Venice City Breaks, Venice Hotels and Venice Holidays:
Once the wealthiest city in Europe, Venice is arguably also the most beautiful. Built on wooden piles in the middle of a lagoon on Italy’s Adriatic coast, Venice wears its riches with pride. In its heyday, this city state had strong trade links with the Byzantine Empire and the Muslim world. During the late 13th century, over 3,300 Venetian trade ships dominated Mediterranean commerce. Throughout this prosperous time, the city’s most prominent families competed with each other to build the grandest palaces and support the most talented artists.
The main artery of the city, the Grand Canal, sweeps in an elegant curve through its centre. A vaporetto [water bus] trip down the Grand Canal will reveal the faded elegance of more than 300 palaces, revealing the city’s beautiful blend of Europe and Byzantium. And it is these private palaces and houses, rather than the public monuments, which make Venice so appealing. Explored by a gondola, or on foot, the narrow alleys and backwaters of the city reveal all its decorative detail which reflects its past wealth and importance.
Venice was governed by the Great Council, made up of members of the most influential families. The Great Council appointed public officials and elected a Senate of 2-300 men. The Senate chose the Council of Ten, an elect group which handled the administration of the city. One member was elected ‘Doge’, the ceremonial head of the city.
The Doge’s Palace, the ducal home and seat of power for 700 years, was largely constructed from 1309 to 1424 and is a stunning Gothic creation with the canal on one side and St Mark’s Square on the other. Next to the Palace on St Mark’s Square is St Mark’s Basilica. It is the famous of the city’s churches and one of the best-known examples of Byzantine architecture. The cathedral has been the seat of the Patriarch of Venice, archbishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Venice, since 1807. It is famous for its sheer opulence, and its wonderful gilded Byzantine mosaics. Venice boasts some great works of Renaissance art. The best galleries are the Accademia, the Galleria Giorgio Franchetti in the Gothic Ca’ d’Oro and the Peggy Guggenheim Collection.
Venice may be one of the biggest tourist attractions in the world, but however busy it is, few visitors are not overawed by its beauty, elegance and grandeur.
Location of Venice:In northeastern Italy, at the very of top of the Adriatic coast. 250 miles north of Rome. 130 miles northeast of Florence. 100 miles west of Trieste. 65 miles east of Verona. 5 miles from Marco Polo airport. Venice Lido is 2 miles from Venice by boat, 3 miles from the mainland by boat and 14 miles by motorboat or bus and ferry from Venice airport.
Serving Airports:Venice Marco Polo [VCE]
Treviso International [TSF]
Flight time from UK: Approximately 2 hours.
Venice Temperature Chart : | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
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| Temp °C | 3 | 5 | 8 | 12 | 17 | 20 | 23 | 22 | 19 | 14 | 8 | 4 |
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Average daily temperature °C
Beaches in Venice:Venice Lido is 15 mins by boat across San Marco's basin, then a short bus trip or 15 mins on foot. The – usually crowded – beach stretches for 5 mls along the southeast of the island, boasts clean, very fine sand, and is backed by an unbroken row of hotels. Much of the beach is segmented into private sections belonging to adjacent properties but public stretches do exist; the water is generally considered to be polluted. Plenty of beach amenities: deck chairs, loungers, sun umbrellas and changing cabins plus a choice of beachfront restaurants, bars and cafes. Water sports include windsurfing.
Shopping in Venice:A full range, from top designer boutiques to numerous markets. The main commercial area is in the San Polo district, where a string of popular shopping streets connect Campo San Polo with the Rialto Bridge. Many fashionable stores around St Mark's Square, and a good selection of stores along key walkways. Some specialist retailers in quieter, outlying areas. Upmarket boutiques and speciality shops in Lido. Glassware and lace are local specialities, together with masks. Lots of tacky souvenir shops radiate from St. Mark's Square. Most goods are relatively pricey.
Eating out in Venice:Generally more expensive than most other Italian cities, though the quality and quantities are not always as good. The top, pricey establishments are mainly around St Mark's Square. Many traditional trattorias in the San Polo and Dorsoduro districts. Plenty of food stands, cafes and ice-cream shops for quick snacks. Venice Lido restaurants are nearly all based in hotels. Plenty of familiar fare (pastas and risottos) with seafood a local speciality; pastries are a local treat. Regional cuisine makes use of spices and exotic flavours, a legacy of its lucrative trade with the East centuries ago. Fegato is an example of a local dish: liver with onions and polenta.
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By its very nature much of the information in our destination guides is subject to change at short notice and travellers are urged to verify information on which they are relying with
the relevant authorities. Corona Holidays [UK] Limited cannot accept any responsibility for any loss or inconvenience to any person as a result of information contained above.
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