Inside Venice: a local guide to Italy’s “floating city”

Knight Frank partner Venice Real Estate specialises in luxury properties in the city of Venice, alongside the wider Veneto region, such as the beautiful countryside regions of the Brenta River, Treviso and Vicenza.

Here CEO Serena Bombassei, a Venice native, shares how the city combines heritage and culture with a modern edge, and offers her insight into its top neighbourhoods and property market.

How would you describe the lifestyle and community in Veneto to someone discovering the region for the first time?

Veneto is a region defined by contrast, stretching from the Dolomites to the Adriatic Sea and encompassing a wide range of landscapes and cultural experiences. Alongside its natural variety, it is home to some of Italy’s most recognised cities and a strong culinary identity, where everyday life is shaped by familiar rituals, from lively cicchetti bars ideal for a convivial aperitif and traditional osterie to refined restaurants presenting innovative, contemporary cuisine.

At its centre is Venice, the historic “Floating City”, made up of 118 islands connected by canals and more than 400 bridges. Often described as an open museum, Venice brings together art, architecture and daily life in a way few cities can. Museums and galleries are part of the everyday experience, while major cultural events, including the Venice Film Festival and La Biennale di Venezia, continue to attract an international audience and maintain the city’s relevance in contemporary art and culture.