donna hay magazine

see&doGIUDECCAMinutesawayfromthemainislandbyvaporetto(a Venetianwaterbus),thesmallislandofGiudeccahasarelaxed,quaintatmosphereandoffersgreatviewsofVenice,withoutthetourists.Easilycoveredonfoot,it’shometowealthyresidences,galleries, friendly waterside trattorias and Il Redentore, the16th-century Roman Catholic church that dominates the skyline.``````LIDOThis picturesque narrow island, with sandy beaches, sleepyshadedstreets,luxuryvillasandup-markethotels,hasthefeelofaseasideresort.ItbecomeshometotherichandfamouseveryyearfortheVeniceFilmFestival.Thisareawasalsothesetting for Thomas Mann’s famous 1912 novel,DeathinVenice.``````MURANO AND BURANOMurano and Burano are the most commonly visited islands intheVenetianlagoon,bothashortvaporettoride from the mainhub.Muranoisfamedforglassmaking(withthechancetoseeglassblowing demonstrations) while Burano is known for itslaceandtherainbowofprettypastelhousesthatlineitscanals.getting thereThe islands of Venice are easily accessible by water bus fromthe main island. There are two airports servicing Venice – theclosest is Marco Polo (about a 20–30 minute taxi or bus ridefrom the centre) and Treviso, which is about an hour awayby bus and mostly services local European carriers.stay & relaxMOVIE-STAR LUXE For the ultimate in indulgence, discoverthe famous five-star Cipriani Hotel on Giudecca with its large,leafy private gardens, pool and palazzo-style surroundings.Hotel Cipriani (belmond.com/hotel-cipriani-venice)``````SAVVY TRAVELLER Choosing a hotel on the island of Lido,as opposed to in the heart of Venice, can be a clever way tosave money on accommodation. The Hotel Reiter is a centraland convenient budget option. Hotel Reiter (hotelreiter.com)``````PEACEFUL HAVEN Escape the crowds and take temporaryresidence on Murano at this elegant hotel, enclosed in the antiquewalls of an old furnace. Lagare Hotel Venezia (lagarehotelvenezia.com). travel.154 http://www.donnahay.com