Venice (Commune de Venezia) Italy

gondolas docked in Venice

All waterlogged cities are not Venice

The city of Venice is located at the northern part of Italy within the Venetian Lagoon along the Adriatic Sea. Venice is perhaps the city with most surnames; it is the Queen of the Adriatic, ‘City of Water’, City of Lights’, ‘City of Bridges’ etc are its pet-names; certain cities around the world also call themselves as Venice of the East, Venice of the West etc; simply because they are also waterlogged!

Venice is that much associated with water; its boats gondolas, vaporetti; and boatmen who sing a Venetian folk song while guiding the boat along the crowded canal make Venice an ideal spot for vacation it already is a dream destination of a honeymooners. Lovers of history also have got enough monuments and locations of interest lying spread along the banks of its canals.

The Grand Canal, Gondolas and vaporettis

There is no place on earth like Venice which uses its waterways to such a great advantage. Venice has its ‘water highway’ and ‘water pocket ways’ scattered with numerous bridges to thrill its visitors. The Grand Canal is the thoroughfare of Venice; is busy with the gondolas, Vaporetti, water-buses that issues tickets for unlimited travel for 24, 48 hours or even for a week (minimum charge for a gondola is as high as 70 euros per 45 minutes!). Time bound tickets are useful for sightseers as the visitor can alight at any monument and return and board after the sight.

Venetian Lagoon

The Marshy Venetian Lagoon (an enclosed shallow salt water body along the Adriatic that is 550 square km in area). It is a shallow marsh bed dotted with numerous islands (more than 110); the largest being Venice itself. The dredged and navigable tracts are the canals; the blood vessels of Venice; through which ply the water buses, tiny rowing boats and the ‘gondolas’ the face mark of Venice.

The terror on horse back

These tribes were locally called as the ‘Steppe People, barbarians’ etc; Lombards were Germanic from Northern Europe settled on the banks of River Danube and the Huns were nomads from the Central Asia who came under Attila the Hun. They were all warring tribes who did not know much but riding horses and making wars; settled people were their main targets attacking the Roman Empire were their engagement for generations!

Venetian Republic (Repubblica di Venezia)

San Giorgio Maggiore Island Venice

The Venetian Republic called La Serenessima (the most serene republic) existed between 7^th and 8^th century. Venice has played its major role in world history; it was in the past the capital of the Venetian Republic which was a collection of islands in the Laguna Venice. When Roman Empire started to show its age; the surrounding tribes began to show their clout by continuously invading the area and robbing its people. The Venetian Republic was formed by people of the surrounding islands; to guard them against these tribes like Huns and the Lombards. Turkish attacks weakened the most serene republic and Napoleon rung its death knell.

Has been capital all the way

Though Venice lost its status as capital of a republic it is still the capital of Region Veneto of Italy; it along with its neighboring city Padua together makes the Venice Metropolitan Area with a population of 1.6 million. The Venezia Commune has a population about 62,000. 110 small islands of the Adriatic, the marshy places from the mouth of Po and Piave rivers all are included in the Venice Metropolitan Area.

More value for money

As Venetian economy is dependent upon tourism to considerable extent there are all facilitations made for the visitors. As there is no dearth for historical monuments the visitor also is getting value for his money. The followings are just some of the locations of interest.

St Mark’s Palace (Basilica di San Marco)

Piazza San Marco in Venice

The gigantic structure with five massive arches that hold five massive domes. It is an ecclesiastical building; made by magnificent blending eastern and western architectural styles (Byzantine, Roman and Venetian). It was consecrated in 836 AD.

The legends has it St Marc was chosen by St peter was cremated in a tomb near Alexandria and the Venetian merchants on their way stopped there to pray before the tomb. One day some of Merchants/sailors smuggled the holy remains of the saint to Venice; the remains were covered with vegetables and pork to escape the search of Muslims. It is that smuggled remains that is kept in this church; the church itself was said to have made for the remains; it also has a very valuable archive museum in it.

The Doge’s Palace

It is made in typical Venetian style and was constructed by Doge (the elected ruler of Venice) in the 19^th century. A prominent land mark of Venice that first appears to the eye of a visitor who approaches Venice from the sea. It was built primarily with defensive intentions rather than a palace. This building has served roles as residence of the ruler (Doge), seat of the government as well as palace of justice.

