Why the Canals of Venice are special
The Venetian canals and their gondolas provide one of the world's most romantic experiences. Imagine gliding slowly down Venice's narrow canals on a moonlit night to musical accompaniment.
Your gondola can also take you along the 3-kilometer (2-mile) long Grand Canal. This broad, main water thoroughfare is lined with luxurious centuries-old palazzos with ornate Renaissance-style facades - and is spanned by the elaborately designed Rialto Bridge.

Getting around Venice
The 150 canals of Venice are its streets - roads for land passenger vehicles are nonexistent. Everyone must travel by foot or boat, tourists and locals alike.
The chief and often the fastest means of transportation is the foot - thanks to the 400 pedestrian bridges that link Venice's many small islands. When distance is far, locals use the swift vaporettos (water taxis/busses). Although Venetians once used gondolas extensively, they now leave this man-powered vessel for the tourists.

Canal origins
The canals date back to the 5th century when regional inhabitants built nascent Venice in a swampy, sparsely settled lagoon in order to escape the swords of the invading Barbarians.

What leading travel books say about the Canals of Venice
Venice is one of the few cities that can be described as unique.
Italy
Eyewitness Travel Guides

As God made the Garden of Eden, the Venetians made Venice.
Venice
Cadogan Guides