I’ve never been to Venice/Venezia and I’m not sure that I want to – sounds like it’s almost always crowded and, though not on gondolas, I’ve been on a lot of boats in my life (I really do live on an island after all) so there’s not a whole lot of magic there for me in boating. Sounds like a pain in the ass actually, having to schlep around by boat all the time.
MATTHEW'S ISLAND
MATTHEW'S ISLAND 
Crowded during the day, deserted in the early morning/late evening – peaceful. Walking the city is the best way to explore it. The boat ride + visit to Torcello or Murano makes for a nice half-day outing. On the ride back you get a view of Venice from the lagoon. Ideal time is off-season.
Maybe one day, off season. I’ve been Tuscany many times, Sicily twice, and up in the Italian Alps a few times. Would love to go the Amalfi Coast/Capri some time though – and Rome.