The changing nature of Venice, a place very much at the whims of water, has given it plenty of names. There are those who call it Serenissima, others The Floating City. It’s certainly a place like no other, which has acted as a muse for many of the greatest artists. You’ll be inspired by it too.
View the Venetians
While many of the city’s buildings are works of art themselves, you’ll also find timeless pieces here by the great Venetian masters. In the Scuola Grande di San Rocco you’ll find works by Tintoretto that have been here since the 16th century. In the I Frari, Titian’s glorious “Assumption” takes pride of place in the chancel while his “Madonna di Ca’ Pesaro” is in the left aisle. It’s also believed that Titian himself is buried here – the sole victim of the plague who was allowed burial inside the city, testament to the regard in which he was held. Both artists have other works in the Gallerie dell’Accademia, along with Canaletto and Veronese.
Take a punt
It might seem like a cliché straight out of an ice cream commercial, but punting down a canal really is one of the best ways to see Venice. You can book gondolas throughout the city and there are a number of itineraries and routes to plump for. And if you can’t resist the romance, you can arrange to have a singer serenade you as you’re steered through the waterways.
Baroque and roll
Vivaldi is one of Venice’s most famous and celebrated sons, the composer of violin concertos such as “The Four Seasons” was born in the city in 1678. Many fans of classical music make their way to Venice just to hear his work performed there. Look out for the San Giovanni church where he was baptised and the plaque at the Ospedale della Pieta orphanage where he was ‘master of violin’. You’ll hear street musicians and amateurs galore having a crack at his compositions, but for the real deal try to see the Venice Baroque Orchestra, if they’re not out touring the world.
La cucina veneta
Venetian cuisine combines the greatest hits of Italian food with its own lagoon-based larder. Sardines and salt cod are popular here, the local rice lends itself to wonderful risotto and the lagoon crabs – moleche – are a specialty. Those with a sweet tooth will find plenty of places for gelato – La Boutique del Gelato on Salizzada San Lio is highly rated and the queues attest to the quality. Fish lovers who fancy a blowout should reserve well in advance for Antica Osteria Cera. This deceptively simple restaurant boasts two Michelin stars for dishes such as cannelloni with rockfish and sea bream with pepper and raspberry vinegar.
Venice continues to draw people in with its unique charm, and car hire in Venice will also let you explore Italy’s mainland, such as the nearby Verona, an inspiration for three of Shakespeare’s plays.