On an otherwise regular afternoon in Gainesville this summer, I spent around half an hour listening to a podcast about a medieval map created by a monk in Venice, Italy. Not just any old map, though, rather the most accurate one created during the Middle Ages. Venice, I learned, was an economic and diplomatic center during this turbulent period, drawing traders and tribesmen from around Europe, Africa, and even Asia. As much is clear in walking through the colorful streets of the city, where small alleys often lead right into the lapping waves of Venetian canals.

Though I’d go as far as to say I’ve become accustomed to the aesthetic excellence of the Italian cities and villages, Venice blew me away nevertheless. It’s hard to find a word that does justice to describe the city, but I’d settle on Baroque or ornate if I had to choose. Every building, from restaurants and apartments to churches and museums, are built so intricately that they appear otherworldly.

Winding through the canals, though pricey, is absolutely worth it with a larger group to split the cost evenly. Expert guides, who train for two years before coming officially certified, steadily paddle their gondolas through narrow hairpin turns and past houses with their windows open to catch the sea breeze.

Given that we only had a day to spend in Venice, it was difficult to explore the history and culture of the city in as much depth as I would have liked to. Even so, its essence is clear without even stepping foot in a museum — from the harbor outlook near the Basilica of San Marco, one can simply gaze out at the peripheral Venetian islands dotting the Adriatic Sea that sport massive cathedrals and proud harbors. It isn’t hard to imagine how this center of culture and history proved just as captivating to weary medieval sailors as it does nowadays to a tired group of college students.