Venice is one of the world's most unique cities, due to the fact that in the six centuries since it came into existence, it hasn't really changed. And despite being a sprinkling of islands built on water, it's home to spectacular buildings like the Basilica of St. Mark. Located in Veneto, a region of North-East Italy, Venice is a city worth getting lost in. Flanked by a labyrinthine network of charming canals, its spaghetti-like layout of narrow streets offer a new discovery around every corner.
Venice's famous Piazza di San Marco is the city’s centre of attention, with the majestic basilica towering over the square, as well as the Doges' Palace (Palazzo Ducale) and the columns of San Marco and San Todaro completing the iconic ensemble.
If you've got time, take a romantic gondola ride along the Grand Canal and under the Rialto Bridge, or a water taxi to Murano, world-renowned for its glassmaking. Venice also hosts the oldest film festival in the world, which takes place in late August or early September on the island of Lido di Venezia. Other cultural highlights include the prestigious Art Biennale exhibition which is held every two years and the annual carnival, where locals and visitors put on their traditional period costumes and elaborate Venetian masks.
Situated in the mainland area of Mestre, Venice Marco Polo is the closest airport to Venice itself, but many low-cost airlines touch down at Treviso Airport, 25 kilometres away from the city.