The Golden Staircase that leads to the Doge’s apartment itself is a grand work with its wall painted with masterpieces of the top artists of that time like Sansovino (The exquisite furnishings of the room were taken away by Napoleon’s army).

The Grand Council Chamber

This is a really grand chamber as it was built to accommodate the 2000 big guns of that time (had to be rebuilt after the devastating fire that caused extensive damages). This mega structure was built to impress any lord; however rich he be; as there was no such building of this scale anywhere in that region. Its decorations on the walls and ceilings are so precious that its price can in no way be estimated at the current rates. Works of Bassano, Palme lavishly decorate the walls but the masterpiece of Tintoretto the ‘Paradise’ is the most impressive; it is the biggest oil painting in the world.

Saint Mark’s Square

Horses of Saint Mark,Venice

It is one of the most magnificent squares in the world both in its architecture and the settings; it is between the St Mark’s Basilica and the Doge’s Palace overlooking a large volume of water that is crowded with vessels. During the heydays of Venice on Ascension day Doge the ruler of Venice along with the men that mattered took a water ride in a boat to the Lido port in the Adriatic and threw a ring to the sea as a symbol of the ‘holy wedding’ of the City of Venice to Water. St Mark’s Square is a must see monument to any tourist who happen to be at Venice.

Giant’s Stairway (Scala dei Giganti)

The place where Doge’s (the title of Doge was Venice’s compromise for king and a republican; the aristocrats of the city elected a smart senior citizen as Doge and crowned him for life) crowning ceremony –an important function for Venice-took place; marked by two gigantic statues (one of Mars ant the other of Neptune symbolizing the superiority of Venice over land and sea); these gigantic statues are the reason for the name of the location.

Basilica of Santa Maria Della Salute

This basilica has many stories to tell about the ‘black death’ that haunted Europe between 14^th and 17^th centuries. About half of the population of Venice perished and people driven by fear turned to god; they built this church for salvation from the epidemic. The wall of the church has a depiction of plague in the form of an old woman being chased by an angel etc. Statue of Virgin Mary with the infant Jesus (by Le Court), a noble lady symbolizing Venice etc are valuable sights of this church.

The Arsenal

World’s first integrated shipyard that churned out two to three ships a day; the Arsenal was that established the superiority of Venice in the sea. It has an assembly line that excelled modern day’s high tech factories. It had a pool of skilled workers who did and mastered their job for generations.

The Realto Bridge

View of Grand Canal, Venice from the Rialto Bridge

A tall bridge across the Grand Canal; it was high enough to let big ships of the past to ply beneath. Shopping arcades on both sides; it is a favorite destination of the visiting tourists. The present bridge was built by Anotnio de Ponte in 1580; the design was same to the old wooden bridge previously existed.

The Bridge of Sighs

The Ponte dei Sospiri, the Bridge of Sighs, Venice

It is a strategically located bridge with a romantic name; it is said that the sighs of condemned prisoners could be heard from the bridge; this bridge connects the old prison with the new one as well as the Doge’s Palace. The arched bridge over Palazo Rio itself is a magnificent sight; it also gives a good view of the city from its top. It was designed by Antonio Contin in the 17^th century.

Carnevale di Venezia

As in Brazil and most part of the Catholic states the Carnival is the most important celebration of the Venetians. It all starts eight days before Lent and lasts till the next Tuesday. It is time for pure entertainment and Venetians shed their inhibitions for a while, concerts, balls, commedia dell arte (comedy arts), masquerades every thing that may bring some joy!

The funny thing is that the business world has hijacked the carnival and mint money from the tourists that flock for some entertainment, masks, caps, some junk food, soft drinks, and some voyeuristic jaunts, whatever the outcome the cash registers keep on ringing!

Venice Biennale

Is perhaps one thing that makes Venice the pride of the land, it is a biennial festival of contemporary arts. The Venice Film Festival held in Palazzo del cinema is the oldest and most prestigious festival in the film world is a part of the Biennale. This film festival is held between August and September.

Feast of San Pierto in Volta

Venice and its Lagoon

It is held in the island of Pellestrine; it is the time of the youth to express their theatrical talents; water games, water ball games, dancing all mark the festival. The last day begins with mass and other church related performance and the festival ends with fireworks at the midnight. Festival or no festival Venice is game as long as there is water in the Venetian Lagoon and there are the gondolas!