Welcome To Venice

Venice, in northeast Italy, is a city built on 117 small islands in the Venetian Lagoon on the Adriatic Sea. People have lived in the area for over 10,000 years, but the traditional founding of Venice was with the dedication of the first church, San Giacomo in 421. Considered one of the most beautiful cities in the world, it has inspired poets, musicians, writers, artists, travelers and tourists for over 1600 years.

The Riches of Venice

Venice was in a strategic position for trade between the Byzantine Empire, the Islamic world and Western Europe. It was the center for the spice trade, the silk trade and the precious gem trade. It flourished from the 12th century until 1480 when it lost most of its eastern possessions through wars and lost most of its population to the plague between 1575 and 1577. During the Age of Discovery, Europe looked towards colonies in the Americas and Pacific for their wealth and Venice was left behind in the era before the world was round.

The New Riches of Venice

What Venice lost in commercialism, they won in art. Considered one of the most important cities of art and architecture, it has been a major tourist destination for 200 years as well as a fashionable center for the rich and famous. Today, it attracts thousands of visitors everyday. It hosts prestigious theatrical, cinematic, cultural, musical and artistic productions including the Venice Film Festival and the Venice Biennale.

Why Venice?

The transportation in the city is by boat only. There are no cars or other vehicles. The taxis are boats, the buses are water ferries and the ambulances are speedboats. Walking through Venice is like stepping into a fantasy land as Lord Byron called it ‘a fairy city of the heart’. The stone buildings are like palaces and appear to float. Connected by over 150 canals and 400 bridges its rich heritage should not be missed by any world traveler.

The Art

In the 1400s, grand masters such as Bellini, Jacopo and his sons painted masterpieces, and in the early 1500s Venice became a full-fledged member of the Italian Renaissance with Giorgione, Paolo Veronese, Tintoretto and Titian. The oldest surviving structure is a cathedral on Torcello which was founded in 639. Most of the other buildings are from the 9th and 10th century.

Only in Venice

There are a few beautiful things that can only be bought in Venice and Murano glass is one. On the island of Murano, their trademark beads and other object d’art can be purchased. Carnival is a 10 day street party before Easter. Some of the festive masks made for the occasion are well crafted and extraordinary. They are excellent for a souvenir or gift. If you don’t paint them yourself, you can buy charming watercolor paintings of scenes of Venice. There is also attractive marbled paper and good quality lace available.

Arriving and traveling in Venice

Visitors can fly to the Marco Polo airport or arrive by train at the Santa Lucia Train Station which is on the northwest border of the city. There are boats and ferries to the city. In Venice, the vaporetti are the boats that ply the main waterways. Water taxis and gondolas are more expensive and usually used by tourists. Gondola fares are officially set for a minimum price standard ride of 40 minutes. They hold six and the fare can be shared. The price goes up at night.

Places to See

Saint Mark’s Square is the main piazza and has many museums, cafes as well as magnificent architecture. The Basilica San Marco in the piazza is an excellent example of Byzantine architecture and is full of mosaics and paintings. The Doge’s Palace is also in St. Mark's Square. This is the place where the leaders of Venice made history. Today, it is a museum and has prisons, torture chambers and access to the Bridge of Sighs. This bridge is the most famous in Venice and connects the palace to the prison. It is a covered bridge, and the sighs came from the prisoners when they viewed Venice for the last time through the tiny, latticed windows. Visitors can see the bridge if they take a gondola tour or get access through a Secret Itineraries tour of the palace.

Venice is a place for walking, so comfortable shoes are a must. To see the uncrowded squares and streets where tourists seldom go, don’t be afraid to stroll down unmarked streets and visit small churches. Venice is decaying and gradually sinking into the sea, but it is still glorious even after more than a thousand years.