Beautiful! Venice is one of the few famous places in Europe I haven't been to yet.
You should definitely check it out! One of the most unique cities in the world. Despite the crowds, there are tons of small side streets and alleyways that are quiet and serene.
They were there, mostly in the areas around Piazza San Marco and Palazzo Ducale, as well as Ponte di Rialto. But there were certainly plenty of areas where you could easily walk a little further and find some reprieve from the crowds.