This takes me back - I went there with friends, like a boys weekend trip - not exactly the romantic journey you'd expect!
I think it was better that way, the romantic nature of it didn't really capture me so much as all the tourism. Granted, some of those making the masks for example are genuinely skilled and talented, but when there's 500 of you in such a small area, it becomes a bit gimmicky.
Venice was still awesome though - especially when we explored the more residential places and found this seemingly invisible winery which distilled its own and had the barrels in store to try - at a super cheap price! 10x cheaper than the tourist spots and obviously walking distance away.
The secrets in Venice it what is truly charming, to me
I agree, and I'd rather go to a quieter place for a romantic journey.
I heard the Veneto is a famous wine region, glad to read that you found a cool winery there.
My stay was so short that I wasn't able to scratch enough surface of the obvious gems, not to say the hidden ones. ;))