Venice Biennale
S. Croce, 2214
Tel. +39.041.5218711
www.labiennale.org
The Venice Biennale has for over a century been one of the most prestigious cultural institutions in the world. Ever since its foundation in 1895, it has been in the avant-garde, promoting new artistic trends and organising international events in the contemporary arts in accordance with a multi-disciplinary model which characterises its unique nature.

Museo del '700 Veneziano
Ca' Rezzonico
San Barnaba boat stop
Tel. +9 (0) 41.520.40.36 or +9 (0) 41.241.01.00
This is one of the most important museums in Venice. After a very long and expensive restoration, the results are superlative: the frescoes, rooms and grand staircases were reinstated to full 18th-century splendor, making the place even more beautiful to look at. The palace, taking its name from the Rezzonico family, was built in 1649 by Baldassarre Longhena and completed in 1750 by Giorgio Massari. Its character as a splendid aristocratic 18th-century home was later revived by the Venice Municipality with valuable collections of furniture, hangings, sculpture and paintings from the Correr Museum. Ca' Rezzonico hosts many period tapestries, lacquer work and armchairs as well as many works by Canaletto, Rosalba Carriera, Giambattista Tiepolo and Francesco Guardi.

Palazzo Grassi
Campo San Samuele
Tel. +9 (0) 41.523.1680
www.palazzograssi.it
French billionaire Francois Pinault restored this 18th century palace to display his vast and impressive modern and contemporary art collection.  As Pinault was a bit boisterous, this nearly priceless collection was, to some degree, just speculation and hearsay amongst the people, until it was confirmed.  Now the collection is one of the art world’s most spectacular.  Works include Andy Warhol, Gerhard Richter and Damian Hirst, as well as a major Picasso exhibit through March 11th.

Palazzo Mocenigo
San Stae, 1992
Tel. +9 (0) 41.72.1798
This stunning edifice was once the 18th century residence of the Mocenigo family, the famed family of the Serenissima, who gave seven doges to the Republic. In 1954, Count Alvise Nicolo Mocenigo bequeathed the house and all its treasures and artworks to the city. It is a perfectly preserved example of a gracious and eloquent way of life. The house also features a gorgeous textile and costume museum.

Scuola Grande di San Rocco
Campo S. Rocco
Tel. +9 (0) 41.523.4864
The Scuola Grande houses more than 50 paintings by Tintoretto, who spent nearly 24 years of his life decorating the school. Its patron Saint Roch was born in 1295 and at the age of 20 began helping plague victims in Italy and southern France. His body was brought to Venice in 1485 and the Scuola di San Rocco acquired the title of Scuola Grande in 1489. A new building was begun in 1515 and was completed in 1549.  In 1564, the Scuola held a competition to decide who should paint the inaugural picture for the recently completed structure. The winner was Tintoretto and the interior of the Scuola Grande di San Rocco impressed Ruskin so much that he included it with the Cappella Sistina in Rome and the Campo Santo in Pisa as “one of the three most precious buildings in Italy.”  If you are a lover of beautiful things, don’t miss Scuola Grande di San Rocco.

Do Forni
San Marco 468-30122 Venezia
Tel. + 9 (0) 41.523.2148
www.doforni.it
In addition to feeding names like Scorsese and Newman, Do Forni’s unusual decor will make you feel like you’re feasting in a dining car on a train from Venice to Istanbul.  Giving the restaurant an air of importance and mystery, the interior decoration also features extravagant brick fireplaces and a quaint garden.  Then, there is the food.  The Chateaubriand is astonishing, as is the lengthy menu, offering over 8 soup choices and a continuous list of pastas, meat dishes and salads.  An indispensable part of Venetian dining, you will fall head over heels for Do Forni.

Osteria da Fiore
Calle del Scaleter, 2202
Tel. +9 (0) 41.72.1308
www.dafiore.net
Tucked away on a little calle off the top of Campo San Polo, Da Fiore is a favorite among posh diners for its superbly prepared Venetian cuisine and polished, yet relaxed atmosphere. The superlative seafood menu here includes delicate hors d'oeuvres of moeche, scallops, and tiny octopus, a succulent risotto and a turbot or tuna steak seared to perfection. It is considered the best seafood restaurant in Venice for a reason.

La Piscina
Dorsoduro 782
Tel. +9 (0) 41.241.3889
www.lacalcina.com
This adorable open-air barge restaurant is moored permanently in the Giudecca Canal. The interior walls are lined with Murano sconces, tangled bouquets of glass and bare bulbs swaying from the ceiling. Servers glide between tables, bearing baskets of bread and bottles of wine. Feast on salads, homemade sauces, grilled radicchio and fish roasted in salt with complementary wines of all kinds.

Poste Vecie
Rialto, Pescheria
Tel. +9 (0) 41.721.822
www.postevecie.com
In the 1500’s, there was a tavern in this location, and the interiors echo this atmosphere of yore.  Large fireplaces are regularly lit in winter, detailed frescoes decorate the walls and the rooms are romantic and tastefully furnished here.  Serving only homemade pasta and fish fresh off the boat, Poste Vecie will have your senses all a flutter.  Try the fritto de moecche (fried tiny crabs) or the real Venetian fegato alla Veneziana.  House wines are Italian white Tokay and red Merlot, not to mention a remarkable wine list. In spring and summer, you can eat beneath the trees in the garden.

Naranzaria
San Polo, 130
Tel. +39 (0) 41.724.1035
www.naranzaria.it
Naranzaria aims to make Venice the meeting ground for flavors and cultures.  They succeed brilliantly with their daytime sushi menu and heartier dinner menu including dishes like polenta with minced duck.

