Cruises from Venice

The city of Venice is definitely a unique place to visit. Located in Italy, the city is built with canals as streets and gondolas as cars. It takes more than just a steady hand to steer the gondolas as well, and the many gondoliers of the city are actually required to take classes and be licensed before offering their services to the many tourists and residents of Venice.

When visiting the city you will be able to enjoy staying in one of the many well-known hotels, self-catering establishments, or other types of accommodation the city has to offer. Food in the city is just as varied and you can enjoy everything from traditional Italian meals to other international cuisine. There are also plenty of cafes and bistros to enjoy for a different flavour of the city.

As a visitor to Venice, there are some places you will want to ensure are on your itinerary. St Mark’s Basilica is one of the most well known landmarks and it is dedicated to the patron saint of the city. The Basilica has a gold altar as well as gold and silver in the treasury. St Mark’s Square can be seen from the porch of the Basilica’s main entrance, and you can take close up pictures of the four horses that look out over the Campanile.

The Doges Palace is another place to see while visiting Venice and when you go, make sure it is in the morning. Ask about the Secret Itineraries Tour and you will be able to get a guided tour through the passageways of the city that were used during the glory days of the Venetian Empire, the prison cells, and the Bridge of Sighs. This was the route used by Casanova when he escaped the city in 1756.

A visit to the San Polo neighbourhood and the morning food market located along the Grand Canal is a must and you can get there by crossing the Rialto Bridge. There you can sample and see the many varieties of shellfish that are used in the many gourmet restaurants in the city. Maybe you will even be eating some for your evening meal later in the day!

Behind the market are the workshops and studios of the city’s artists and here you can find beautiful handmade masks, marbled paper, and fine etchings. The Campo San Polo is filled with cafes and street musicians, and this residential area of Venice is also the home of the Church of the Friary, which has wonderful paintings by Titian, a Venetian artist. The Scuola San Rocco is another place where fine paintings on the ceiling and walls can be found.

There are many other areas of Venice that are worth a visit including the church of Santa Maria dei Miracoli and the Peggy Guggenheim Collection in Dorsoduro. Of course, you will want to end the day with a glass of wine and a fine meal before taking a gondola trip back to your accommodation, with plenty of pictures and memories of your time in Venice.