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It sounds a very 'tourist' type thing to do & don't be put off by the hoards of female Japanese tourists packed into Gondolas, bobbing around in the middle of the Grand Canal, in the middle of the day. It's noisy, you have taxi's, delivery boats & buses passing close buy & it doesn't look much fun (especially as it is not cheap). But a Gondola ride at night is a must. I did my trip from the stand on the corner by Harry's Bar- it was magical & eerily quiet! There are Official Gondola Stands all over Venice e.g. by the Rialto Bridge, on the corner by Harry's Bar, opposite the Danielli Hotel on the front etc. Gondolas are EXPENSIVE so make sure you only catch one from an official stand & agree a price & how long the trip will take first. A less expensive option is to participate in a group gondola ride at night- most hotels have posters up for them & will book it for you. The tourist office will also have information about these trips. N.B Don't turn up at the stop too late (past 8pm), as it will be hard to find a Gondolier still working & wear sensible shoes- stepping into a gondola is not easy!
The water buses are very frequent & not at all like our buses- I like riding the Venetian buses & nothing beats a trip down the Grand Canal at night.
Da Arturo, Calle degli Assassini 3656, Venice. Tel: 041 528 6974. Closed on Sundays. "Celebrated as the only top-notch resterant in Venice that doesn't serve fish" - The Rough Guide to Venice.
If you really want to see Florence, this is a good opportunity to go. However, if you are only staying in Venice for three days or less, to do Florence would probably mean missing out on enjoying all there is to see & do in Venice.
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