If you’ve followed the advice above, you might not need to use the vaporetto unless you’re going out to the islands. But if you’ll be using it several times or more during your trip it could be worth buying a timed pass, which gets cheaper the longer you stay.

Until the Second World War, Ferrara had a renowned Jewish community; this was the setting for The Garden of the Finzi-Continis, by Giorgio Bassani, and you can still wander the narrow streets of what used to be the Jewish quarter. Learn the history of the community – both here and more widely in Italy – at the exceptional MEIS, or National Museum of Italian Judaism and the Shoah. The Biennale, an annual cultural exhibition held in Giardini and Arsenale is understandably a huge draw for fans of contemporary art and architecture. Arm yourself with a changing mat and plenty of wipes for on-the-go diaper action (changing facilities aren’t prevalent). Venice restaurants are expensive but there’s an easy way to eat cheaply (see below). Once you add it all up, a basic hotel can be better value. It’s more ethical to stay in a hotel, too – the explosion of Airbnbs and vacation rentals have decimated the housing market, meaning many Venetians have had to leave the city. Family-friendly public facilities are also limited, though parks and playgrounds can be found in a few neighborhoods – Canereggio's Parco Savorgnan and Castello's Parco delle Rimembranze for example.When Italians think of beach holidays around the lagoon, they look north of Venice. An hour or so from the Serenissima (i.e. Venice) by car or train, the Lido of Jesolo is an iconic name in the Italian collective mind. With 15 km of sand and Blue Flag-certified waters, this is one of the most popular holiday destinations in the whole country. The Liberty Boston is a luxurious boutique hotel located in the heart of downtown Boston. It is a Marriott property, so you can book a standard room for as few as 56,000 Marriott points per night.

A 24-hour pass costs €25, 48 hours costs €35, 72 hours is €45 and a week is a relative bargain at €65 (prices drop in 2023 if you book more than 30 days in advance – see below). Where climate change does come in, is that a long period of high pressure over Italy is currently causing a drought — droughts are being seen around Europe and causing concern in numerous regions. In the case of Venice's canals: “[the high pressure has] been over us for so long that it eventually coincided with a low lunar tide, causing the exceptionally low water,” says Cairns. Children love getting around the city. The city's fleet of water taxis, vaporetti (public waterbuses), gondolas and private boats insure constant fascination. Although Venice does presents its own set of unique challenges: parents don’t need to worry about their kids crossing the street without looking both ways, but the constant concern of falling into a canal isn't exactly a welcome trade-off. Everyone knows that water is what makes Venice unique. It’s all part of its mythos and charm – the Serenessima floats in the middle of the Lagoon, with only a strip of land connecting it to the mainland.The Gritti Palace is a luxury hotel in Venice, Italy. It was built in the 15th century as a private residence and has operated as a boutique hotel starting in 1895. Located on Venice’s famous Grand Canal, the iconic hotel offers stunning views of the Venetian lagoon and is just steps away from St. Mark's Square. The Gritti Palace features luxurious accommodations with a mix of classic and modern Italian design and dining options featuring local Venetian cuisine. The hotel also offers a range of amenities such as a rooftop jacuzzi, fitness center, spa and private boat tours. When Jewish merchants fled the Spanish Inquisition for Venice in 1541, there was no place left in the Ghetto to go but up: in buildings around the Campo del Ghetto Nuovo, upper storeys housed new arrivals, synagogues and publishing houses. A plain wooden cupola in the corner of the campo (square) marks the location of the Schola Canton. Next door is the Schola Tedesca, while the rooftop Schola Italiana is a simple synagogue built by newly arrived and largely destitute Italian Jews, who had fled from Spanish-controlled southern Italy. And while climate change is sparking drought in Italy, the canals of Venice are usually full. Even last summer, when Italy’s lakes and rivers were visibly drying up, Venice looked the same as ever. Can I still take a gondola ride? In fair Verona, where we set our scene, little has changed since the 16th century, when Shakespeare set Romeo and Juliet here. The Piazza delle Erbe still hosts a lively market beneath its frescoed palazzos; the Adige river still loops around the elegant center; and the Giardino Giusti’s impeccably laid out garden hasn’t undergone anything more radical than a trim in 500 years. Juliet may not have existed in real life but her spirit lives on in Verona, where " Juliet’s House" – complete with balcony, of course – lures visitors, and a bronze statue is said to bring love to those who rub its breast (nobody could accuse Italy of being politically correct).

There are several lines of vaporettos divided into four main categories, the most relevant to tourists being the "city center lines" 1 and 2, which sail along the Grand Canal.Your main routes, however, will be with the public transport company ACTV. This runs the vaporetti – waterbuses – in and around town. If you’ll be using them a lot, it’s worth getting a timed pass rather than paying by the ride. Learning to voga (Venice's signature stand-up rowing technique employed by gondolieri throughout the city's canals) is another fantastic option. Row Venice will have the kids piloting their own gambero (shrimp-tailed boat) in no time. Planning tips Yes, many churches in Venice are free, but many are worth paying for, even when you’re on a budget. The Chorus collection of 18 churches offers some of the city’s finest art and architecture. Again, ditch the false economies – instead of paying €3 per entry, stump up for the pass to all the churches – it costs €12 and lasts a year. Walking among the stalls of the centuries-old Rialto market is definitely a unique and quintessentially Venetian (and Italian) experience. Divided into two sections, one for fruits and vegetables (in Piazza delle Erbe) and the other for fresh seafood (in Loggia della Pescheria), the market is located in the area around the Rialto bridge, in the sestiere San Polo. The same area turns into a wonderland of Christmas stalls and little shops if you happen to visit during the holidays. This is another Italy-wide rule but it comes into sharper relief in Venice: drink your coffee or eat your croissant at the bar to avoid paying a seating supplement. If you’re happy to stand, you can get a drink at fancy Piazza San Marco cafes like Florian or Quadri for a few euros – while those sitting outside are paying double figures, and that’s before the additional fee if an orchestra is playing in the square. 19. Watch your step on the vaporetto