Piazza San Marco is the heart of Venice, a fitting space from which to admire the great Basilica and Doge's Palace.  Napoleon called it the 'most elegant drawing room in Europe' and on a balmy summer's night when the cafe orchestras are playing and the swirling daytime crowds have dwindled, his description is still apt.

On one side of the Piazza is the Lagoon; on the other, narrow streets full of shops, both for tourists and locals, fan out over the network of canals.  In this district you will also find the opera house, Teatro La Fenice - or what's left of it - the spacious Campo Santo Stefano and the charming Bovolo staircase, tucked away in a quiet corner.  You will also find the greatest concentration of charming small hotels.