"The Gondolier" - Tracey Capone Photography

Taken along the back canals of Venice, the photo of the day, “The Gondolier” captures so many of my favorite aspects of Venice: the wonderful, colorful architecture, the beautiful gondolas, the quaint bridges allowing access to each of the tiny little side streets and, of course, the gondolier himself.

If you travel to Venice, the best recommendation I can give you is get off the beaten path. Yes, you can stay along the main canal and see the main attractions like the Piazza San Marco or take a 75 Euro gondola ride along the banks of the Grand Canal, and everything else the travel guides tell you to do. However, if you want to see the true Venice:  the authentic cafes and ristorantes, the adorable shops selling beautiful, authentic Venetian glass, the amazing architecture famous to the city, then take a left (well, or a right, depending on which way you’re coming from) away from the Grand Canal and explore the back passages. You never know what you’re going to come across.