A sprawling city in the north of Italy, Venice is built on a network of canals. Situated across a group of 118 small islands, the Floating City is renowned for the beauty of its watery settings, awe-inspiring architecture and striking artworks. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, a visit to Venice involves a romantic trip down the Grand Canal on a gondola, marvelling at the architecture of its historic buildings, sampling traditional Venetian dishes, and partaking in the annual Carnival celebrations, world famous for its elaborate Venetian masks.