Gondoliers escort passengers along the Grand Canal in Venice on June 3, 2008. Tourism is rising in the Italian city, and so are prices. Still, there are ways to spend less and experience the beauty of the city laced together with hundreds of bridges.
Gondoliers escort passengers along the Grand Canal in Venice, Italy on June 4, 2008. For centuries, Venice has captivated travelers with an array of romantic images: cobblestone streets, gondola rides through glistening canals at sunset and quaint homes painted in vibrant hues of periwinkle and plum.
The Ponte dei Sospiri, or "Bridge of Sighs," connects an old prison to Doge's Palace - the seat of Venice's government for many centuries. According to legend, criminals travelled over the enclosed bridge on their way to prison. Before arriving at their cells, they would get one last look at Venice in all its beauty before heaving a breathtaking sigh.
It's not uncommon for Venetian visitors to let out their own sigh of pleasure - over the city's marvelous food and drink. A selection of gelato, the richly flavored Italian ice cream, is shown on sale in Venice, Italy on June 5, 2008.
No visit to venice is complete without a stop at Piazza San Marco (St. Mark's Square). In April 2008, officials passed an ordinance banning tourists and locals from feeding the pigeons that used to flock to the piazza by the thousands.