“Venice is a meeting place for people, cultures, regions, trade and innovation, a city that belongs to the whole world.”
– Mayor Luigi Brugnaro
Venice, Italian Venezia, city, major seaport, and capital of both the provincia (province) of Venezia and the regione (region) of Veneto, northern Italy, an island city, which was once the centre of a maritime republic, the Queen of the Adriatic turned 1600 years old last year.
Venice’s unique location, stunning architecture, romantic atmosphere, and world-famous carnival are all part of its appeal. Nicknamed as the Queen of the Adriatic, its former wealth, power, glamour and luxury evokes. Despite its faded charm, the city is made rather patinated and attractive by the fusion of cultures that have met here over the past centuries. It is no coincidence that the city of lagoons has inspired so many writers, poets and artists. Such were the Death in Venice by Thomas Mann, Othello or The Merchant of Venice by Shakespeare, or The Talented Mr. Ripley by Patricia Highsmith, and The Wings of the Dove by Henry James. Many other films also feature the former or the “modern” cityscape of Venice, such as the action thriller The Italian Job, The Vampires of Venice, or the romantic thriller The Traveller. One of the most famous natives of Venice was Casanova, who is still considered to be the perfect representative of the dissipation and social luxury of his time. No wonder that thousands of tourists are still curious about the favourite places of the tempter.
The most magnificent artistic portraits of the city were created by the famous Titian Vecellio, who captured the most brilliant period of Venetian painting. One of the greatest figures of the mature Renaissance, Titian was also known as the ‘painter of kings, king of painters’ and emperors, popes, princes and cardinals equally competed for his favour. The long-lived artist became the official painter of the Republic of Venice in 1516, and the effects of colour and light resulting from the character of the city determined his art and the development of Venetian painting for decades.
The history of Venice began on an archipelago that also includes the Rialto, where refugees settled who, according to legends, sought safety from the western Goths of Alarik I. after 408. However, traces of human life can be traced back to much earlier times, the Early Stone Age. The trace of the first permanent settlement dates back to 700 BC. According to legends, the foundation stone was laid at 12 noon on 25 March 421 for the temple, which was built in gratitude for having escaped a fire. This marked the beginning of the legendary history of the state and the city.
The city of St Mark, the Doges, Marco Polo, Otello and Vivaldi is located in the marshy Venetian lagoon in the northern Adriatic Sea, on 118 islands of varying sizes, between the mouths of the rivers Po and Piave. Today, Venice is the centre of the Veneto region of northern Italy, and the former Venetian Republic and the Venetian Patriarchate.
The beautiful city not only has architectural and artistic curiosities, but the walls, which have survived for hundreds of years, could also tell a bunch of mystical stories.
Venice’s centuries of unbroken success, power, wealth and independence have resulted in incredible prosperity. In addition to its geographical location, combined with its cultural diversity, it has left a unique urban legacy for posterity. The island of Torcello is home to some of the earliest Byzantine churches and monasteries reminiscent of Byzantine times, whose mysterious atmosphere of the past and desolation could also be synonymous with transience. Murano, renowned for its glassmaking, and Burano, famous for its luxurious lace, also contributed to Venice’s wealth and reputation for craftsmanship. In addition to its wonderful laces, Murano is also famous for its special, colourful buildings.
Venice’s centuries of unbroken success, power, wealth and independence have resulted in incredible prosperity. In addition to its geographical location, combined with its cultural diversity, it has left a unique urban legacy for posterity. The island of Torcello is home to some of the earliest Byzantine churches and monasteries reminiscent of Byzantine times, whose mysterious atmosphere of the past and desolation could also be synonymous with transience. Murano, renowned for its glassmaking, and Burano, famous for its luxurious lace, also contributed to Venice’s wealth and reputation for craftsmanship. In addition to its wonderful laces, Murano is also famous for its special, colourful buildings.
