Cruising around Venice and Mantua on Boating Holidays

When you imagine all the places in Italy you would love to visit while there on holiday, it can be somewhat overwhelming – and frustrating when you can't go everywhere you want to! One of the most unique solutions for this conundrum is to book one of the excellent boating holidays in Italy; your itinerary can that you to several locations and allow you to cruise in the luxury of your own floating hotel, equipped with all you could ever need. When considering this type of experience, boating holidays including the destinations of Venice and Mantua are fantastic fun.

A cruise in Venice

When in Italy, it may seem that boating holidays and Venice go hand in hand – after all, this is a city built on water. If you begin in the wonderful and enigmatic city of Venice, you will have the chance to get your water legs as you cruise gently down the Giudecca Canal. Here you will be able to see many of the opulent waterfront mansions and monuments that have existed for centuries.

While in Venice, take time to visit the Naval Museum, with its large number of naval-related items on display, and take stroll into the beautiful St Mark’s Square to have a coffee at the café where the well-known poets worked their magic. Wander the streets of the Castello District in the early morning to get a taste of the heart of the city in all its quirky glory. Experience the dazzling collection of art at the Peggy Guggenheim Museum and treat yourself to lunch or dinner of some of the local seafood specialities. Other not to be missed sights are the Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute, Palladio’s Church of San Pietro, and the Pavilion of Gondolas.

Mantua

Located inland from Venice, this is a fascinating destination to include on your Italian boating holidays. The city of Mantua was famous for its use of water as a defence mechanism in ancient times. It is surrounded on three sides by artificial lakes that were created during the 12th century (there was also a fourth lake, which dried up during the 18th century).

When you arrive in the city it is indeed a pleasant surprise to discover just how much there is to see and do. It has important links with the rise of the Opera, and it is famously the place to where Romeo was banished in Shakespeare’s famous Romeo and Juliet. The Old Town of Mantua was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2008, in conjunction with nearby Sabbioneta. The city is, in fact, considered a true gem of Renaissance town planning and much of the magnificent town planning and buildings in Mantua have links to the Gonzaga family, who took a leading role in revitalising it from the 1300s to the 1600s. While in Mantua, ensure you go ashore to explore the many palaces, towers and the Bibiena Theatre, where a young Mozart played a concert.

Paul Newman is the Marketing and E-Systems Executive for European Waterways, a provider of luxury, all-inclusive barge holidays. If you're looking for superior boating holidays in Europe, we offer experiences in France, Holland, Italy and the UK.

Writer and Online Marketing Manager in London.