Italy certainly is the home of fine ice cream, and that’s no less true in Venice. Look around you in any part of Venice (especially in the more popular tourist areas during summer) and you’ll see at least two or three people licking their multi-coloured ice cream cones of home made gelati – ice cream in Italian.

You don’t have to walk very far anywhere in Venice to find a cafe or kiosk selling a dozen or more flavours, ranging from ones with exotic-sounding Italian names to more familiar ones and, of course, ubiquitous vanilla. But don’t be fooled, even the vanilla is so tasty you’d swear you’ve come across a real vanilla pod inside your ice cream.

What makes the taste so wonderful seems to be something that simply makes the flavours more real and authentic. many ice cream flavours today are synthetic and taste synthetic and lack the creaminess of ‘old-style’ ice cream. One spoonful of Venitian ice cream and you’ll be certain that you’re eating the real thing.

Finding the ‘best’ ice cream in Venice is a matter of debate, and sometimes legend. Some visitors will return home with dreamy eyes and tales of how they found the heaven of ice creams ‘nearby our hotel in a small alley’ but ask for details and few will recall the name or exact place of the outlet. But rest assured, ice cream vendors dot the city and you won’t have to walk very far to find one.

So whether you’re looking for a snack for yourself or something to motivate the kids with to endure yet another museum visit, you can’t go wrong with Venice ice cream.

Are you a cat person? Then you’ll love Venice! La Serenissima – the Serene One, as Venice is lovingly called by its huamn inhabitants – is also home to a community of friendly felines. They seem to have taken it upon themselves to perform a kind ‘meet and greet’ service to visitors, particularly those that have a soft spot for the purry kind.

Almost without exception a Venice cat will give up its spot in the sun (at least temporarily) to saunter over to a friendly-looking stranger for a quick rub and chit-chat.Judging by the general demeanor of Venice kitties they’re mostly well-looked after and quite content to be living surrounded by waterways and splashing boats.

'Beware of the cat'

So when you’re passing through Venice, make a point of saying hello to a cat or two. They fancy that!

Venice isn’t for everyone. Critics would say it’s overcrowded, dirty, filled with smelly water, and overpriced. All of these are true to some extent or another. On the other hand it’s one of the world’s most unique, romantic, and historically rich cities in the world. So is it the kind of place you’d like to visit or not? Here are some pointers to help you decided whether to put Venice on your next European holiday itenerary.

1. You’re a romantic type. You appreciate beautiful sunsets, a good red wine, poetic places, and being and sharing an experience or place with someone special. Venice is – and has been for centuries – one big lover’s paradise. Start looking forward to that after-dinner evening stroll through the misty, quiet alleys with your loved one. It’ll be an experience you’ll never forget.

2. You’re into art, especially Rennaissance and Baroque painting, architecture and sculpture. you can wander trhrough a dozen art museums and not feel that you’re seeing the same thing over and over. Names like Tintoretto,  and xx ring a bell, and you think that if Michealangelo was alive today, that he should be president. Then Venice will be a heavenly place for you.

3. You’re scared of water, not to talk of creaky boats and dicy-looking bridges. Venice’s vaporettos – water buses – is the standard form of transport if you want to move around much. While perfectly safe, from a distance most of them look one step up from ancient tramp steamers (‘vaporetto does indeed mean ‘steam boat’). Also, you’ll be intimidated by having to walk on the unprotected side of countless canals filled with rather ominous-looking, murky water. If this is you, rather visit Las Vegas.

4. You dislike cramped accommodation. Unless you’re particularly well-off, chances are you’ll be staying in a hotel room half the size you’re used to in most other parts of the world. Space is at a premium in Venice, and most hotel rooms are smallish, especially the bathrooms. While perfectly adequate, they can feel very claustrophobic especially if you’ll be sharing them with children. Rather settle for an apartment in that case.

5. You’re into photography. If you’re on your way to publishing your first coffee table book or simply want to hone your composition skills, Venice will keep you busy for weeks on end. There are endless opportunities and conditions for taking amazing photographs. Tip: Get yourself out of bed at dawn one morning and take a walk to St. Mark’s Square, before the tourists arrive.

6. The Venice alleyways and labirynthian canals are the most pleasant way to get lost… if you’re that type of person. Venice doesn’t have a street grid, so finding your way and mapping where you are isn’t always the easiest thing to do. The best way to explore Venice is simply to start walking in a certain direction and enjoying the scenery. If that doesn’t appeal to you then a guided tour or sticking to the vaporettos may be the best option.

8. This may be a bit controversial, but if I was a ten-year old in Venice, I’d be bored stiff. There are no malls, no fun rides (unless you count the vaporetto) and no movie houses. During sunny weather you may want to visit the beaches of the Lido, but only if your kids aren’t used to surfer wave coastlines. If they are, they’ll be having a good laugh at the tepid, tiny waves of the Adriatic.