Flybe / November 2018

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112 / Flight Time / NOVEMBER 2018
Destinations
TOULOUSE
Tired of the same old city museum?
Shake things up a bit with a visit to
Toulouse’s Museum of Instruments of
Medicine, at the entrance to the Hôtel-
Dieu-Saint-Jacques, a former hospital
building that dates back to the 12th
century. On display are at times grisly
instruments from the second half of the
19th century as well as moulages – casts
of the faces of patients with various
ailments. They are part of a collection of
objects from hospitals and instruments
representing many medical and surgical
disciplines. It’s open Thursdays and Fridays
from 1pm-5pm.
VEN I CE
Do something different and take a watery tour of Venice by kayak instead of a gondola.
Local company Venice by Water has plenty of two-people tours to choose from.
They include At A Glance, a 30-minute quick tour (€35 pp); Canals, a one-hour trip to
‘hidden Venice’ (€50 pp); and Snack & Paddle, which explores Cannaregio, one of the most
interesting, authentic areas of Venice, and includes a stop for a glass of wine with cicchetti
(Venetian finger food) (2 hours, €90 pp). The Grand Canal tour explores the beautiful canal
lined with glistening palazzi spanning centuries of different architectural styles (2 hours, €100
pp). Choose a trip at dawn to explore the empty canals as the city sleeps and to enjoy a
beautiful sunrise against the stunning backdrop of the city (1.5 hours, €150 pp). If you’re
feeling brave, go for the Venice by night tour to experience the magic of the city after dark
(1.5 hours, €150 pp). Remember that Venice canals are equivalent to your roads at home,
locals go about their business in the exact same way as people do elsewhere. So just like
roads, there are water-traffic regulations that you have to respect, rules like keeping left in
small canals but keep right on the Grand Canal; giving priority to all the boats you meet on
your route and keeping a safe distance; and calling out loudly as you turn a corner to advise
other boats about your presence. Don’t worry, before each tour, Venice By Water will give
you more specific instructions.
F L I G H T D E TA I L S
Flybe has flights to Venice from Cardiff.
F L I G H T D E TA I L S
Flybe has flights to Toulouse from
Manchester.
VERONA
If we had lived in Verona in the Middle Ages, we would have seen the city dotted with
tall towers. In 12th-century Verona, as was the practice in many Italian cities at the time,
noble families demonstrated their power and wealth through constructing tall and
elaborate towers. The towers acted as luxurious homes as well as watch towers and were
ideally built to be bigger than the nearest tower.
Piazza Erbe is dominated by the tallest of Verona’s towers, the Torre dei Lamberti, built by
the powerful Lamberti family. It was begun in the 12th century and finished in 1463. It belongs
to a whole group of towers which rose next to the Palazzo della Ragione, is 84 metres in
height and is particularly interesting as it was built bit by bit over the centuries. In addition to
its alternating bands of tufa and brickwork, the Venetians added certain features in the 16th
century and raised the tower to its present height. It is still possible to make out the different
sections of the tower based on the building materials used.
The tower houses two famous bells, the Rengo and the Marangona, which kept time and
regulated city life. The Marangona signalled the end of the warking day for the artisans
(marangon) and also sounded the alarm in case of fire, whilst the Rengo summoned the
town council and citizens of Verona in times of war. The bells still ring during funerals.
The view of the city from the tower (you can go up by stairway and lift) is spectacular.
WI CK , JOHN O ’ GROATS
Make your break in Scotland
memorable with a stay in a stunning
castle. Dating back to the 15th
century, Ackergill Tower Castle Hotel is set
in 3,000 acres of grounds and has its own
private beach. Each en-suite room enjoys
views of either Sinclair’s Bay, the croquet
lawn or the Heart of Caithness. There
is also self-catering accommodation.
Alternatively, you could stay in Europe’s
largest treehouse, surrounded by a
150-year-old sycamore tree. Activities
including golf and fishing are available
10 minutes’ drive away.
F L I G H T D E TA I L S
Flybe has flights to Verona from Cardiff and Southampton.
F L I G H T D E TA I L S
Flybe’s franchise partner Eastern
Airways has flights to Wick, John
O’Groats from Aberdeen.