Venice's mystical beauty needs to be seen to be believed. This dreamlike sanctuary on a lagoon is virtually the same as it was five hundred years ago, which adds to its fascinating character. Its maze of winding canals, elegant Renaissance and Byzantine palaces, discrete alleyways and hidden piazzas, entice visitors all year round.

The meandering Grand Canal is the backbone of the city brimming with whirring vapporetti and gliding gondolas. Dotted with extravagant palaces and historic sights, its S-shape neatly splits the city into two.

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The ideal way to explore Venice is aboard a gondola weaving through the myriad of canals or on foot wandering through the narrow backstreets. Every corner and crevice is filled with captivating restaurants and little stores selling local specialities like Carnival masks, glass and marbled paper.