Think of Venice for a minute, what images is your mind conjuring up? Canals? Bridges? Gondolas? Ice cream cones? All of the above? If your answer is the latter then that’s pretty unsurprising as these are the things the travel ads tend to focus on. The best holidays tend to be those where you add your own things into the mix so you see all the sights but have that extra dimension that you don’t see in the brochures or on the websites.
A Night at the Opera
A popular misconception about Venice is that is has very few buildings, probably due to the fact that it consists of 100 small islands joined by bridges with no roads. Venice opera is of the very highest calibre and the Gran Teatro La Fenice is one of the most beautiful theatres in the world; fact. It also carries a certain prestige which guarantees its audiences an evening they will never forget as opera stars from across the globe bring the most famous of characters to life in the most opulent of settings.
Visit Burano
Head to the north end of the Venetian Riviera and you will reach Burano. The charming fisherman’s island with its multi coloured cottages is as far removed from the grandeur of Venice as you can get. It’s the perfect place to go if you want to escape from the throngs of tourists in the Venetian cobbled streets, waterways and squares. Best known for its lace making, the Museo del Merletto gives a unique insight into the fascinating industry and how it put Burano on the map.
St Mark’s Basilica..at Night
A trip to gaze upon the wonder of St Mark’s Basilica is one of the must dos when visiting Venice. As spectacular as it is in the sunlight make the effort to go and see it once that sun goes down, wow!
The backlighting allows to appreciate every little detail on that magnificent facade, allowing it to pack an even bigger punch. Another plus is the peace and serenity. For whatever reason this is not something people do at night and to have all this space to be able to take in one of the most stunning sights in Italy without jostling for space is pure magic.
Glass Making in Murano
Venetian glass is renowned the world over and anyone who’s a fan of Bargain Hunt will immediately recognise the Murano name. If you are keen to see the glass being made, blown and then shaped into vases, souvenirs etc then a trip to the little island of Murano is a must. If you prefer a more hands on approach there are also options to take a workshop to give you a real insight into the ancient art of glass making. The museum will take you through the full history of glass making and how this island became the home of one of the most respected global names in glass. Before you return to Venice give yourself some time to visit the church of Santa Maria and San Donato. Boasting a Byzantine mosaic floor dating back to the 12the century this is well worth a look.
