txt: Best for culture: Venice - www.independent.co.uk
There are few places to stay on Giudecca, apart from the swanky Hotel Cipriani. But at the other end of the island is the fantastic Molino Stucky, the largest industrial building in the city. This massive gothic warehouse – built in 1896 – has been converted into a luxury Hilton, and its location is sensational. In between there's a youth hostel on the northern quayside, a few bed and breakfast places and that's about it. Although Harry's Bar has opened a restaurant here and trendy eating places are appearing, this remains one of the least-visited and most atmospheric parts of Venice. Another terrific place to eat outside is Altanella, on the Rio del Ponte Longo. Giudecca was a place where criminals and troublesome members of the aristocracy were exiled, then for hundreds of years it was a rural retreat, gradually becoming covered with warehouses and prisons (there are still two), as well as homes for the workers. Although many of the convents and warehouses are being converted into luxury flats, you can still walk through squares where the washing is hanging outside and everyone eats under the trees on long tables in the summer.
video: High Five Escalator - ImprovEverywhere [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Abt8aAB-Dr0]