If marble palaces, glistening lagoons, freshly made gnocchi and sticky gelato are your idea of Italy, you're probably dreaming of holidays to Venice.
Floating fairy tale
Venice floats on a lagoon of its own making in northern Italy. Gilded gondolas, ornate basilicas and tantalising trattorias give the place its fairy tale feeling. Walking through 100 islands might sound like a lot of footwork, but a cluster of cosy neighbourhoods means the city's actually quite compact.
Gelato lovers
St Mark's Square is stacked with cultural sites and places to eat. Order a sampling of 'cicchetti' – Venetiantapas–so you've got energy to explore the Gothic Doge's Palace. The winding cobbled streets feel like a pastel-hued playground, and the oh-so-tasty gelato follows the same colour scheme.
Canal views
No trip to Venice would be complete without a gondola ride on the Grand Canal – best taken with a local guide. There are oodles of snap-worthy moments, with Renaissance architecture and romantic views aplenty. To get a real feel for the Venetian lifestyle, ask your gondolier to glide down the quieter back streets.