Archive for 'Northeast Italy'

Words like “elegant” and “beautiful” come to mind when you ask most people about the city of Venice. Immediately, they imagine the canals, gleaming white churches and pretty Byzantine-influenced and Gothic palaces. However, as colourful and eye-catching as much of the city is, the rest cannot compare to the dream-like, saturated vision that is presented by Burano, the island in the Northern Venetian Lagoon. Home to an old village with fishing traditions dating back to Roman times, it is most well-known for the lace produced in the area, as well as its bright, multi-coloured houses that seem like something from a storybook or film set and not real life. If you want to experience this quirky little village for yourself, just find a vacation rental in Venice.

We've already discussed some of the works of art left by great Venetian Renaissance master Titian around Venice but there are many more examples to consider. In fact, you could spend days just following his trail all around the majestic city. This is actually a rather good way to explore the buildings of Venice that might not otherwise make it on to your itinerary. It might seem like a trip to Italy features too many visits to churches and that one church is very much the same as another but this is not the case. These are not merely religious buildings but great works of art with limitless joys and secrets to bestow should you look a little more closely. Popping in to see a Titian on display gives you an opportunity to also take in some of the most beautiful parts of the city and some of her loveliest buildings. Just find a vacation rental in Venice and get exploring!

Titian, or Tiziano Vecellio, is one of the greatest artists to ever come out of Venice. Although, while he is celebrated as a big player in the Venetian Renaissance, he was actually born in Pieve di Cadore. However, he came to be an instrumental figure in Venetian art and many of his works still remain in that great city. If you want to see the city in a different way, why not follow his art around Venice? Many works occupy churches and cost nothing to visit, plus you'll see a lot more of Venice and some beautiful church interiors as you go about finding them. Just find a holiday rental in Venice and use our list to locate some of Titian's hidden gems in the city.

An unassuming and rather unflashy building both inside and out, Harry's Bar in Venice has, however, housed and birthed some famous names; Hemingway was a regular and it is the birthplace of the world-famous Bellini cocktail. Despite a lack of obvious signs of greatness, there are touches that let you know that you're somewhere special. The waiters still dress sharply in dinner jackets, the simple décor retains early twentieth century charm and, above all, the food and drink is legendary. An institution of the city, it was named a national landmark by the Italian government in 2001. Find yourself a vacation rental in Venice and you can walk in the footsteps of some of the greatest writers and figures in history, all while enjoying a bite to eat and a good drink.

The Bellini is on almost every cocktail menu in the world and is one of the world's most beloved alcoholic beverages. It was born in Venice in Harry's Bar sometime between 1934 and 1948. Its inventor was Giuseppe Cipriani, founder of Harry's Bar, and it was so named due to its typically distinct pink colour (depending on ingredients used, this can vary in hue) which reminded him of the toga a saint wore in a painting by 15th-century Venetian artist Giovanni Bellini. The drink started as a seasonal speciality at Harry's and later became popular at the bar's New York counterpart. Once fresh white peach purée could be shipped constantly to both locations, it became a year-round favourite.