Today her gondoliers may ply the waterways with cell phones in hand, but otherwise, this mystical city has changed little over the centuries. If you had the time, you could try to learn the names of its more than 200 Gothic and Renaissance palaces or nearly 400 bridges. However, even a quick visit should include the ornate St. Mark’s Basilica, dedicated in 830, and extraordinary Doge’s Palace, former epicenter of an empire. And, of course, you must take that unforgettable gondola ride.