Away from the main tourist crowd, another Venice appears, with narrow canals, women hanging out their washing and small osterias (bars) where locals, outnumber tourists.

One of the world’s most thoroughly unique destinations, quite simply, La Serenissima (The Divine Republic) - Venice, is unlike anywhere else on the planet, with attractions that include a collage of 116 islands connected by 409 bridges, where everyone, including postmen and the police, go by boat.

When travelling to Venice one finds themselves immersed in history and when visitors ease through the morning mists, on empty canals with grandiose buildings rising up on all sides, it is easy to slip back through the centuries, to the time of the Doges – the omnipotent rulers, whose influence spread well beyond the Venetian Lagoon.

Away from the main tourist crowd, another Venice appears, with narrow canals, women hanging out their washing and small osterias (bars) where locals, outnumber tourists.

The beauty of this unique destination emerges through quintessential Venice attractions, such as getting off a vaporetto at a random stop and ambling down a deserted canal, looking for a trattoria, or bouncing across the Venetian Lagoon after a freshly mixed Bellini at Harry’s Bar, en route to dinner at the Hotel Cipriani.

WHEN TO TRAVEL to Venice

It’s high season for most of the year and busiest in spring (March-June) and Autumn (Sept-Oct). Accommodation can be hard to find during this time, and at Christmas, New Year and Carnevale (February).

The most pleasant time of year to visit is late March into May, with clear spring days and comparatively fewer crowds.