Italy is amazing! No matter how many times I have been there I always find new places to enchant me and old places to enthral me.

Take Venice for example. There’s more to Venice than St Mark’s Square, Rialto Bridge and gondolas!! It’s a good base to explore the region.

Crowne Plaza Venice East – Quarto D’Altino 

It was a perfect base for my recent Italian jaunts with my partner in April 2018!

A couple of years ago on the train from Venezia Mestre to Trieste I saw this hotel right by the station when the train stopped there. I knew it would be a better base than Mestre for my future trip. 

The good thing about a reputable chain like Crowne Plaza is that you know what to expect wherever you are in the world. While it’s too predictable for some, I find it reassuring to know what services I could expect. And Quarto D’Altino even exceeded my expectations.

Being in a residential area it’s quieter for a start. Its location made it really handy for train travels, with 2 trains an hour to Venezia S Lucia (20 minutes) and to Mestre (10 minutes) to change trains. The complimentary airport shuttle was invaluable. The staff was friendly and helpful. The buffet breakfast and dinner were both very reasonably priced. I would definitely stay there again!

Vicenza

We took the 7.54 train from Quarto D’Altino, changed at Venezia Mestre and arrived at Vicenza just before 09.00. It was a very pleasant short walk towards the old town with parks on both sides.

Porta Castello 

Porta Castello is the elegant gateway to the historic centre of Vicenza, dominated by the tower. On the approach there’re displays of original paintings by artists 

Piazza dei Signori

On the day of our visit (8 April 2018) not only was it the last day of the 6-month-long Van Gogh Exhibition at Basilica Palladiana but there was a market at Piazza dei Signori as well. With people queuing for the Exhibition and all the stalls around it was difficult to really appreciate the elegant Palladian buildings 

Teatro Olimpico

If I was disappointed not to be able to wander around to admire Piazza dei Signori fully and at leisure, the visit to Teatro Olimpico more than made up for it!

Built in 1580 Teatro Olimpico replicates a classic outdoor theatre indoors, it’s one of only three Renaissance theatres remaining and is the oldest surviving stage set still in existence. 

Since 1994 it is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site City of Vicenza. 

The stage set with the appearance of long streets receding to a distance looked so real from all angles!

Got the fridge magnet 😁