Attractions - Italy

Attractions - Rome

Venice, Italy

The fairytale city of Venice is one that casts an everlasting spell. Its myriad canals, mysterious narrow streets, wonderful bridges and impressive architecture render it a truly unforgettable experience. There is nothing on earth quite like a romantic gondola ride along a Venetian canal.

Venice is built on 117 small islands and boasts an incredible 150 canals and 409 bridges. A highly pleasurable way to get your bearings and to take in the incredible majesty of the city’s buildings is to take a vaporetto (small ferry) down the Canal Grande. You’ll pass more than a hundred impressive mansions along the way dating from the 12th to the 18th centuries including the Fondaco dei Turchi, the Ca’ Pesaro, and the Ca’ d’Oro - the city’s most beautiful Gothic building. The elegant Piazza San Marco boasts a campanile from which you get stunning views of the city. Sit in one of the cafés in the piazza and savour the unique atmosphere. It’s expensive but most definitely worth it. Learn the art of making your cappuccino stretch for an hour!

                          ...casting an everlasting spell

The Basilica di San Marco is one of the most magnificent cathedrals in Europe. Modelled on Constantinople’s Church of the Twelve Apostles, it was completed in 1094 and boasts an impressive blend of Byzantine, Romanesque and Renaissance architectural and decorative styles. The inside of the basilica is decorated with glittering mosaics. The basilica is home to the breathtaking Palo d’Oro, a gold, enamel and jewel studded altarpiece made for Doge Pietro Orseolo I in 976. More than 2000 precious stones adorn the altarpiece including emeralds, rubies, sapphires and pearls. Check out the beautiful Gothic facades of the Palazzo Ducale. Made from white Istrian stone and pink Verona marble, they face the water and the Piazzetta di San Marco. Art lovers should not miss the Gallerie dell’Accademia and the Peggy Guggenheim collection. The Accademia traces the development of Venetian art from the 14 to the 18th centuries and features work by Veneziano, Bellini, Tintoretto and Titian. The Guggenheim collection features work by some of the most famous modern artists including Klee, Kandinsky, Picasso, Chagall and Dali.

When you’ve exhausted Venice’s beautiful churches and palaces, stop in one of the city’s cheerful osterie (restaurants) tucked away in forgotten little corners. Sample some tiramisu – the rich dessert of mascarpone cheese, Marsala, sponge and chocolate – which was invented here. While away the evening hours in a wine bar or in one of the Irish style pubs in the city. Swim off the beach at the Lido and check out the Palazzo del Cinema where Venice’s international film festival is held each September.

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