A Historic Italian City Rick Steves Calls 'Forever-Unique' Is Steeped In Romance & Charm

While Rome, London, Paris, and Istanbul may have a four-way tie as the best cities in Europe, to travel expert and television host Rick Steves there's one city that he says remains 'forever unique': Venice. Located on the northeastern coast of Italy, Venice sits atop millions of timbers driven into the middle of a vast lagoon in the Adriatic Sea. It's a city Steves has been visiting for over 30 years, and one that he believes has retained its romance and charm, despite the effects of modern life and globalization.

Tourism and imported goods have altered the economy of Venice to a degree. However, for the patient traveler, Venice offers a world of charms. "Venice still awes me with its ethereal beauty and lovely views — which can hit you from any direction (literally — always look both ways after crossing over a Venetian bridge). If you pause anywhere in Venice and simply observe, you'll witness the one-of-a-kind wonder of this forever-unique city on the lagoon," Steves writes.

Despite being mobbed with between 20 to 30 million tourists yearly, there are still ways to enjoy the quieter Venetian experiences that Steves prefers. While you should always aim to see some of the city's great sites or take a classic gondola ride, exploring Venice off-the-beaten-path is going to be well worth your while.

While ities across Italy boast their fair share of historic buildings and art, Venice might take the cake as the bucket list Italian destination for history buffs. During a PBS series on Venice, Steves explained that the majority of Venice's artistic and historic sites are within a 10-minute walk of the Rialto Bridge. Spanning the Grand Canal, which is the central artery of transportation in the city, the Rialto Bridge offers tremendous views of the canal, as well as some on-bridge shopping.

However, the best spot for history buffs in Venice is St. Mark's Square. Named for the city's patron saint, the Square was the center of trade during heyday Venetian Republic. Containing the equally iconic Doge's Palace, St. Mark's Basilica, and Campanile (Bell Tower) the Square offers endless opportunities to experience Venetian history. The Doge's Palace offers a glimpse into the empire Venice once controlled. It's a grandly designed space, with plenty of paintings, statuary, and an impressive arsenal of historic weapons.

The most important historic Venetian artifacts will be found in St. Mark's Basilica. The Four Horses of St. Mark are said to date back to the time of the Roman Empire, and came into Venetian possession after the conquest of Constantinople during the 13th century. These enormous, life-like brass statues are immensely powerful. Copies stud the facade of St. Marks, but you'll have to head inside to see the real ones.

Despite mobs of tourists flooding the city, Venice remains one of the most truly romantic cities in the world. As Steves writes: "Venice is two cities: one garishly touristy and the other so romantic and tranquil that it makes you go fortissimo in describing it." A trip up the famous Campanile di San Marco bell tower will provide a birds-eye view of the city and lagoon at their absolute best. 

Naturally, one of the most romantic things you can do in Venice is enjoy a gondola ride. While it might seem cliche, there really is no better way to experience the wonder of Venice than one of these unique boats. The high cost may deter some travelers, but anyone looking for a purely romantic Venice experience can't miss out.

A full gondola ride lasts about 35 minutes. The best time of day to get one is the evening. It's less busy, and you can experience a quieter atmosphere as the setting sun works its magic on the city. A five to 10 percent tip is customary for a high quality gondolier who makes your experience as enjoyable as possible. Snuggling up with your special someone, or just enjoying the romance of the city itself is best done from the seat of a gondola.

While it's by far the most popular and easily accessible part of the wider lagoon, you'd be doing yourself a disservice by restricting your journey solely to Venice itself. Several smaller islands dot the lagoon. Though tourists are discovering them more each year, the lagoon islands offer a less-crowded respite from the bustling city center. And no trip to the Venetian Lagoon would be complete without a visit to Murano.

Home of Venice's venerated glass-making industry thanks to a 13th-century law that forbid glassmaking in the main city, Murano is a colorful array of glass shops whose artistry will take your breath away. Steves writes: "Today, you can visit elaborate showrooms and witness the traditional mastery of this craft in adjoining workshops."

All of Venice's lagoon islands are accessible by water taxi, so heading out to the smaller island of Burano is well worth the effort. Burano is famous for its lace. Like its glass-making counterpart, the shops of Burano showcase lacemakers performing this painstakingly complex artistry. It can be busy during the day, but waiting out the crowds is actually one of the best top tier travel tips Steves has to offer.

A lot of your enjoyment of Venice will be about timing. "Even the most touristy stretches of the city are almost ghostly peaceful early and late. Maximize your evening magic, and avoid the midday crowds around St. Mark's Basilica and the Doge's Palace," says Steves. This same rule applies to the lagoon islands. If Burano seems too busy during the day, stick around until early evening to experience an utterly tranquil island with little additional tourists. It's an experience Steves says most travelers miss, but well worth the wait.

Timing comes to eating as well. While Venice has cultural meal time frames they work around, you can avoid long lines at restaurants or cafes in the bustling city center by eating at smaller, family-run places offering up authentic Venetian food at an affordable price. Cicchetti — Venice's version of tapas — is a great way to get more out of local cuisine for less. A series of small, fresh snacks accompanied by a good local wine, cicchetti is a great way to enhance your Venice eating experience.

Despite the changes that have come with mass tourism and globalization,Venice maintains its unique charm. Nowhere else in Europe can match the pulsating feelings of romantic energy that exude from the city's architecture. It's a great place to visit, and Steves believes it's one of the most worthwhile European travel experiences.