Graceful palaces and Gothic churches, High Renaissance art and high tides - the unique romance of Venice never fails to captivate the senses. Immerse yourself in its maze of alleyways and labyrinthine canals with Best of Venice, the book that puts the whole city in your pocket.

　　1.DISCOVER VENICE - hand-picked highlights and the best museum and gallery listings help make the most of your time in the lagoon city

　　2.DINE OUT - discerning reviews guide you to tasty local trattorias and refined canal-side restaurants

　　3.FIND THE HAUNTS - enjoy a perfect Bellini before an evening out with the help of our first-rate entertainment recommendations

　　4.STEER A COURSE - accessible fold-out maps and detailed walking tours make navigating Venice trouble free

　　5.ISLAND HOP - includes coverage of Burano, Torcello and Murano, as well as day trips to Padua, Vicenza and Verona

　　Venice

　　A city of northeast Italy on islets within a lagoon in the Gulf of Venice, a wide inlet of the northern Adriatic Sea. Founded in the 5th century A.D. by refugees fleeing the Lombard invaders who had gained control of the mainland, it became a major maritime power by the 13th century and spread its influence over northern Italy and the eastern Mediterranean by the 15th century. Its territories were gradually lost to the Turks, and in 1797 it passed to Austria. Venice was ceded to Italy in 1866. It is a tourist and commercial center known for its canals. Population: 271,000.