Enjoying the Spectacular Sights on a Holiday in Venice

When you are looking into planning a holiday in Venice, be prepared to leave your car and fast moving mentality behind. Located on the northeastern coast of Italy, this gorgeous city is best known for its canals and rich history of art and culture. In truth founded well before it was ‘officially’ founded in 421 AD (when the first church was dedicated), the city is full of interesting history and some of the most beautiful architecture and city planning of anywhere in Europe.

A holiday in Venice will take you a magical lagoon city, where instead of highways there are canals running between the buildings in very orderly paths. The massive Grand Canal snakes through the centre of the city, and there are several islands that hold different specialities - such as the island of San Michele, which is a cemetery island, or Murano, which is known for its glassworks.

Sights to see

There are few places with such a unique city layout as this one. The centre of the city itself is car-free and everyone gets around either by boat or on foot. Your itinerary on a holiday in Venice should include the most important and impressive iconic sights. Start in St Mark’s Square, in the heart of the city; spend time in the stunning Palazzo Ducale, admire the bell tower then enter the stunning St Mark’s Basilica. Inside the Basilica you can marvel at the sheer opulence of the church, then head upstairs to where the originals of the life-size bronze horses that you see on the outside of the building are kept.

After a morning spent exploring that beautiful church and piazza, throw caution to the wind, close your map and venture into the true spirit of the city. It’s not a huge place, and one of the best ways to surprise yourself is to simply wander around at your leisure. As you navigate the winding streets, you will, undoubtedly, come across the Rialto Bridge, which is one of the city’s most iconic structures. Not too far from the Rialto Bridge you may stumble across the church of San Giacomo di Rialto, the oldest church in the city, which is noted for its red pillars and stunning 15th century clock that hangs above its entrance.

Once you've traversed every street and taken in the ambience of the inner city, jump on a water taxi and head over to the island of Murano. No holiday in Venice is complete without visiting this famous island. It is to here the city's extensive glassworks were moved in a bid to protect the city from the threat of fire (which their production brought with it). Like the main city, Murano is actually a series of tiny islands connected by small canals and bridges. Be sure to visit some of the many glass factories and take home a piece of the famous Venetian export.

Lukas Johannes is a driver for Shuttle Direct. If you’re heading off on a holiday in Venice, Shuttle Direct can provide pre-booked shuttles to this and all major destinations all over Europe. Wherever you travel, Shuttle Direct can make sure that you don’t miss your car on your holiday abroad.

Writer and Online Marketing Manager in London.