Looking at some of the great island getaways and vacation spots of the world and one would be forgiven in asking – What? Is Venice an Island? Actually, it is a series of Islands. 

A visit to this beautiful water city is a must to your bucket list of must-see travel destinations.One of the most beautiful public spaces in the world has to be Piazza San Marco.

This fascinating square is the heart of Venice. This is the waterway city, with the russet-brick bell tower, flanked on the other side by a baroque clock tower chiming the hour and setting the pigeons aloft.

Visiting Venice

To relax in St Marks square and watch the world go by whilst sipping at a latte certainly ranks as one of those memorable pleasures of life.

Such is the allure of Venice. It tends to be the start and end point of most travelers excursions to this iconic place.

Many people speak of the beauty of the ancient waterways. But on closer examination of their memoirs, it is apparent that they have flirted only with the first seduction of Italian history and romance.

A visit to Venice, Italy will unveil a depth of culture and sightseeing that is both intense and fascinating.

Venice is bigger than you may think and there is so much more to this wonderful destination. It may seem relatively small but, in reality, it is a big place.

Venice is made of different boroughs. Sestieri, or main districts in English, are spread across the area comprising the 118.

They are: Cannaregio , Dorsoduro, Castello, Santa Croce , Lido di Venezia ,Isola Della Giudecca, San Polo, and San Marco.

The latter being where the main sights and monuments are located. Other notable islands include Murano, Torcello, San Francesco del Deserto and Burano, among others.

However, Venice and the outlying islands is so much more. In the hot and muggy months, Venice is not a comfortable place to be.

The waterways do develop a stronger pungency of decay and finding a swimming pool can be a challenge.

The tourists are teeming everywhere. Personally, I would avoid peak time in Venice. I would choose to go in spring or autumn.

The Venetian Lido

 Ask a Venetian where they go to the beach and they’ll say –Lido. This is the local beach – it is a long thin barrier island made famous by the Venice Film Festival.  

With a trendy feel to it, this is an affluent residential part of the greater Venice with small and intimate canals and fantastic views of old Venice across the Lagoon.

This is an island that shelters the lagoon from the Adriatic Sea, In 1920’s the aristocratic haunt of the moneyed. In many ways, Lido preserves this feeling.

Most of the beaches are owned by the various hotels. If you are staying at a hotel that does not offer beach access, you’ll need to visit the public beach.

This is at the end of the Gran Viale, most central, which is very nice but a bit crowded.