Venice holidays

Italy is world-famous for it’s simple yet delicious food, and in Venice you’ll find a number of specialities that originated in the city. First up is bigoli in salsa, a flavourful combination of whole wheat pasta and anchovy sauce. It’s a hearty dish that pairs well with Spritz, the Venetian wine-based cocktail. Another must-try is tiramisu – this creamy dessert is said to have been invented in Venice, though there is fierce debate as to its origins. Either way, the Venetians do tiramisu extremely well, so you won’t want to miss out your city break. Enjoy your after-dinner treat with grappa, a brandy-like drink with notes of caramel. If you fancy sampling a few local delicacies without breaking the bank, head the nearest cicchetti bar. Similar to tapas, cicchetti are bite-size morsels that can be enjoyed with friends on a night out. Favourites include baccalà mantecato (a creamy cod mousse) and sarde in saor (marinated sardines).

St Marks Square: Piazza San Marco is the beating heart of Venice, a magnificent town square with over 1000 years of history. The square is home to some of the city’s most important landmarks, including Basilica di San Marco, and Palazzo Ducale. Don’t forget to take your seat at Caffè Florian, one of the oldest bars in Italy, dating back to 1720.

Rialto Bridge: The Ponte de Rialto is another of Venice’s iconic structures, a short walk from Piazza San Marco. Built in the 16th century, the bridge features an impressive 7m-tall stone arch, and three separate walkways for pedestrians. Cross the bridge to find Mercati de Rialto, a colourful market packed with fresh local produce.

Visit a monastery: To reach San Giorgio Maggiore, you’ll need to hop on a vaporetto (water taxi). Located one of Venice’s many small islands, this grand monastery is one of the highlights of Venice, often missed by visitors to the city. After exploring the vast marble interior, take the lift to the top of the bell tower for superb views of the Venice skyline.

Gonolda ride: An unforgettable experience, whether as a family or a couple on a romantic city break is a ride on an iconic gonolda. You’ll float through Venice’s breathtaking water ways, passing under the famous Rialto Bridge and the Bridge of Sighs. You can even pay extra to have your gondolier sing to you as you take in the sights!

Walking tour: To make sure you don’t miss anything on your Venice adventure, join a walking tour of the city. While there are many paid-for tours that cover the obvious tourist hotspots, you can also take part in a free walking tour where your enthusiastic guide will lead you to some of the city’s hidden gems. Visit the ancient Jewish ghetto, and other fascinating places away from the tourist trail.

Souvenir shopping: Look in any souvenir shop in Venice and you’ll see carnival masks for sale. But why buy one when you can make your own? Book into a mask-making class to craft your own version of the famous masks worn by locals during the Carnival of Venice – a unique memento of your holiday.

Carnival: Why not time your city break to coincide with one of Venice’s famous festivals? The biggest – and best – is the Carnival of Venice, a 2 week-long party feature mask wearing, ballroom dancing, and plenty of food and drink. The carnival takes place each year on the 2nd Friday after Ash Wednesday, and draws to a close on Shrove Tuesday.

Film festival: If you’re a film buff, you’ll be in heaven at the Venice International Film Festival. This 10 day event showcases the latest films by the world’s most talented directors, with screenings taking place on Lido de Venezia Island – keep a look out for your favourite movie stars.

Boating regatta: When it comes to celebrating traditional Venetian life, nothing beats the Regata Storica. This floating parade of elaborate costumes and traditional boats draws huge crowds on the second Sunday of September each year. The regatta also features races with the city’s best rowers who pull out all the stops to win the grand prize.