Everywhere you turn there’s something new to discover in Venice. For the first few hours after I arrived I couldn’t believe I was really there. Known for its winding canals and ancient bridges, it’s also pretty famous for its artisan crafted masks and costumes worn during the carnival, as well as for the Peggy Guggenheim Collection. One of the most memorable days for me was when we visited the magnificent Piazza San Marco, which Napoleon referred to as the “drawing room of Europe”. I was in complete awe.

The square is named after the unusual and stunning Basilica San Marco that sits on the east end of the square. The slender Campanile di San Marco, the basilica’s bell tower, is one of the square’s most recognizable landmarks. While in the square, I attended a glass blowing demonstration (Venice is famous for its Venetian glass). Of course, no trip to Venice would be complete without a ride down one of the city’s picturesque waterways in an iconic gondola. Afterwards we enjoyed evening aperitivi in true Venetian style. At aperitivo time, Venice’s cool crowd line up drinks and cicheti (snacks) in the bars at the north-western foot of the Rialto bridge. This was followed by a taste of true Venetian cuisine for dinner. Traditional dishes are l’oca in onto (goose in its own fat), sarde in saor (fried fresh sardine fillets marinated in softly cooked white onions) or polpette (meatballs) in tomato sauce. There’s also a huge selection of Venetian antipasti to choose from, including raw sea food. Try Vini da Gigio for a great meal.