The Floating City

Fancy a few days in Italy? Then Venice is the perfect spot.Small and compact, it is perfect for a few days of exploration asyou marvel at the architecture and canals with their gondolas.

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Venice has no shortage of tourist attractions, but don’t get so caught up in getting around all of these that you forget to simply wander around the streets and explore the canals. There are many small squares that you can go and sit and relax in a café and enjoy a coffee or glass of wine as you take in all of the sights and sounds around you and really appreciate where you are visiting.

In fact, Cannaregio is an area of the city that is perfect for wandering the walkways by the canal and admiring the historic buildings. This is one of the quieter districts and really does offer a glimpse at authentic Venetian life. You’ll also find some great shops and restaurants nestled amongst the different alleyways here.

Of all the sights, St Mark’s Square, the main public square in Venice in the heart of the city, really is unmissable. It is surrounded by souvenir shops and restaurants and there’s live music in the evenings. St Mark’s Square is also a good base from which to visit most of the other main sites.

Here you will find the St Mark’s Basilica and San Marco Campanile, which is the bell tower that dominates Venice’s skyline. An elevator takes you right up to the top of the bell tower and from here you will be rewarded with 360-degree views of the city. It is best to book your time slot in advance and during high winds and cold temperatures the Campanile will close.

One minute’s walk from St. Mark’s Square, on the north side of the Piazza San Marco, you will find the Torre dell’ Orologio. Every hour the bells of this clock tower ring out across the city. Thanks to its enameled blue and gold face decorated with the signs of the zodiac this bell tower have become a Venetian icon and it’s easy to understand why it is also a popular meeting point in the city.