Antiche Carampane
San Polo, 1911
Tel. +39 (0) 41.524.0165
www.antichecarampane.com
The waiters at this romantic eatery would rather read the menu to you than hand it over.  If their melodic culinary suggestions leave you indecisive, order the antipasti della casa, a large portion of fresh seafood served cooked or crudo. 

Osteria di Santa Marina
Campo Santa Marina 5911 (Castello)
Tel. +39 (0) 41.528.5239
www.osteriadisantamarina.it
Exceptional fish restaurant that has been around for years and not just for tourists.  We suspect the reason being is that the prices are relatively reasonable and the food consistently good.   

Lineadombra
Ponte dell'Umilta, Dorsoduro, 19
Tel. +39 (0) 41.523.0034
Lineadombra's perfectly modern design will have you forgetting you are in one of the oldest cities in Italy.  Though closed in the winter, if the weather is nice when you go, request to sit outside on the deck overlooking the canal and snack on the mille-feuille of scampi with onions and green apples. 

Barovier & Toso
Fondamenta Vetrai, 28
Murano
Tel. +9 (0) 41.73.9049
www.barovier.com
This famous store is 600 years old and still run by a member of the Barovier family. Among the beautiful creations are dazzling Venetian chandeliers, vases and glassware by Italian designers.  You can find pieces from all time periods and to match countless decors.  Barovier & Toso is a headquarters, showroom and museum rolled into one.  Perfect.

Il Pavone di Pelosin Fabio
Fondamenta Venter
De Leoni 72
Tel. +9 (0) 41.523.4517
Located behind the Guggenheim museum, this shop carries traditional block-printed Venetian papers and fabrics in a variety of items including bags, books, ties and potholders.

La Mercerie
In proximity to Calle dei baloni
A widely known shopping area in Venice, the Mercerie is a collection of small streets, lined with shops and linking St. Mark’s Square and Rialto.  Browse for hand-made leather handbags, scour racks of designer duds or pick out delicate, one-of-a-kind Murano glass pieces to bring home.  If you can dream it, you can find it here where everything is for sale.

Venice is famous for its Carnevale and is home to two old-fashioned mask-makers. Don’t settle for the regular tourist fare, take home at least one of Venice’s most famous souvenirs made by either of these pros:

Tragicomica
Calle dei Nomboli
San Polo, 2800
Tel. +9 (0) 41.721.102
Gualtiero Dall’Osto is the master mask-maker at Tragicomica.  Here you can watch all kinds of masks evolve from mere ideas to actual costumes. Each takes several hours to make and is then decorated with gold leaf, tempera, watercolor or oil. In the 18th century, people often wore masks year round.

Mondonovo Maschere
Rio Terrá Canal
Dorsoduro 3063
Tel. +9 (0) 41.287.344
Owner Guerrino Lovato was commissioned to make nearly 80 masks for the Stanley Kubrick film “Eyes Wide Shut.” In addition to choosing from a wonderful selection of masks, you can learn some interesting facts about the rituals and traditions of the mask. Here’s one: during the plague, people stuffed the beak-shaped nose of popular masks with medicinal herbs to avoid sickness.

http://www.museiciviciveneziani.it/
This site is extremely helpful when it comes to museum information including rates, ticket sales and hours.

US Department of State
Bureau of Consular Affairs
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1146.html
The United States government site offering information about current affairs in Italy or otherwise useful information to know before you go. 

Access Italy
Exclusive tours of Italy, including Rome, Venice, Florence, Tuscany, Amalfi, the Vatican and more.  
http://www.AccessItaly.net

Ultimate Italy
www.ultimateitaly.com
A site filled with facts, information, places to see and just about every event you could possibly want to know about.  When planning your vacation and activities, take a minute to peruse this site.

Bacaro Jazz
San Marco 5546
Salizada del Fontego dei Tedeschi
Tel. +9 (0) 41.528.5249
www.bacarojazz.com
One of the few bars offering late night live jazz, Bacaro Jazz features a comfortable, friendly atmosphere with great food, drinks and people.

Al Paradiso Perduto
Fondamenta de la Misericordia, Cannaregio 2540
Tel. +9 (0) 41.720.581
This noisy and chic osteria near the Ca’d’Oro is a popular evening haunt for Venice’s students and young professionals. Open as late as 2 am, Paradiso is legendary for its raucous nights and eclectic music, but new owners Paolo Ellero and Elisabetta Zane have given it a bit of a kick. Diners can now watch live bands, while diving into large pasta dishes and surveying Venice’s young and beautiful.

Martini Scala
San Marco 1980 (to the left of La Fenice Opera House)
Tel. +9 (0) 41.522.4121 or +9 (0) 41.523.7027
www.anticomartini.com/pianobar.htm
Open since 1927, this piano bar is housed in the oldest building in the Italian nightlife scene. Top musicians and singers perform jazz and easy listening selections into the wee hours and a full dinner menu is served until 2:00 am. St. Mark’s Square is a hop, skip and a jump away, ensuring your night on the town will be an all night adventure.

Chiesa di Vivaldi
Tel. +9 (0) 41.917.257
www.vivaldi.it
Chiesa di Vivaldi is not only a beautiful church—it also serves as a venue for classical music, most notably, Vivaldi.  Here you will find the highest quality ensembles in classical music, including Le Quattro Staggioni (The Four Seasons) and many baroque-style masterpieces.  For a night at the theater, there is no better venue.