Venice

Located on the north-east coast of Italy, Venice is famed for its network of canals. Venice is actually a collection of over a hundred islands which are linked by bridges, and it is the water running between these that forms the famous canals.

Attractions

A trip to Venice wouldn’t be complete without a gondola trip on the canals, but a guided walking tour is also well worth a try – there are a large number of hidden alleys and streets to be explored. Venice is also home to some stunning architecture, such as the Basilica di San Marco, which is located on the edge of Piazza San Marco. The Piazza is worth a visit in itself – it is surrounded by lively cafés and more beautiful Venetian buildings, which gives it an amazing atmosphere. The most prominent canal, the Grand Canal, is spanned by the 16th century Rialto Bridge, which is the most famous of the 400 bridges in Venice.

Shopping

The main shopping roads are the Calle dei Fabbri and the Mercerie, where a range of mainstream and chain stores can be found. More unique shops can be found on Frezzeria. Gift and souvenir shops are mostly located on the roads just to the north of Campo Santo Stefano. The Rialto to San Polo area is where the cheap and cheerful, but individual and sometime unusual shops are housed, so head here if you’re on a lower budget. Designer shopping lovers should go to San Marco – there are a whole host of major Italian and international designer stores here.

Nightlife and Eating out

Pavement café culture is rife in Venice, and traditional light meals and snacks such as pizza and pasta are typical of the fare available here. Most of the main meals centre around fish or meat with vegetables or salad, and are accompanied by excellent Italian wines. There aren’t that many night clubs in Venice, as most of the night-time culture revolves around cafés and bars, which are open until late. The atmosphere around the central squares at night is spectacular, so it is worth sampling this at least once.

Tourist Information

IAT - Ferrovia S. Lucia30121 - VeneziaTel: +39 (0)415298711info@turismovenezia.itwww.turismovenezia.it

Airport

Venice has its own airport, which serves a large number of domestic and international destinations. It is located only 8 miles from the centre of the city.