to live music performances too. During peak season you'll pay top prices for a meal in the square, but walking, chatting and taking photos in the piazza is, of course, free. Some of the major attraction of the place includes the Doge's Palace, St Mark's Basilica, St Mark's Clocktower, the Procuratie Vecchie, the Napoleonic Wing of the Procuraties, the Procuratie Nuove, St Mark's Campanile and Logetta and the Biblioteca Marciana. You can find some of the finest cafes including the Caffè Florian and Gran Caffè Quadri.  C.Romantic Dinner:
Romantic Dinner in Venice at a good Venetian Restaurant in St. Mark's Square serving delicious Neapolitan cuisine. Enjoy their colorful plates, table decor and open-air seating the romantic atmosphere with blue oil lamps lit at the tables. There are many restaurants and cafes within walking distance of The Rialto Bridge, why not give your feet a rest and enjoy a romantic lunch or dinner, all while watching the many boats travel up and down the Grand Canal  D.The Rialto Bridge / The Bridge Of Sighs:
You can really spend some romantic moments at Ponte di Rialto. Ponte di Rialto, also known as the Rialto Bridge, is a bridge spanning the Grand Canal in Venice. The bridge has become one of Venice's most recognizable icons and has a history that spans over 800 years. It is one of the most romantic locations of Italy. It is the oldest bridge across the canal and probably the most famous in the city.
Ponte dei Sospiri, the Bridge of Sighs, is another nice pick if you want to spend some live with your love. Built in the 16th century, the enclosed bridge is made of white limestone and has windows with stone bars. It passes over the Rio di Palazzo and connects the old prisons to the interrogation rooms in the Doge's Palace.  E.Venetian Churches:
Venetian Churches also have lots of romantic airs around them. These magnificent edifices symbolize deep platonic love. Some of the beautiful churches of Venice include Saint Mark's Basilica (Basilica di San Marco), San Giovanni e Paolo (San Zanipolo in Venetian dialect), Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari, and Santa Maria dei Miracoli.  F.Venice Museums:
Besides, there are a number of museums in Venice. Some of the fine museums of Venice include Ca' Pesaro, Ca' Rezzonico, Clock tower (Torre dell'Orologio), Doge's Palace (Palazzo Ducale), Galleria dell'Accademia di Venezia, Galleria Giorgio Franchetti alla Ca' d'Oro, Glass Museum (Museo del Vetro), and Goldoni's House (Casa Goldoni). How To Get To Venice: Venice's historic center is 3 km or 2 miles off the coast of Northern Italy. The city is built on more than 100 islands in the Venetian Lagoon, and it's linked to the mainland by a rail and road causeway named the Ponte della Libertá ("Bridge of Liberty"). You'll cross this bridge if you arrive by train, bus, car, or land taxi; another option is to come from the airport or a mainland parking lot by public water bus or water taxi.  1.By Air:
A.Marco Polo Airport: Alitalia, KLM, and other major airlines fly into Marco Polo Airport, also known as Venice International Airport (airport code: VCE), which is 6 km or 4 miles from the city on the Venetian lagoon.
B.Treviso Airport: Ryanair and Transavia (formerly Basiq-air) use Treviso Airport, which is about 30 km or 19 miles from Venice.  2.By Train:
A.Venice Santa Lucia Station - Many domestic and international trains discharge passengers at the Stazione Ferroviaria Santa Lucia, an incongruously modern but efficient railway station in the historic center, next to the causeway that leads to the mainland.
B.Venice Mestre Station - Not all trains come into the historic center: Some through trains merely stop at Venice Mestre, a suburb on the mainland, on their way to points north and south.
 3.By Car:
Chances are, you'll be approaching Venice on the A4 Autostrada from the north or south. (If you're driving in on the A27 from Trieste, you'll merge with the A4 a few kilometers north of Mestre.)Consult parking rules if using a car.
 4.By Ship:
Most cruise ships arrive at either the Marittima terminal buildings (see photo above) or the secondary San Basilio pier (inset photo), which caters mostly to smaller cruise ships and river vessels. From either pier, you can take a land taxi to the Piazzale Roma (with its vaporetto ticket office and boat landings) or to the airport. Occasionally, river boats and other very small ships will moor on the Riva or waterfront promenade next to Venice's public gardens above the Piazza San Marco.
