It’s the night before you leave for your trip to Venice. You’re in high anticipation, excited and rearing to go! To put yourself in the spirit of Venice, watch a movie or documentary on this wonderful island.

Many well-known films with famous actors were set in Venice, and it’s always a thrill to recognise a particular scene while walking around as the place that appeared in a film.

• A number of James Bond movies had sections set in Venice, including Moonraker, From Russia with Love and Casino Royale.

• Of course, Venice is an ideal setting for romantic movies. Nothing solves love problems like spending some time in Venice, an evening dinner at an elegant and a night in a room overlooking the Grand Canal solves romantic problems very quickly! Also, you may not have known but that romantic rascal  Casanovawas a Venetian citizen.

• The combination of narrow streets, canals, and towering, crumbling buildings seem to inspire many suspense and drama movies. The Italian Job with Charlize Theron has some of the all-time classic chase scenes in it, while Death in Venice is simply a classic piece of cinema and while it’s set in Lido mainly and not Venice itself, it’s still worth watching for the interiors and cinematic style.

• Last but by far not least, Venice is the setting for one of Shakespeare’s masterful works, The Merchant of Venice. It’s not only the setting that makes this classic tale a visual delight, but also the fact that the casts of the various movie versions of the play are  collections of the world’s finest actors. Even if you don’t see the movie before you visit Venice, read the book. Even if it’s just for the street cred!