VENICE

Venice is a very charming city, built in the Venetian lagoon. It consists of about 100 small islands, which are separated from each other by a dense network of picturesque canals, travelled on every day by hundreds of small motor boats, public ferries and traditional "Gondolas". Due to its extraordinary beauty, Venice is considered a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and offers its visitors the chance to see its famous museums with the "Venice City Museums" system, including the palaces and the city's collections that can all be visited using a single, convenient ticket. You can also visit Venice's beautiful churches, which form the original cultural and spiritual legacy of the millennial history of the lagoon city, and which also house amazing frescoes and paintings. St. Mark's Square is the most famous square in Venice and is an important urban and architectural complex that takes its name from the famous St. Mark's Basilica, built next to the renowned Doge's Palace. St. Mark's Basilica has a Romanesque-Byzantine style with five cupolas and was originally (10th century) built to house the body of Mark the Evangelist. The facade is decorated with precious marble and mosaics and is divided into two parts by a terrace, on which sit four gilded copper horses. The mosaics in the entrance and the impressive interior, rich in paintings and sculptures, are also magnificent. The Bell Tower adjacent to the Basilica was once used as a lighthouse for sailors. Entrance to the Basilica is free. Another place to visit near Venice is the Island of Murano, known as the "glass-blowing island" where this artistic tradition of glass production has been passed down over the years. Also not to be missed is the the Peggy Guggenheim Collection, on display at Palazzo Venier dei Leoni, a prestigious collection of twentieth century art.