Venice! An open-air museum where the streets are made of water. Everyone has heard of Venice in Italy. Beauty is around every corner. Before actually visiting this exciting city, you could think it's an over-rated place oozing with romanticism people like to talk about. But... you'll realize upon getting there that it is indeed a special place, in no way like a theme park. Authenticity is vibrant in Venice. Whether, you go there as a simple tourist on a weekend get-away, on a Venice painting holiday or on your honeymoon, you'll no doubt be under a spell.

What to visit in Venice? Here is list of main attractions you won't regret visiting:

SAINT MARK'S SQUARE (PIAZZA SAN MARCO) On this gigantic square that's actually rectangular, you'll be able to visit the the following landmarks: 

Campanile of Saint Mark's Square (San Marco Campanile) a high red brick tower that will give you a breathtaking view of the whole of Venice. In front of the Campanile, you'll be able to visit:

Doge's Palace (Palazzio Ducale) a magnificent museum used in ancient times as a palace prison where Giacomo Casanova was held and even escaped from. Next to this marvellous landmark is another famous landmark of Venice:

La Basilica di San Marco (Saint Mark's Basilica) - a patriarchal cathedral well worth visiting.

Museo Correr: art museum on Saint Mark's square.

Then, about 100 metres away, on the water you'll find:

BRIDGE OF SIGHS (Ponte Dei Sospiri): close to Saint Mark's square, you'll be able to see gondolas going under it. Very Venetian!

You'll also definitely want to see:

RIALTO BRIDGE (Ponte di Rialto):  The very heart (or at least one of the main arteries) of Venice!

ACCADEMIA BRIDGE (Ponte dell'Accademia): Beautiful views of the Grand Canal.

GRAND CANAL Main S-shaped body of water in Venice where you'll see many beautiful palaces.

LA FENICE THEATER (TEATRO LA FENICE) This theater is worth a look, even if you don't have concert tickets for La Fenice, you'll be able to visit the inside of it. Get ready for a stunning surprise!

BASILICA DI SANTA MARIA DELLA SALUTE  An absulte wonder of architecture on the Grand Canal, very popular during the Venice Carnival period, where marquis and duchesses like to parade...

BURANO ISLAND Famous island of Venice with multi-coloured houses. Just quaint with its tiny canal! It has a few restaurants, so you can have lunch or dinner there.

MURANO ISLAND Venice island known for Murano glass. You'll be able to visit the glass shops and attend glass-making worskshops where you'll watch Venetian glass blowers at work. 

LIDO ISLAND is an island about 10 to 15 minutes away from Venice's centre by vaporetto. This island situated in the wider Venice lagoon is where the Venice film festival is held every year in September. It holds many typical 'villas' from the 1920s and 30s, and was a very popular popular place where Marlene Dietrich, Greta Garbo and other glamarous stars liked to come have fun and be seen. You can rent bikes to tour the island (11 km long, all flat!) and there are beaches there, especially sand beaches on the Adriatic side, where you can swim. 

PEGGY GUGGENHEIM COLLECTION Art museum

For further information about the city of VENICE ITALY, visit the official city of love's website www.veneziaunica.it

You can also get more information on ART HOLIDAYS IN ITALY, or more specifically on PAINTING AND DRAWING HOLIDAYS IN VENICE by clicking what's highlighted in blue.  

Other art vacations and watercolour holidays in Italy include the following: CAPRI PAINTING HOLIDAY, and also ROME PAINTING HOLIDAY, and let's not forget the mysterious and enchanted POMPEII + AMALFI HOLIDAY.