Venice is made up of over 100 islands, all linked together by Venice’s unique canal network. As one of the most beautiful cities in the world Venice won’t disappoint its visitors. Explore Venice’s famous canals, old bridges, stunning palazzos and great art.

What to do and see in and around Venice:

St Mark’s Square

The crowded St Mark’s Square is probably Venice’s most famous square. Enjoy a coffee in one of the cafés while admiring the beautiful architecture surrounding you. Lots of Venice’s main attractions, such as the Campanile and the Clock Tower, can be found close by. Don’t miss the golden altar piece in the impressive St Mark’s Basilica.

Gallerie dell’Accademia

The Accademia Gallery has one of the finest art collections in Europe. The walls are lined with works by Venetian master painters including Bellini, Titian, Veronese and Tintoretto.

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Sicily is the largest island in the west of the southern end of the Italian peninsula, in the Mediterranean Sea. Bounded by the Mediterranean Sea on the west and south, by the Ionian Sea on the east, and by the Tyrrhenian Sea on the north, the island of Sicily is the region of Italy, separated by the Strait of Messina from the mainland.

The island of Sicily was colonized by the Greeks in the 8th – 6th centuries BC; became the first Roman province in the 3rd century BC; came under Byzantine rule in the 6th century AD; came under the control of the Arabs from North Africa in 965 AD; and was acquired by the Normans in 1060 AD. Sicily was incorporated into the Kingdom of Italy in 1861. Read the rest of this entry »

If you are looking for a European tourist destination, consider the Veneto region of northern Italy on the Gulf of Venice. Venice is one of the world’s most popular tourist destinations. But the Veneto region is a lot more than this great city. With a little luck you’ll avoid tourist traps, and return home feeling that you have truly visited Italy. This article examines southern Veneto tourist attractions. Our companion articles describe northern Veneto, the Shakespearean city of Verona, and the university city of Padua.

Over the centuries Vicenza passed from one occupier to another. In the Sixteenth Century was the home of Andrea Palladio, perhaps the most influential person in Western architecture. About two dozen of his Veneto villas compose a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Palladio was a major influence on Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello, and many state capitol buildings. Read the rest of this entry »