Venice Hotels:  A.Concordia Hotel: This is the only hotel in Venice that provides rooms that enjoy views of St. Mark's Church and the square. The hotel staff is pleasant, helpful, and very friendly, and you may be greeting with fresh Italian pastries upon your arrival. 18th century Venice decor awaits you in every room. Enjoy a early morning romantic breakfast for two on the first floor overlooking Piazza San Marco, or come back in the evening to have a candlelit dinner at Restaurant la Piazzetta. The Concordia Hotel in Venice is just steps away from shops, restaurants and museums. During the warmer months, live music plays in Piazza San Marco.
B.Ca Sagredo Hotel: With its lavish decor, excellent location and rich history, Ca Sagredo is an ideal romantic holiday choice. Overlooking the Grand Canal, this hotel offers spectacular views and unrivalled service - treating each guest like a Venetian noble of the 18th century. Due to its central location, Ca Sagredo makes a superb base in which to explore the wonders of Venice. Nearby, visitors can enjoy the Ca'd'Oro - a stunning Venetian palazzo with a beautiful facade overlooking the Grand Canal or the Rialto Bridge, which is said to be the most famous bridge in Venice.
San Mark's Square is a short walk from the hotel and has been the centre of Venetian social life for many years... The Ca Sagredo Hotel is located approximately 20 minutes away by water taxi from Marco Polo airport.
C.Hotel Gritti Palace: Enjoy the Romantic Venice package, available from Sunday to Thursday. This comprises accommodation in the honeymoon room for two nights, buffet breakfast, champagne and fruit basket upon arrival, one candlelit dinner in the hotel’s Club del Doge restaurant and a Venetian gift as a souvenir of your wonderful stay. Learn how to prepare a delicious dinner for your loved one by joining one of the renowed cooking courses organised by the hotel. Available in February, March and November, this course includes accommodation in a double room for three nights, daily breakfast, cooking course for three days and other discounts.During the warmer months, guests can dine out on the splendid terrace, which faces the church of Santa Maria della Salute and offers a breathtaking glimpse of St Mark’s Basin. Directly overlooking the Grand Canal with stunning views over the water, the Hotel Gritti Palace was originally built in 1525 as the residence of the Doge of Venice, Andrea Gritti.
D.Dei Dogi, A Boscolo Luxury Hotel: The canalside Dei Dogi, A Boscolo Luxury Hotel is in Venice, Italy, in the northern Cannareggio quarter. It is 500 metres from the Rialto Bridge and Jewish Ghetto, and one kilometre from St Mark's Square and the Bridge of Sighs. Two six-foot-tall Murano-glass chandeliers and stained-glass doors decorate the high-ceilinged, marble-floored lobby. A gallery overlooks the lagoon. Tuscan-red walls and bare beams decorate the Giardino di Luca Restaurant. International and Venetian dishes are served at tables decorated with silver plates and Murano-glass candleholders. Guests can enjoy alfresco dining on the terrace all day, weather permitting. The romantic 18th century French atmosphere induces one to enjoy the luxury.
E.Bauer Il Palazzo: An intimate boutique hotel within the heart of Venice, Bauer Il Palazzo is a truly authentic, Venetian-style palazzo overlooking Venice's Grand Canal. More like a sophisticated home than a hotel, it is both elegant and luxurious. Bauer Il Palazzo, with its stunning Gothic facade, reflects Venetian opulence at its best, with lavish decor and furnishings designed for the ultimate in comfort for visitors to Venice.
Benefiting from the most spectacular vantage point in Venice, Bauer Il Palazzo is conveniently located just steps from St Mark's Square, and is close to Venice's finest shops, museums and sights. With its own private boat dock on the Grand Canal, guests arriving at Bauer Il Palazzo are greeted by the hotel's sumptuous lobby, decorated in wood panelling and antique veneered Venetian panels, a lasting impression that is reflected in the unique decor and attention to detail in each of the hotel's guest rooms and suites. This hotel has become a serious option for the discreet rich. Its decor is restrained, but its quiet sense of antique style grows on one after the ubiquitous Venetian gilt-and-brocade experience. Cocooning couples should opt for room number 846, a bright, mansard room with views over the rooftops on two sides. Experience the real Venice in the most elegant, romantic, private Venetian palazzo at Bauer Il Palazzo.
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