Holidays to Venice have an unforgettable appeal. With beautiful historic buildings, traditional gondolas to transport you around the waterways and a romantic ambience to warm every heart, this really is a special place. Couples will love being punted down the waterways while being serenaded by the gondolier before alighting to enjoy a romantic meal for two in one of Venice’s traditional restaurants. But it’s not only couples who are drawn by its charm; the city’s historic buildings and splendid architecture are perfect for those looking to experience history and culture. Food lovers will enjoy exploring the streets and seeking out the most beautiful authentic trattoria serving up delicious delicacies.
Base yourself at the Hotel Monaco & Grand Canal for stunning views over the Grand Canal from this lavish 17th Century building and a central location which is perfect for exploring the sights of Venice. For a truly Venetian experience, stay at the 16th Century Hotel Colombina, overlooking a quiet canal side and with views of the Bridge of Sighs.
At Citalia we’re the leading provider of holidays to Italy, so we can help you to enjoy a city break in Venice like no other.
Train links in Italy are fantastic so start your holiday to Venice by train and travel into the city across the Ponte della Liberta causeway, which provides breath taking views of Venice. Find the hidden gems with Citalia and visit the Island of Sant’Andrea. Often forgotten in favour of Murano, Burano and Torcello, this island is home to a ruined 17th Century fort, while the rest of the island is untouched by humans, providing an ideal picnic location with unrivalled views over the lagoon and city. Spend an afternoon wandering the island, exploring the old fort and relaxing on the grass enjoying the views.
Why not get out of the city and visit Chioggia? This nearby fishing town is a quieter, more tranquil version of Venice. With its arched bridges and narrow canals, it is very similar to its larger neighbour, however Chioggia has fewer examples of striking architecture on a grand scale and less art. A day trip to this charming town is perfect for those looking for a calmer pace and a break from city life.
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Discover more of Italy on a multi-centre holiday
Venice is a remarkable place with iconic sights and hidden treasures at every turn – it’s no wonder it’s on so many people’s bucket list.
For one of Venice’s most romantic sights, visit the Rialto Bridge, which spans the Grand Canal and, at the time of its conception, was thought to be too ambitious to succeed. This palatial bridge is buzzing with life and activity, with stalls to wander around and shops to explore, as well as a chance to simply take in the atmosphere at one Venice’s most important locations.
A must see is the Island of Murano, known as the Glass Island due to its famous glass making history. Here you can browse shops full of beautiful glass wares and even watch a demonstration of this wonderful art in practice.
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Direct flights to Venice Marco Polo airport (VCE) are available from Birmingham, Bristol, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds Bradford, London City, London Gatwick, London Heathrow, London Luton, Manchester, Newcastle and Southend and take approximately 2 hours. Transfers from the airport are by water taxi or water bus and take approximately 40 minutes to reach the centre of Venice.
Direct flights to Venice Treviso airport (TSF) depart from London Stansted, Leeds Bradford, Bristol and East Midlands and take approximately 2 hours.
Venice is a great year-round destination, with each month offering a different reason to visit. Late spring and summer are the best times to go if you're looking for warm weather. But to avoid busy crowds, visit during winter – the weather can get quite cold, but with this comes fewer people and lower hotel prices. Spring and autumn are also popular times to visit Venice, but bear in mind that between October and January acquaalta (high water) is more likely. However, it's still possible to access most of the city during this time using the temporary wooden walkways that are constructed.
Like all Italian cuisine, Venetian dishes follow traditional recipes passed down from generation to generation, providing an authentic taste of the area you are in.
Located next to the sea, Venice is known for its seafood such as sarde in soar. Translated as sweet and sour sardines, this dish is fried fresh sardine fillets marinated in lightly cooked onions, usually with vinegar and finished with raisins and pine nuts all combined to create a tangy and delicious dish. Often served with wine as a small plate appetizer known as cichéti, it offers a real taste of traditional Italian cuisine.
For possibly one of the most Venetian dishes around, try risotto al nero di seppia, a unique dish where squid ink is used to give a jet black colour to the rice. Don’t be put off by its strange appearance, this rice dish has a distinct briny flavour and is combined with wine, onions and tomatoes to win over even the most sceptical diners.
There is no official date of the foundation of the Venice, though it was in the 5th century AD that the lagoon started to fill up with inhabitants from mainland Italy. Venice City started as a refuge for those people seeking shelter from the Barbarians after the fall of the Roman Empire. For more than 1,400 years, Venice has seen people living on the waters away from mainland Italy and it has now become one of the most desirable cities to visit in Europe. Venice might not be the oldest city in Italy, but it is definitely one of the most unique.
To pre-book one of our specially selected excursions, please call our Italy Experts on 01293 762410*.
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The Foreign Commonwealth Office and the NHS have up-to-date advice on staying safe and healthy abroad. For more on security, local laws, plus passport and visa information, see https://travelaware.campaign.gov.uk/. Keep informed of current travel health news by visiting http://www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk For further information, please visit our "Travel Aware" information page at http://www.citalia.com/holidays/content/travel-aware. The advice can change so check regularly for updates.
