Venice is a city in northeastern Italy, the capital of the Veneto province. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is one of the most unique and famous cities in the world, with a historic center built on 118 islands of the Venetian Lagoon. Venice is stunning, fabulous, romantic. More than 20 million tourists come here to see the charming canals, elegant architecture and bridges, ride gondolas and listen to the songs of gondoliers, walk around San Marco and take pictures of the Rialto Bridge, taste local cuisine and feel the Venetian atmosphere. Venice is a city that buzzes like a disturbed beehive every day and freezes in the evening, a place that has hardly changed in appearance for 6 centuries and where there are no cars at all.
Venice is located in the Adriatic Sea, almost at the latitude of Simferopol. The historic center is located on many islands separated by canals and connected by bridges, called “Sestieri”. It includes the districts of Cannaregio, Castello, Dorsoduro, San Polo, Santa Croce and San Marco, where the main monuments and attractions are located. Other islands of the Venetian Lagoon include Murano, Torcello, San Francesco del Desserto and Burano. The architecture of Venice is a special architectural style called Venetian. Most architectural and cultural monuments were built between the 12th and 16th centuries. Interestingly, most of the historical buildings in Venice are built on piles of alpine larch, which does not rot in water.
Geography and climate
Venice is located on 118 islands in the Venetian Lagoon of the Adriatic Sea. The islands are separated by 150 canals and connected by 400 bridges. The city is a major seaside resort and one of the largest Italian seaports.
Venice is located in a subtropical climate zone. Summers are quite hot, winters are mild. Frost and snow are rare in winter. Although in the cold season it is quite cool here due to the proximity of the sea. Floods often occur in Venice as a result of the surges.
Best time to visit
The worst times to visit are during Carnival (very expensive and crowded) and rainy times in late fall and winter (cold, windy and damp). In summer it can be quite hot. The best time to get to know Venice is spring and fall.
History and interesting facts
During the Roman Empire in antiquity, a tribe of Venetians lived here, who gave the name to the future city and province. People began to settle in the vicinity of the Venetian Lagoon, fleeing from barbarian raids. An urban settlement began to form here in the 6th and 7th centuries. Initially, it was located on the islands of Malamocco and Torcello and belonged to Byzantium. In the 7th century, the settlements of the Venetian Lagoon were united under the authority of the Doge, who was actually the head of state. Doges were elected from rich and influential families for life. More than 100 Doges were elected throughout the existence of the Venetian Republic.
In the 9th century, the importance and influence of Venice began to grow rapidly. In 828, the relics of St. Mark, stolen from Alexandria, were brought here. St. Mark is the patron saint of the city. Interestingly, the Venetian Republic was a unique state formation. There was practically no vassalage, and the Doge was forbidden to appoint a successor.
From the 12th to the 15th centuries, the Venetian Republic was one of the most powerful states in Europe. The prerequisite for this was the defeat of Constantinople by the Crusaders in 1204. The Republic became the main link between East and West. By 1300, Venice was the richest city on the European continent.
In the 15th century, the expansion of the Turks and the subsequent reorientation of trade routes towards the Atlantic undermined the city’s economic and commercial power. The powerful republic ceased to exist. At the end of the 18th century, Venice was conquered by Napoleon. After some time, it was part of the Habsburg possessions until it became part of Italy in 1866.
Gondolas are one of the main attractions of Venice. Historically, these boats were the main means of transportation along the canals. Now they serve to entertain tourists. Gondolas are driven by gondoliers. This is a very prestigious and lucrative profession, which is almost impossible for outsiders to enter. The state keeps a strict record of gondoliers. Their number is regulated – 425 people. This profession is usually passed down from father to son. The cost of a gondola ride in Venice is about 80 euros.