Italy: Venice

A member of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World, the 5-star de luxe Ca’ Sagredo hotel is located on the waterfront overlooking the Grand Canal, just a short stroll from St Mark’s Square. Dating back to the 15th century, the hotel retains many...   read more

Located next to the Basilica San Marco, the most important building in Venice, defined by Ruskin as "the central building of the world", and undoubtedly the finest secular building of its era in Europe, the 'Palazzo Ducale' was more than the residence of the Doge - it was also the home of Venice's governing councils, its law courts, bureaucratic offices and even its prisons. Highlights include the Sala dell'Anticollegio, reserved for Ambassadors and representatives of the cities ruled by Venice; the Collegio, with its magnificent ceiling and paintings by Veronese; the Sala del Senato, with spectacular ceiling paintings by Jacopo Tintoretto; the Sala del Consiglio dei Dieci (room of the Council of Ten) and Sala del Maggior Consiglio (or great meeting hall), in which all of the elected members of government met in council with the doge.

Venture to the northern lagoon of Venice by motorboat and in Murano visit the Glass Museum. The history of glass producing is demonstrated by its splendid collection of antique pieces explaining how the island grew in importance becoming the principal glass producer in Europe in the 16th century

People watch in St Marks Square enjoying a coffee and watch the world go by.