Venice
Venice City Breaks
Visit the elegance of Italy on a Venice city break and explore the labyrinth of narrow streets and canals, which fill this ancient city. Beautiful Venetian architecture and palaces dominate the skyline, while the busy piazzas and narrow streets below are a hive of activity. Those who wish to escape the crowds and see the romance of Venice can take a stroll down the enchanting back streets to the residential quarters and explore Venice at a more leisurely pace.
Visitors on a Venice city break are bound for a unique experience in the city, as it rests upon one hundred and seventeen tiny islands, which are located in the Venetian lagoon in the Adriatic sea. The location of the historic city has made it ideal for trading and defence over the centuries, meaning the cities rich history has always been prosperous and the population and development of Venice has grown with its wealth. There are only a few small islets in the Venetian lagoon, which have not been developed in some way and the ones that have are now beautiful examples of the cities history.
The Grand Canal is the main thoroughfare through Venice, with intersections leading off to the sestieri, which are the six main quarters of the city. The quarters of Santa Croce, Castello, San Marco, San Polo, Cannaregio and Dorsoduro are all home to a blend of historical delights and San Marco is home to Venice's main railway station. For those who wish to see Venice in a more traditional way, a cruise down the canals can be taken in the motorised water buses known as the vaporetti or a more expensive and romantic option are the famous Venetian gondolas. But why not splash out and enjoy the timeless canals of Venice in style, while on a Venice city break.
The islands of Burano, Murano and Torcello are beyond the sestieri in Venice and offer excellent sightseeing opportunities to visitors on a Venice city break who'd like to venture outside the city centre. Torcello is home to the impressive Byzantine Basilica of Santa Maria Assunta and the journey to the islands begins with a relaxing sail down the cities canals, to the quieter regions of Venice.
