The ideal place for small breaks, holiday in Venice, perhaps the most gorgeous and idealistic town in Europe. It is actually an astonishing destination, this floating town is one of Italy's riches and has enthused and stimulated artists, singers, poets and writers for many decades. Its churches and museums are house to invaluable works of art and its collapsing buildings only add to the added sophisticated feeling that trickles from the zigzag passageways and flowing canals.
Frequently we have visualized Venice in so many movies and pictures that we all have an representation of this city embedded on our brains; however the Queen of the Adriatic by no means fails to live up to its status. Water laps at the foot of palaces, bobbling boats line up the canals and the sight across the water from the Palazzo Ducale is just amazing and out of this world and seems as Canaletto decorated it.
Walking around the city is the best way to take in all of the unique architecture and character of Venice. A map is essential to tackling the winding streets of this city even though it will probably not protect against getting lost. But what better place is there to be lost in than Venice? Walking is also a great way to discover some of the lesser known neighbourhoods of this town, thus providing a more authentic experience. For those who want a true taste of Italy, those areas that lie off the beaten path also offer more authentic and tastier meals which cater less toward foreign visitors.
Even though the chief views such as St Mark's Square and Basilica, the Rialto Bridge and the Palazzo Ducale are crowded with large number of people all the year around from all over the world, at the same time it is not complicated to get away from the crowds. The backside streets are creased with buildings that in any other city would be most important attractions, the museums are bursting with riches and the drowsy islands of Italy's most well-known lagoon embraces glories of their own.
There are plenty more cathedrals and museums to see in Venice, and if you plan on visiting it is a good idea to book tickets in advance – especially if you are there during the summer months. Queues can be long and the weather will be hot, making standing in line pretty unpleasant. The same goes for booking a hotel in Venice during the peak season as accommodation fills up fast, especially at the hotels near the centre so it's best to book early.
Martin Wynn
