Eilidh enjoys a bench on Torcello island, Venice – a “gorgeous, leafy little place”.<\/p><\/div>\n

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Why I went to Venice<\/strong>
\nThis was not my first visit to Venice, so I already knew how magical the city feels. When I was picking a destination for my birthday treat this year, I was sure Venice would be a safe bet for a memorable trip with my partner. And with the final days of the massive Venice Biennale art festival overlapping with my 31st towards the end of November, the timing couldn\u2019t have been more perfect.<\/p>\n

My highlight of the trip<\/strong>
\nThe Biennale embodies all that I love about Venice, and it never disappoints. Every two years, two vast venues \u2013 the Arsenale and the Giardini della Biennale \u2013 are filled to bursting with contemporary art from all over the world, as are smaller venues scattered throughout the city. During the two days (not nearly enough time) we devoted to exploring the Biennale this year, we experienced sensory overload from the sheer scale and variety of exhibits.<\/p>\n

What else I love about Venice<\/strong>
\nThere\u2019s far more to Venice\u2019s spectacular arts and cultural scene than the Biennale. Another one of our holiday highlights was the glorious morning we spent at the Peggy Guggenheim Museum, where a wonderful array of Modernist art is set within the one-time home of the woman who collected it, the eccentric Ms. Guggenheim.<\/p>\n

The beautiful lagoon islands we visited, Burano and Torcello, offered a different type of aesthetic stimulation. In the still winter air, Burano\u2019s multi-coloured streets felt like a film set. There isn\u2019t a lot to do there beyond admiring the rainbow of houses that fill the compact island, but the scenic lanes are the perfect place to go wandering with a camera, and the boat trip across is a pleasure in itself.<\/p>\n

Torcello, meanwhile,\u00a0has a far less cultivated charm. This gorgeous, leafy little place is one of the quieter islands, and if you get lucky with your timings, as we did, you can have it almost to yourself. The golden mosaics of the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta are a prime attraction here, but the quiet pathways and picturesque gardens around\u00a0the building\u00a0are just as appealing.<\/p>\n