The Canal Grande suggests the prosperity and art of the heyday of the Venetian Republic. The most beautiful waterway in the world, crosses the city for almost 4 km long. A boat trip on the Grand Canal to St Mark’s Square is a dream for many people, as this beautiful waterway offers a rather rich experience. In the city of lagoons, along the peaceful S-bend of the river, amazing palaces are reflected in the mirror of the water. Graceful gondolas, fast-moving water taxis and cargo boats cruise back and forth along the Canal Grande, which is one of the city’s main tourist attractions.
There are four bridges over the Canal Grande, apart from which you can only get to the other side by gondolas. The Ca’ d’Oro is one of the most beautiful buildings not only in Venice but in the world. The palace which was originally called Palazzo Santa Sofia recalls the most beautiful period of Venetian Gothic architecture in its style. This style was popular with Venetian architects until the 16th century, when it was replaced by the Baroque. The palace was built between 1421 and 1442 for the famous Contarini family, who gave eight Doges to the Republic between 1043 and 1676.
After the fall of the Venetian Republic in 1797, the palace had several new owners. In 1847, the building was purchased by a Russian prince and then gifted to his lover, Marie Taglioni, the ballerina who made a number of harmful alterations to the palace. She had the beautiful Gothic staircase in the inner courtyard removed and the ornate balcony overlooking the courtyard demolished. The last owner was Baron Giorgio Franchetti, who bought the Golden House in 1894. The Baron himself supervised the reconstruction of Ca ‘d’Oro: he had the staircase restored and had the floor of the beautiful cosmatesque courtyard laid with original marble. In 1916, Franchetti handed down the palace to the Italian state, which today awaits visitors as a Museum.
Venice’s most important public space is Piazza San Marco, which Napoleon allegedly called “Europe’s salon”, while Petrarca described it as “unrivalled in the world”. Originally, Piazza San Marco was only a church garden, crossed by a small canal. Today the slightly trapezoidal shaped square is 56-82 meters wide and 175 meters long, and its history dates back to the 9th century, when the patron saint of Venice was not yet St. Mark, but the Greek warrior saint, Theodor of Amassee, whose tiny chapel stood in the area of today’s St. Mark’s Basilica.
One of the most beautiful and impressive buildings in Venice is the Basilica di San Marco, next to the Doge’s Palace on St. Mark’s Square and also named after the city’s patron saint. St. Mark’s Cathedral is a unique gem of Byzantine architecture, whose uniqueness is due to its priceless decorative elements. Basilica di San Marco has only been the official cathedral of the city since 1807, until then the more modest church of San Pietro di Castello served this function. The cathedral symbolized the wealth and power of the Venetian Republic, a maritime power, and reflected the role of the city as a link between east and west.
Another of Venice’s most outstanding and famous landmarks is the Palazzo Ducale in Piazzetta, which reflects the Venetian Gothic style and has been housing the museum of the Museo Civici Veneziani since 1923.
The small island in the Venetian lagoon is home to Venice’s 19th century cemetery, which still serves as a burial place for Venetians. The famous San Michel cemetery is the final resting place of many famous people, including the famous Russian composer Igor Stravinsky, the scientist astronomer and physicist Christian Doppler and the recently deceased Italian painter Emilo Vedova.
The city can be easily explored on foot, the most important sights are shown by yellow road signs, but if you wander around in the narrow small alleys, it is worth taking a map with you, as it’s easy to get lost.
Unfortunately, this wonderful city is endangered by its sinking and the rising sea level. The 1600-year-old Venice is struggling with aging, siltation, flooding, dehydration and chemical pollution. More and more solutions are being developed to save it, unfortunately with less than greater success. High water levels occur several times a year, especially during the winter months and then the streets and squares of the city are flooded with sea water. The locals are already used to the few-hour-long phenomenon and take it completely natural. Several ideas have been put forward to save Venice, a World Heritage site. Perhaps there are no other cities in the world where nature and logic defied each other as much as here. However, Venice is a special, unique gem that keeps fighting with time and nature with defiance and courage.
