The city of Venice, Italy, is simply stunning and completely unique. Founded more than 1,500 years ago on 117 different islands, Venice is linked by a series of over 150 canals, 400 bridges and many ancient pavements. The historic city centre of Venice is divided into six quarters (sestieri) - Cannaregio, Castello, Dorsoduro, San Marco, San Polo and Santa Croce. All buildings in Venice are supported on slender oak and pine piles (posts) which are driven deep into the ground to create a solid foundation. As the soil is waterlogged, with no free oxygen, the piles remain strong and do not decay.

         Venice is without doubt one of the most beautiful and popular cities in the world, and is always admired by the many tourists that visit throughout the year. There are several tourist information branches operated by the Azienda di Promozione Turistica, located on the Piazza San Marco, the Piazzale Roma, the Gran Viale Santa Maria Elisabetta, the Lungomare Adriatico, the Venice Pavilion and the Stazione di Santa Lucia. A further tourism outlet is conveniently situated in the arrivals hall at the Marco Polo Airport. If you have time for day trips, there are also many interesting towns to explore, such as Burano, Murano, Padua, Torcello, Verona and Vicenza.

        There is no question that Venice is an expensive city, particularly when it comes to accommodation, even during the low season (November, early December and also January). In recent years, many new hotels have opened and improved availability, although hotel rooms and Venice apartments with views of the Grand Canal are always in demand, and never more so than on Valentine's Day, when romance arrives in the city. Many of the best hotels stand around the San Marco area, with an increasing number of cheap options residing near to the train station. Accommodation is also in good supply around the districts of Cannaregio, Castello, Dorsoduro, Santa Croce and San Polo, and on the island of Giudecca, within the Venetian Lagoon.

       There are numerous famous Venice attractions and sights to see. Highlights include the Basilica San Marco (St. Mark's Basilica) - a vast church which is one of the most famous sights associated with this city; the Piazza San Marco (San Marco Square) - situated in the heart of Venice and affectionately referred to by Napoleon as the 'finest drawing room in Europe'; the Palazzo Ducale (Doge's Palace) - a simply breathtaking waterfront palace and a superb example of Gothic architecture; and the Accademia Gallery - with wonderful masterpieces from the 14th century to the 18th century by world-famous artists, such as Bellini, Giorgione, Rosalba Carriera, Longhi, Picasso, Tintoretto, Titian, Tiziano, Veronese and many others.

       With a large number of art galleries in Venice, art lovers can enjoy displays of spectacular paintings and sculptures by well-known artists. Museums are also plentiful in Venice, housing many important Italian masterpieces, painted by acclaimed Ventian artists such as Giorgione, Rosalba Carriera, Pietro Longhi, Tintoretto, Titian and Paolo Veronese. More information about Venice Tourist Attractions.

        For lovers of fine cuisine, Venice offers a wide selection of excellent restaurants serving delicious Italian food, as well as a choice of international cuisine. Pasta and pizza has never tasted more authentic than when eaten on the Piazza San Marco, in the shadows of the Basilica San Marco and the Palazzo Ducale.

          The Grand Canal in Venice, Italy, is a long stretch of water running right through the city and is often referred to as 'the most beautiful street in the whole of Venice'. The first bridge ever built over the canal was the Rialto Bridge, which has since become one of the main symbols associated with this iconic Italian city. Travelling along this canal and the many others is a great way to see the city, and there are numerous different modes of travel available. Public transport consists mainly of water-buses (vaporetti) and there are also water-taxis (motoscafi), which are faster, more modern motorboats. Of course, who could think of Venice without picturing the well-known and much loved Italian gondolas. What could be more romantic than a nighttime, moonlit trip along a Venetian canal? The atmosphere and reflections are quite unforgettable.

Chittorgarh is in the southern part of Rajasthan, lies on the Berach River, a tributary of the Banas, and is the administrative headquarters of Chittorgharh District. It is 112 km from Udaipur and 182 km from Ajmer served as a capital city to the Sisodia clans of Rajputs of Mewar for a long time. The district is a famous tourist destination for its massive fortress claimed to be the largest amoung all the Rajput fort and has witnessed the legendary tale of Queen Padmini's act of jauhar that fascinates most historians and travellers. 

History

        Historically, the Chittorgarh fort was built by the Maurayans in 7th century A.D. Some accounts say that the Mori dynasty was in possession of the fort when Bappa Rawal the founder of the kingdom of Mewar seized Chittorgarh (Chittor fort) and made it his capital in 734 AD. While some other accounts say Bappa Rawal received it as a part of the dowry after marriage with the last Solanki princess.

The first attack was by Alauddin Khilji in 1303 A.D., who was enamoured by the beauty of Padmini of which he had only heard. Rani Padmini preferred death to abduction and dishonour and committed jauhar (an act of self immolation by leaping into a large fire) along with all the other ladies of the fort. All the men left the fort in saffron robes to fight the enemy unto death. Chittorgarh was captured in 1303 A.D. by Alauddin Khilji, Sultan of Delhi who led a huge army. Elderly people then had the responsibility to raise the children. It was recaptured in 1326 A.D. by the young Hammir Singh, a scion of the same Gehlot clan. The dynasty (and clan) fathered by him came to be known by the name Sisodia after the village where he was born.

      By the 16th century, Mewar had become the leading Rajput state. Rana Sanga of Mewar led the combined Rajput forces against the Mughal emperor Babur in 1527 A.D., but was defeated at the Battle of Khanua. Later in 1535 A.D., Bahadur Shah, the Sultan of Gujarat besieged the fort causing immense carnage. It is said that again just like in the case of Jauhar led by Padmini in 1303 A.D., all 32,000 men then living in the fort donned the saffron robes of martyrdom and rode out to face certain death in the war, and their women folk committed Jauhar led by Rani Karnawati. The ultimate sacrifice for freedom, Jauhar was again performed for the third time after the Mughal Emperor Akbar captured Chittorgarh in 1568 A.D.

       Chittorgarh is also famous for its association with two very widely known historical figures of India. The first is, Meera Bai the most famous female Hindu spiritual poetess whose compositions are still popular throughout North India. Her poems follow the Bhakti tradition and she is considered to be most passionate worshipper of lord Krishna.

Chittorgarh remains replete with historic associations and holds a very special place in the hearts of Rajputs, as it was a bastion of the clan at a time when every other stronghold had succumbed to invasion. The fort and the city of Chittorgarh also hosts the biggest Rajput festival "Jauhar Mela". It takes place annually on the anniversary of one of the jauhars, not the one by Padmini which is most famous. This festival is to commemorate the bravery of Rajput ancestors and all three Jauhars which happened at Chittorgarh. A huge number of Rajputs which include the descendants of most of the princely families do a procession to celebrate the Jauhar.