Known in the Italian language as ‘Venezia’, the elegant city of Venice is situated in northern Italy and is comprised of 117 small islands spread across the Venice Lagoon in the Adriatic Sea. With so much to see there, staying in a Venice villa is a great way to spend a holiday in this fascinating city. You will not be disappointed when hiring Venice villas. The city is often described as one of the most beautiful on Earth and is extremely popular with tourists worldwide. From its astounding architecture to its unique transportation system along the canals, Venice is a truly iconic city.
When you holiday in a Venice villa, you will no doubt spend a great deal of time along the Grand Canal. Winding its way through the heart of the city, the Grand Canal is the main artery for water traffic and it is usually filled with water taxis, vaporetti and gondolas. Visitors staying in Venice villas are sure to agree that it is a spectacular sight, lined with elegantly coloured buildings and spanned by the oldest bridge in Venice, the Rialto Bridge. Originally constructed as a floating pontoon in 1181, the Rialto Bridge was completed in stone in 1591 and you can admire its classic design when you stay in a villa in Venice. Every first Sunday in September an historical regatta takes place on the Grand Canal where crowds gather along the banks to watch this exciting Venetian boat race.
Visitors that
rent a villa in Venice will more than likely visit Saint Mark’s Square during their holiday. This is the city’s main square and is dominated by one of the key landmarks in Venice, Saint Mark’s Basilica. This cathedral is an awe-inspiring example of Byzantine architecture and should not be missed when you stay in a
Venice villa. First built in 823, the cathedral is adorned with gilded mosaics and topped with opulent domes and the interior is equally magnificent. Holidaymakers staying in
Venice villas will also find the exquisite clock tower in the square, an early Renaissance building that is decadently decorated in blue and gold. The Campanile bell tower stands almost 100 metres above the square and there are many shops and cafés located around the perimeter.
As a special treat, sightseers staying in Venice villas may wish to visit Caffè Florian, the most famous coffee house in Venice and possibly one of the longest established in the world. With a prime position located on Saint Mark’s Square, Caffè Florian was first opened in 1720 and has become a fashionable place to be for the rich and famous. Typically Italian cuisine is served in most of the restaurants around Venice such as pizza and pasta dishes and being positioned by the sea there is plenty of seafood on offer too. Staying in a self catering Venice villa gives you the opportunity to dine out when you like and sample some of the tasty Italian delicacies.
An interesting location to visit when you stay in a Venice villa is the Lido, a sandbar island in the Venice Lagoon that is popular with families. Much of the long beach is owned by the numerous hotels, however there are public bathing beaches that are fantastic for families with young children staying in Venice villas. The island of Murano is also located in the Venice Lagoon and it is famous for its glass production. Elaborate and colourful ornaments, vases and jewellery are made in the island’s factory and visitors staying in Venice villas can see the glass items being made as well as browse around its intriguing shop. Islands around Venice can be easily reached by water taxis or water buses, also known as vaporetti, that depart regularly from platform stops around the city.
A great time to visit Venice is around the time of the Venice Carnival which is a spectacular sight for people taking Venice villa holidays. Venetians and tourists alike adorn themselves in elaborate masks and costumes and parade around the streets creating an incredible spectacle. The Carnival was originally started during the 14th century as a celebration for all classes of people living in the city, wearing masks to hide away their identities. The festival now attracts around 30,000 visitors each year, many of which choose to rent holiday villas in Venice. Street entertainers can be found everywhere and people sip Bellinis as the sound of classical music emanates from bars and fireworks illuminate the sky. Holidaymakers staying in Venice villas are greatly encouraged to dress up and join in with the celebrations.
