You can’t think of Venice without romance, gondolas and heart-y Italian food. Romance can be so much more dramatic when you go off the beaten track, to some of the quieter spots. Here is how we suggest you do that…

Ca Maria Adele

This is the place to see if it’s arts and culture that you seek in Venice, especially if you want to get away from the over-crowded tourist destinations. It’s an exclusive and opulently furnished luxury hotel that features high beam wooden ceilings, plush upholstery and fabrics, along with chandeliers to glitz it all up.

This is for the serious romantic, who’s in the city for an anniversary or honeymoon. You arrive at the hotel via gondola of course and can enjoy welcome drinks on the second storey balcony to refresh you. Dining al fresco is part of the experience and comes highly recommended.

Sight-seeing tours of the city can be arranged by the Concierge. Ca Maria Adele is about half an hours’ drive from Marco Polo Airport.

Hotel Cipriani & Palazzo Vendramin

An idyllic setting on Giudecca Island makes this one of the most unusual places to stay. The hotel has 95 rooms and suites and it offers marble features and exquisite views of the lagoon and surrounding vineyards. That makes it big enough for a wedding party.

It’s 4-minutes by boat to Saint Mark’s Square and the hustle and bustle of popular tourist haunts.

Italian cuisine is served up at Cip’s Club and Fortuny Restaurant. The hotel also offers private dining options and relaxation gazebos, ideal for spending quality time with a loved one.

Hotel Cipriani & Palazzo Vendramin has the full service offering of a grand hotel but with the personal services and attention to detail that you would expect from a fine guest house. It’s half an hour from Venice International Airport.