In this guide, John Freely brings Venice to life in a series of walks over mysterious bridges, through labyrinthine streets and into strange, almost inaccessible squares. Along with a topographical account of the lagoon, a summary history, visits to the islands, detailed descriptions of the Piazza San Marco, Basilica and Ducal Palace, he visits around 300 palazzi and all the city's 115 churches and 33 museums, as well as listing a wide range of hotels and restaurants and itineraries of the Vaporetto lines. He takes readers on a church-by-church and palazzo-by-palazzo boat tour of the Grand Canal to show us the buildings once linked with Byron and Browning, Monet and Maugham, Vivaldi and Wagner. And he includes full lists of doges, artists and architects, and opening hours.