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Around Venice, everything from fabulous fountains and bridges galore to re-creating medieval gondola regattas and luxury barging vacations all revolve around the water. The elegant canals and waterways that are the “streets and highways” are hostage to their past, present and future association with it.

In 2008, Venice launched a pilot initiative to reduce waste in a country that is the world's largest consumer of mineral water. To cut down on bottled water consumption and bottle garbage in Venice, visitors are now given an empty water bottle with the message "Don't throw me away, re-use me!" and a map indicating the 122 fountains flowing with pristine water from the city's aqueducts, inviting them to quench their thirst directly from the source. Venice was chosen for the launch of this scheme due to its obvious links with water and its role as a tourist center.

Each year in May and September, visitors to Venice have a special taste of ancient tradition and the excitement of two colorful historic pageants that take place mainly on the water. Those clever enough to book a European Waterways six-day/seven-night Venice and its waterways cruise around either festival date will enjoy all the pageantry and highly-charged rivalry from front row seats on the deck of their luxury barge, La Dolce Vita. And barge guests need have no concerns around the serious competition for the scarce accommodation in Venice during these festivals since the barge is their luxury home. European Waterways bargcruise dates are adjusted each year to guarantee participation in these events.

The Vogalonga Regatta in early June 2010 follows a race course virtually unchanged from Renaissance times, a 30 kilometer canal route through the most beloved and picturesque parts of the Lagoon of Venice. Five hundred boats and nearly 1,500 participants meet on race day to sing hymns to St Mark and Venice before the event.

It was in 2005 that European Waterways, the operator of Europe's largest fleet of hotel barges, added a unique Venetian waterways itinerary to its highly-praised menu of European canal routes. It still remains the only luxury barging option in Italy into 2010. The completely refurbished La Dolce Vita offers a delightful Venetian experience that combines river, canal and lagoon cruising with daily excursions to the area's most historic sites. Many of the sites are accessible only by water and thus less-frequently visited.

The six-passenger La Dolce Vita began life in 1897 as a sailing cargo vessel in Holland. After a long and varied career in coastal Europe and the Mediterranean, she underwent a complete refit during 2004, transforming her into a charming hotel barge whose decor is a mixture of Venetian-style covers and drapes with a traditional African hardwood ship's interior. There are three cabins, one twin, one twin/double and one double and all have ensuite bathrooms.

European Waterways' Venetian Lagoon itinerary provides a perfect balance between undisturbed countryside and vibrant city encounters where none of the city's highlights are missed. La Dolce Vita is the only hotel barge to cruise the peaceful River Brenta, intimately exploring Venice’s waterways, history and smaller islands throughout the Lagoon.

The air-conditioned staterooms and suites from US$3,790 per person, including accommodation, champagne welcome, three gourmet meals a day with wine, shore excursions, admittance fees, use of bicycles and much more. With the food and rooms being on par with the elegant Britannia Hotel Blackpool and similar, it's truly a vacation anyone would cherish.

Celebrating 36 years of operation in 2010, European Waterways is a pioneer in the vacation barging business, currently offering luxury cruise holidays in nine European countries, while utilizing a variety of canals, rivers, lakes and lochs. Browse the theme cruise guide listing theme vacations from fishing, wine and antiques cruises to walking, family and garden cruises. www.Gobarging.com.

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