A place unlike any other, Venice is a city to be savoured. Sat on its lagoon it is extraordinary, vibrant in its eccentricity and full of an artistic expression found nowhere else.

Its architecture is a reflection of centuries of glory as a city state, its empire and status as a trading power bringing in not only wealth, but influences from around the Mediterranean and beyond. Today, its treasures are both overt – the opulent Basilica di San Marco and Palazzo Ducale to name just two, but also hidden away down atmospheric backstreets. Wander these and around very corner you’ll stumble across a church clad in finest marble or a convent with a piece of priceless art by Bellini or Titian behind its alter.

In fact, many of Venice’s artistic treasures remain exactly where they were painted, while others have been curated into a series of world-class museums. The Accademia, Venice’s most famous art museum, is a perfect example of this, with its collection that consists mostly of masterpieces.

While there is a great cultural heritage to explore, Venice is also a place to simply wander and take in – a true fairy tale city.