Alessandra Ambrosio catches the eye in a thigh-skimming lace minidress in Venice

Taxi for Ambrosio! Alessandra catches the eye in a thigh-skimming lace minidress as she tours the Venice canals aboard a water-cab ahead of annual film festival

She might not be featuring in competition at this year’s Venice Film Festival, but Alessandra Ambrosio’s appearance in the city was no less welcome on Wednesday afternoon. 

The Victoria’s Secret model commanded attention in a thigh-skimming lace minidress as posed for photographs aboard a water-taxi following her arrival at the five-star Excelsior Hotel.

Drawing inevitable attention to her toned legs, the statuesque Brazilian model, 41, blew kisses for the waiting throng before unsteadily clambering onto the jetty.

Ciao bella: She might not be featuring in competition at this year’s Venice Film Festival, but Alessandra Ambrosio’s appearance in the city was no less welcome on Wednesday afternoon

She added to her look with a pair of strappy white heels, while a chic white blazer – elegantly draped across her slender shoulders – rounded off the ensemble.

Alessandra had arrived at the Excelsior for a pre-ceremony photoshoot after navigating the Italian city’s intricate network of canals aboard her water-taxi – an obligatory mode of transport in Venice.

She is expected to appear on the red carpet when the city’s 79th annual Film Festival gets underway at the Venice Lido on Wednesday evening with a premiere screening of Noah Baumbach’s White Noise.

Lovely: The statuesque Brazilian model blew kisses for the waiting throng before unsteadily clambering onto the jetty

Lovely: The statuesque Brazilian model blew kisses for the waiting throng before unsteadily clambering onto the jetty

Looking good: The Victoria's Secret model commanded attention in a thigh-skimming lace minidress as posed for photographs aboard a water-taxi

Busy girl: She was stepping out for a photocall at the city's Excelsior Hotel

Looking good: The Victoria’s Secret model commanded attention in a thigh-skimming lace minidress as posed for photographs aboard a water-taxi

Here she comes: Alessandra had arrived at the Excelsior for a pre-ceremony photoshoot after navigating the Italian city's intricate network of canals aboard her water-taxi

Here she comes: Alessandra had arrived at the Excelsior for a pre-ceremony photoshoot after navigating the Italian city’s intricate network of canals aboard her water-taxi 

Attracting the biggest stars it’s held annually on the island of the Lido in the Venice Lagoon. With movie screenings taking place in the historic Palazzo del Cinema on the Lungomare Marconi. 

This year’s line up will see divisive biopic Blonde, starring Ana De Armas as tragic screen icon Marilyn Monroe, battle it out for the competition’s top accolade.

Brendan Fraser’s moving drama The Whale, where he plays an obese professor, will also compete alongside films starring Cate Blanchett, Hugh Jackman and Colin Farrell.

She's a natural: Alessandra struck a series of sultry poses outside the Excelsior Hotel on Wednesday afternoon

Shady: The model accessorised with a pair of lightly tinted sunglasses

She’s a natural: Alessandra struck a series of sultry poses outside the Excelsior Hotel on Wednesday afternoon 

Finishing touch: She added to her look with a chic white blazer elegantly draped across her slender shoulders

Finishing touch: She added to her look with a chic white blazer elegantly draped across her slender shoulders 

Speaking about the line-up director of the event Alberto Barbera said: ‘The program is more varied than usual, placing affirmed filmmakers alongside directors in search of confirmation and, above all, talented newcomers aspiring for international recognition’.

‘But what still prevails is the feeling that “Cinema still wants to try to explore ways of thinking, big themes and big questions, the profound relationships that tie people to one another, the power of feelings and memory and the ability to push one’s gaze beyond the horizon of the present.”.

The Venice Film Festival is the world’s oldest and was first founded in 1932, celebrating filmmaking from around the world. 

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