Venice, Italy

Official currency: EUR

Venice is an open-air hanging museum - a city of canals and palaces loved by the romantics. Tradition has it that Venice is wed to the sea, true to the soul of the city. The city’s foundation, history is born out of the sea and the 118 islets that form the Venice lagoon.

Location:

Venice is built on an archipelago of 118 islands, formed by about 150 canals in a shallow lagoon and connected by about 400 bridges.

Whats unique about Venice?

Venice is Europe's largest urban car free area, unique in remaining a functional city entirely without motorcars or trucks.

The classical Venetian boat is the gondola, although now mostly used for tourists, or for ceremonies. Locals travel by motorised waterbuses (vaporetti). The only gondolas still in use are the traghetti, foot passenger ferries crossing the Grand Canal.

Accomodation:

There is a vast selection of hotels to suit every taste and budget. Accommodation ranges from the most luxurious large chain hotels, to the small hotels rich in old-fashioned ambience. Hotels here are classified according to the facilities that they offer and there is a wide choice available.

Places of interest:

The best way to explore this fascinating city is to walk and discover its many jewels.

Piazza San Marco - situated in the heart of the city and referred to by Napoleon as the 'finest drawing room in Europe'
Palazzo Ducale (Doge's Palace): A simply breathtaking waterfront palace and a superb example of Gothic architecture.
The Grand Canal: is the main avenue in Venice. As you travel through the Grand Canal you'll see wonderful Gothic palaces and gondoliers paddling visitors through.
Rialto Bridge: one of the most photographed bridges in the world.
The Peggy Guggenheim Collection: All art lovers can hope to see works by Picasso, Kandinsky, Modigliani, and Chagall.
Ca' d'Oro: The Gothic-style building houses the Galleria Franchetti, a museum that's home to some of the most well known masterpieces in the world.
The Lido: Lido means "beach" in Italian and this resort island town has beautiful beaches, shops, hotels, and nightclubs and is a very popular vacation spot for tourists from all over the world.

Shopping:

Venice is an exciting place to shop, whether you're looking for something extraordinary or just window shopping. Hundreds of boutiques and stores, line the waterfronts and alleyways that stretch across the city. Not only will you find a wide selection of high-end fashions and leather goods, you have a choice of locally made handicrafts such as Venetian glass, lace, crystal-ware, and woodwork.

For designer boutiques, head toward Accademia and for tourist shops and boutiques, move towards Rialto.