Relaxing in an atmospheric bar, contemplating the scene in front of you over an early evening aperitivo. What could be a better way to appreciate the qualities of a great European city? Venice, built on millions of wooden piles in the middle of a lagoon, and dating back 1,800 years, is surely the most distinctive. Today, despite the depredations of rising sea levels, depopulation and overtourism, the island city also manages to retain a highly distinctive bar culture.