San Michele is a unique island in the Venetian lagoon, and stands out for its unique role as Venice's cemetery. You arrive to the walled necropolis by boat, and could easily spend half a day exploring. There is a church which also contained a monastery until a few years ago. While many parts of the island are historic gravesites, it still functions as an active graveyard and has new burials frequently. The majority is given over to Catholics, but there is also an orthodox enclosure where Stravinsky is buried as well as a Protestant enclosure where Ezra pound is buried. I found this island to be a special place and lovely to see so many little birds flying around. read more