Zebra Stripes and Golden Spikes

Just a little post on one of little Lucy's Biennale outfits. 

Isn't she a snazzy dresser!

Borghese Biking

As if we hadn't experience enough art, whilst in Rome we attempted to go to the Borghese Villa art gallery. Ignoring advice that prebooking tickets was a good idea, we instead headed up there bright and early on one of our last mornings. Alas! Luck wasn't in our favour and tickets were booked up for the next couple of days. Feeling a little sheepish that we'd thought we didn't need guide book advice we wandered back through the parks and gardens surrounding the villa.

Tomato and Basil Bruschetta

In order to fully embrace La Dolce Vita and throw ourselves into the Italian lifestyle, we rented an apartment whilst in Rome. It gives you so much more freedom and it's nice to have a little base you can call home whilst away. Plus, we enjoyed pretending we actually lived there and swanning around like locals!

To christen our new pad, we hit the supermarket on our first night and got down and dirty in the kitchen.

We rustled up some veggie spaghetti and one of my favourite, and easiest, dishes, Bruschetta.

The Traveller's Silk Trousers

Whilst in Venice, I fell in love with these gorgeous printed Zara trousers Catherine was wearing. Perfect for swanning around the art galleries of the Biennale!

They're the great combination of style and comfort. Exactly what you want from your city break wardrobe. Now I just have to try and track down a pair of my own!

The flower and hummingbird pattern are edged up with the contrasting texture of the Topshop leather jacket. And, of course, her trusty Mulberry. Used, a little less glamorously, for storing snacks and the like to get us through the long days of sightseeing! *Warning, it doesn't mix well with pear juice!*

Casin dei Nobili

When one thinks of Italy, the food is surely one of the first things to come to mind. Gorgeous pizzas, pasta, gelato, caprese salads, the list goes on.

When on holiday in a new city, however, knowing where to go out for dinner can be a little overwhelming so here is one of my restaurant recommendations for Venice.

After a long day walking around the Biennale, we were all in the mood for a good meal. Two of the girls I was travelling with had lived and studied Art History for a semester in Venice last year so could play host and take us to little gems of restaurants like Casin dei Nobili. Only downside is the poor quality of my photographs so I can't convey to you just how good our meal was so you're just going to have to go for yourselves!

La Biennale

The initial reason Lucy and I decided to go back to Venice was for the 55th Biennale International Arts Exhibition. Alternating yearly between art and architecture, the festival features pavilions hosted by different countries where they can showcase their artists. It's an incredible insight into the diverse and exciting world of contemporary art.

There are the two main locations of the Arsenale and Giardini but exhibitions are also featured all around the city so you never know when you'll stumble across a hidden treat.

Whether it is giant sculptural conches by British artist Marc Quinn along the harbour of the San Giorgio Maggiore island....