Murano Glass from Venice

Murano in Venice, Italy

Some people, when thinking of what to buy as a souvenir of their Venice city break, may think of Murano glass. Other people will never of heard of Murano, and will perhaps wonder if they are missing out on a well-kept secret of this popular Italian city.

What, or where, is Murano? Murano is , in fact, a small series of islands which lie approximately 1.5km north of Venice and each of the islands are joined by bridges. The whole area is only 1.5km wide and has around 5,000 inhabitants. Sometimes considered to be a miniature version of Venice, Murano even has its own Grande Canal.

St Mark's Square in Venice - A Few Highlights

Venice - The city that floats in a world of its own

With 150 canals, 400 bridges, palaces and elegant squares, Venice is sometimes referred to as the most romantic city in the world.  America writer - Fran Lebowitz - said of Venice "If you read a lot, nothing is as great as you've imagined.  Venice is - Venice is better".

Venice is divided into 6 districts with Piazza San Marco [St Mark's Square] being the most popular place to start as it is in the centre of Venice.

So join us as we explore just a few of the highlights of St Mark's Square, and also recommend 2 different hotels in which to stay so that you can be near to the Square.

Get to Know ... Rialto Bridge in Venice

Take a holiday in Venice and you are sure to wonder about the history of the Rialto Bridge.  It's history goes back to the year 1181 when the ponte de Moneta was the only bridge to span the Grande Canal. Unfortunately this bridge collapsed and was replaced by a wooden bridge in 1255 and was subsequently destroyed by a fire in 1310 and eventually collapsed in 1524.

Following this, the Venetian authorities sought to build a stone bridge and invited people such as Michelangelo to design such a structure. They finally decided on a design by the aptly named Antonio da Ponte, and the new bridge was completed in 1591.

The new bridge was made of Istrian stone and spans 28m and has arcades of shops on either side.  Across the bridge are 12 Renaissance arches and a centrally positioned portal. The Rialto Bridge has since been a vital part of Venice and is a hub of activity.

Take a look at our offers in Venice, or how about a Valentine's Break next February?

Venice for Valentines

With Valentine's Day only a month away, here is an offer which will leave you in a win-win situation with both your beloved and your bank balance.Venice City Breaks always features in the top 10 for a romantic getaway and this one includes a centrally placed 4 star hotel from £199 per person bed and breakfast for 3 nights including flights from Gatwick on the morning of the 14 February.

February in Venice is one of the less busy times for this popular city break.  A Vaporetti [water bus] ride the length of the Grand Canal is a good way of getting an idea of the layoung of the city it it is unfamiliar to you.  Away from the obvious sights, stroll around the less touristy areas such as "The Ghetto", a fascinating Jewish enclave with a central square enclosed by tall houses.  The nearby church of Madonna dell'Orto is packed with Tintorettos. 

The 4 star Malipiero Hotel is situated between St Mark's Square and the Rialto and dates back to 1484, having been a Doge's palace in its former life.  Its exuberant Venetian-style interiors include ceiling frescoes, stained glass chandeliers and luxuriant soft furnishings.  There is a restaurant and a host of modern facilities.

Interested in staying at the Malipiero Hotel - just give us a call on 0800 5 677688, or send an enquiry. 

New Flights to Venice from Luton

It has been announced by Luton Airport that Venice has returned to its list of destinations with a new scheduled service from Wizz Air.

Flights are due to start to this popular city from 19 June 2010 with a flight operating three times a week.

Venice is built on wooden piles in the middle of a lagoon on Italy's Adriatic coast.  Explored by a gondola, or on foot, the narrow streets and backwaters of Venice reveal all its decorative detail which reflects its past wealth and importance.  Venice Lido is 15 minutes by boat across San Marco's basin and then a short bus trip or 15 minutes on foot.  The beach stretches for 5 miles and has very fine sand and is backed by an unbroken row of hotels.    If shopping is what you are after, there is a good range of top designer boutiques and numerous markets.  The main commercial area is in the San Polo district where the shops connect Campo San Polo with the Rialto Bridge.  Glassware and lace are local specialities - and not forgetting masks. 

Interested in a holiday to Venice? - Just give us a call or send an enquiry.