If the very word "work" is making you sick, a sure tonic is the charming manner in which the Web Site of Venice presents its prize. The rather plain main page is a deceptive introduction to colorful links to history and architecture. Avoiding the wordy narrative of other resources, the Venice Web site's illustrated History and Curiosity clicks from the Piazza San Marco to the Basilica, the Palazzo Ducale, the Clock Tower and Bridge of Sights with ease. Be sure to reveal each and every one of theVenetian Boats and discover their diversity of design. The main page's Other Venetian Sites showcase artist Gualtieri's Riva del Vin. I cherish a similar oil painting bought from a street artist on an impromptu trip to Venice in October a few years ago.

Venice in the fall is heaven. So, if you're tired of the grind . . . think about it. Especially if you're over 40, says Europe for Visitor's Durant Imboden. "With more than a third of its residents over the age of 60, Venice is a town that makes balding, bulging Boomers feel young again. This is your kind of city -- a middle-age spread where even a contemporary of The Mamas and the Papas can dream of being a courtesan or gigolo," Imboden maintains.

Venice for Visitors is a thorough directory of links to restaurants, accommodations and events.

Its Venice Photos is a dazzling stream of virtual images. Of particular interest is the Cities for People photojournalism approach to Venice as a prototype for tomorrow's "Car-Free Cities."

Venice City Map and Hotel Locator has photos and thumbnail descriptions of the cities three most famous hotels -- the Cipriani, the Gritti Palace and the Danieli.

For my trip, I invested in an overseas phone call to the Danieli reservation desk and obtained a reasonable mid-week rate. The room was small, but the time spent in the 15^th-century palace on the Grand Canal, just steps from the Bridge of Sighs and St. Mark's Square, was invaluable.

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