Where to stay?

Cavallino, Ca'Savio - only a boat ride away from Venice and set amongst woodland and a stunning beach, this campsite is situated perfectly for sightseeing.

Cavallino, Garden Paradiso - set in a beautiful woodland setting and a superb beach with excellent on-site pools and facilities.

Caorle - a lively campsite with the largest pool in Italy, a wide choice of on-site facilities and entertainments plus almost limitless activities.

Day 5

Drive from Tuscany towards Venice and check into any of the Adriatic campsites.

Day 6

Leaving the car at the campsite, head into Venice on board a watertaxi and familiarise yourself with the city in style. Take a gondola ride along the famous canals and bridges and get to know the layout of Europe's largest car-free zone. Venice is the only functioning city in the world without motorcars or trucks, making it perfect for sightseeing.

Once you are familiar with your surroundings head to the Piazza San Marco, more commonly known as St Mark's Square for a coffee and a spot of people watching. Alfred de Musset referred to the square as the "drawing room of Europe" and as you sample your cappuccino, you will see why this Piazza has more than enough to occupy several days. For the first day in Venice though, start with the Basilica, its campanile and Doge's Palace dominate the square and will give you a very full first day in Venice.

Day 7

Completing the Piazza's numerous attractions, return to sample the remaining delights of the Piazza San Marco, including the St Mark's Clocktower, the Procuratie Vecchie, the Napoleonic Wing of the Procuraties, the Procuratie Nuove and the Biblioteca Marciana. A little more searching around the square will reward you with The Correr Museum, the Museum of Archeology and the Venetian Mint. Finish the day relaxing by the Grand Canal as you look out over the waters at some of Venice's 118 islands.

Day 8

Your third day in Venice takes you away from the Piazza San Marco, and ultimately, many of the other tourists as you begin to explore some of the Venetian hidden gems. Start your day at the Ca d'Oro (in Italian, the Palazzo Santa Sofia), which is widely attributed as the most beautiful palazzo on the Grand Canal. Ca' d'Oro means "golden house" as it was covered in gilt and polychrome decorations and was built in the 15th century for the Contarini family who built eight Doges throughout Venice.

Spend the afternoon a little further along the Grand Canal at the Ca' Rezzonico, which is a public museum designed and built by Baldassarre Longhena, the greatest exponent of Venetain Baroque, a style that superceded many Renaissance structures. Finish the day at the Peggy Guggenheim which although houses a smaller collection than the other Guggenheim Foundation museums, does not diminish its quality.

Day 9

For your fourth and final day exploring Venice - the best has been saved for last. Head straight to the Accademia di Bella Arti, which is Venice's School of Art and more commonly known as the Accedemia. The Accademia contains masterpeices by Gentile Bellini, Giovanni Bellini, Canaletto (Antonio Canal), Vittore Cappaccio, Guili Carpioni, Rosalba Carriera, Francesco Guardi, Giorgione (da Castelfranco), Pietro Longhi, Lorenzo Lotto, Andrea Mantegna, Giambattista Piazzetta. Giambattista Tiepolo, Tintoretto (Jacopo Robusti), Titian (Tiziano Vecellio) and Paolo Veronese (Paolo Caliari).

Once you have had your fill of these classic artists, you will find the Scuola della Carità, the oldest building in Venice as well as the Convento dei Canonci Lateranensi, built by Palladio, but never completed. Also, a moment's peace and tranquillity can be sought at the Santa Maria della Carità designed by Bartolomeo Bon. Finish your stay in Venice by walking across the infamous Rialto Bridge, built by Antonio da Ponte. This bridge was considered so audacious at the time of its construction, that the architect Vincenzo Scamozzi predicted that Antonio da Ponte future would be ruined by this monstrosity. Vincenzo Scamozzi was proven wrong and the Rialto Bridge stands as one of Venice's architectural icons.

Day 10

Drive from Venice towards Lake Garda and Verona and check into the Lake Garda campsite of your choice.