Venice, Italy (Point of interest)

The bright pastel-coloured houses on Burano Island in the north of Venice's lagoon lend it a fairy-tale feel. Famous for its traditional lace, this fishing island is a good place for a stroll or a meal at a seafood restaurant.... Continue reading →

Ca' d'Oro's graceful facade, best seen from the Grand Canal, is classic Venetian Gothic. This palazzo in Cannaregio houses the Galleria Giorgio Franchetti Museum. Two storeys showcase mostly 15th- and 16th-century art, including frescoes by Titian ... Continue reading →

Baroque Ca' Pesaro, on the Grand Canal in Santa Croce, is a nobleman's mansion. Inside, the International Gallery of Modern Art houses works by Matisse, Klimt and Kandinsky. Japanese Edo-period (17th-19th-century) objects feature in the Museum of O... Continue reading →

The magnificent Ca' Rezzonico palazzo graces the Grand Canal in Dorsoduro. Inside, the Museum of 18th-century Venice fills 21 rooms, spread over three floors. Works on display include period furniture, paintings, sculptures and beautiful frescoes b... Continue reading →

Palladio's classically Renaissance Church of San Giorgio Maggiore on San Giorgio Maggiore Island is best viewed from across the lagoon. Completed in 1610, the inside showcases paintings by Tintoretto. Climb the clock tower for awe-inspiring city an... Continue reading →

Pietro Lombardo's Church of Santa Maria dei Miracoli in Cannaregio is a miraculous ensemble of marble. The interior and exterior are made entirely of different coloured marble. Started in 1481, it is a fine example of Venice's early Renaissance arc... Continue reading →

The highlight of the soaring Gothic Church of Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari in San Polo is Titian's dramatic painting Assunta (1518), a representation of the Assumption. Red and white marble and works by several Venetian masters dominate the churc... Continue reading →

Completed in 1499, the Renaissance Clock Tower overlooks St Mark's Square. An incredible feat of mechanical precision, it indicates time, moon phases and the reigning Zodiac sign. Small groups are regularly guided up four narrow floors for far-reac... Continue reading →

Home to works by Tiziano, Veronese and Tintoretto, the Doge's Palace in Venice is itself a masterpiece of Gothic art and an iconic landmark not to be missed. A visit provides access to the Bridge of Sighs. Other attractions to look out for include... Continue reading →

Occupying a deconsecrated church, the Gallerie dell'Accademia in Dorsoduro contain the world's greatest collection of Venetian art, spanning 500 years. Featured artists include the Bellinis, Tintoretto and Carpaccio. View Titiano's Pietà and Veron... Continue reading →

Dating back to 1516, the Ghetto (Jewish Quarter) in Cannaregio was the first area in Europe where Jews were forced to live and work. The area brims with once-crowded houses and synagogues. The Jewish Museum is particularly interesting. Allowed to ... Continue reading →

Located on Murano Island, for centuries the centre of European glass manufacture, the Glass Museum shows the complexity and richness of the unique Venetian glassblowing tradition. Pieces range from the 15th century to the present day. Roman artefac... Continue reading →

The Peggy Guggenheim Collection features 20th-century art pieces brought together by the eccentric American heiress and collector. Housed in her former home, an 18th-century truncated palazzo in Dorsoduro, the museum displays works by Chagall, Pica... Continue reading →

A breathtaking concentration of over 50 works by Renaissance painter Tintoretto covers the walls and ceiling of the first floor of the Scuola Grande di San Rocco. This religious fraternity in San Polo has a Renaissance façade featuring white colum... Continue reading →

A Secret Tour of the Doge's Palace in San Marco is a fascinating insight into the more sinister side of the Venetian Republic's political institutions. Visitors see the Bridge of Sighs, underground chambers and the rooftops from where Casanova esca... Continue reading →

St Mark's Basilica is a sublime mix of Byzantine, Gothic and Renaissance architecture, standing majestically on St Mark's Square. Inside shimmers with golden mosaics while the Pala d'Oro altarpiece drips with 2000 precious stones. Climb the belltow... Continue reading →

One of the most famous and beautiful squares in the world, the Piazza San Marco is a magnet for tourists. It is also at the heart of the historic city of Venice which is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site. Hugh Honour described the Piazza as ... Continue reading →

Settled around the 6th century, Torcello was the economic and social hub of Venice in its heyday. Today, several architectural features bear witness to its glorious past and the quiet island is also home to the renowned restaurant Locanda Cipriani.... Continue reading →