Belluno Vacation Villa Rentals

VENICE Make a Venice vacation rental your home away from home in the enchanting Veneto region of northeastern Italy. Venice (Venezia), one of the world's most beautiful and unusual cities, is built on a series of 118 islands, crisscrossed by more than 150 canals which serve as "roads." Venice's main thoroughfare, the Grand Canal (Canal Grande) is lined with more than 200 palaces including, the Palazzo Pesaro, Ca' d'Oro and Palazzo Rezzonico. Guests of Venice vacation rentals can traverse the city by vaporetti (water bus), by gondola or by foot. For centuries, Venice stood at the crossroads of Eastern and Western cultures, resulting in a unique blend of art and architecture. The spectacular Basilica di San Marco, featuring five bulb-like domes, is a masterpiece of Byzantine architecture. The extravagantly decorated interior is covered with 4,000 square meters of Byzantine mosaics, and the magnificent Pala d'Oro alter screen is encrusted with 2,000 gems and 255 enameled panels. Outside the church, Piazza San Marco is lined with historic buildings, cafes and shops. Guests of Venice villas and vacation rentals can ride the elevator to the top of the Campanile di San Marco bell tower, for spectacular views of the city. Another top attraction for guests of Venice vacation rentals is the Doge's Palace (Palazzo Ducale), the seat of government and home of the ruling doges (dukes) for more than 400 years. This richly decorated palace offers a fascinating glimpse into the 1,000-year history of Venice. In the Grand Council Hall, the nobility met to elect the senate and the doge. Here, visitors can see the world's largest oil painting on canvas, Tintoretto's 1,700 square foot masterpiece, "Paradise." Accademia Delle Belle Arti, the city's most important art museum, houses works from Venetian artists such as Giogione, Bellini, Veronese and others, while the Collezione Peggy Guggenheim showcases one of the world's most impressive collections of modern art. A