Venice. La Serenissima ("The Most Serene") The Floating City. The City of Bridges. We came here to attend a friend's party - a party to celebrate friendship. The venue was a medieval former church. So I took some time to explore this city that is unlike any other in the world. Ignore warnings that it's over-run by tourists! It's still very beautiful, and if you go just a little off the main thoroughfares it can be suprisingly peaceful, too.