The wonderful city of Venice may be best known for using boats to get around, but there are still many spots where it is favorable to take a hire car Venice. One of the main advantages of having a hire car is the opportunity to strike out and explore more of Italy, so get started on making your trip happen. Book through HAPPYCAR, the online comaprison portal, to find the car that fits your needs at a great price. Select the dates you need your rental car Venice and within a few clicks you can have your car booked and be on your way. We guarantee to find the best deals at the best price by comparing the offers from international suppliers to find you the best deal for your specific car hire needs. With a pick up location at the Venice Airport, HAPPYCAR makes the car hire process easy.
General information
Venice is located on a series of 118 islands, connected by bridges and canals, over 175 canals and 444 bridges. It is the capital of the Veneto region with a population of 270,000 people. During the Middle Ages, the city was known as the Republic of Venice and was a major maritime power, as well as it played a major role in the Renaissance. Due to its major trade in spice and silk, the city became very wealthy.
Today, Venice is one of the top destinations for tourists in the country, offering beautiful architecture, art and great shopping opportunities. Venice is a place of such stunning heritage that the city has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Sights
Basilica di San Marco is the main cathedral of the city and it is regarded as a fine example of Italo-Byzantine architecture. The current building was constructed between the mid to late 11th century and is the third Basilica that has been erected on the site. The exterior of the Basilica is very impressive and will more than likely take your breath away. Inside is just as impressive, with stunning mosaic walls and the most impressive feature inside has to be the Pala d’Or, the church’s altarpiece. It is encrusted with over 2,000 gems and 250 enameled panels, work began on it as early as the 10th century, and work was also made on it between the 12th and 14th century. The Basilica also houses some impressive artefacts that were looted from Constantinople by invading crusaders during the crusades.
The Campanile is the city’s tallest building measuring 325 feet high. The original structure was built in 912 but the current appearance dates to the 16th century. The site has been used as a watch tower, water tower, and to publicly humiliate those who had behaved scandalously. You can take a lift to the top of the tower and take in the breathtaking views.
Art
Galleria dell’Accademia is said to be one of the best houses of art treasures. Thanks can be given to Napoleon for confiscating pieces of art from churches and putting them in this building as well as placing an art academy here. Inside you will find a collections of the finest Venetian paintings up to the 18th century - one of the most famous pieces in the collection is Leonardo Da Vinci's drawing of the Vitruvian Man.
Excursions
Having a hire car Venice gives you the freedom to get out of the city and explore the surrounding areas and within driving distance is the city of Vicenza. The city is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is surrounded by countryside which is worth exploring. The city itself also has some lovely sights to see, such as the Basilica Palladiana, Teotro Olimpico, Basilica dei SS. Felice and Fortunato, one of the oldest building in the region dating back to 300 AD. There are also a few museums which are well worth a visit. You can visit more UNESCO World Heritage Sites when you take your rental car Venice to cities like Rome in the south and Milan which is situated just west of Venice.
Whatever you decide to do with your trip to Venice, having a HAPPYCAR hire car gives you the bonus of doing what you want, where you want.