What has not been said, written, even shouted about Venice? Stereotypes about the Queen of the Adriatic, whether good or bad, cloud the minds of visitors even before they see her silhouette from the end of Ponte della Libertà–the only connection between Venice and the mainland.

Quotations from a thousand and one authors deafen the perceptions of visitors. Venice is music to Nietzsche’s ears; Venice is love, beating in Peggy Guggenheim’s breast; Venice is a dream in Abraham Yehoshua’s nights.