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View of the Grand Canal from Ponto dell'Accademia in Venice, Italy

Venice, Italy, is one of those places that I could simply wander around for days with no intended destination and be completely happy. The Grand Canal is the backbone of this interesting and historical city, and each afternoon that we were there, my wife and I wandered down to an empty jetty to watch life go by on the canal. I took this photo from Ponto dell’Accademia while taking a walk from San Marco to the Dorsoduro district on the other side of the Grand Canal.

The Ponto dell’Accademia is one of only four bridges that cross the Grand Canal in Venice, and it leads straight across to the Accademia Galleries. Dorsoduro is also an interesting and much more quieter area to explore, and you can get excellent views of Piazza San Marco from this side of the canal.