Famous for its beautiful canals, art, and architecture, the Italian city of Venice lies on a group of more than 115 islands in the Lagoon of Venice. The city is protected from the open waters of the Adriatic Sea by strips of land. Venice is the capital of the Venezia province and the Veneto region in northern Italy. Once a great republic and seaport, the economy of Venice is now driven by the thousands of tourists that visit the city each year. CityscapeBecause it is built on small islands, Venice is a city of canals and bridges. The main canal in Venice is the Grand Canal, which winds its way through the city in the shape of a reversed letter S. On the banks of this canal are many buildings that were once the palaces of wealthy merchant families. Transportation within Venice is chiefly by water. The best-known form of transportation is the gondola. Gondolas are long, narrow, flat-bottomed boats that are rowed by a driver who usually stands at the back of the boat. These unique boats have become a symbol of Venice. The canals are also filled with a variety of motor-powered boats, including water taxis and buses, red fire boats, and police speedboats. Places of interestThe Piazza San Marco is the main plaza in Venice. Famous for its cafés, numerous pigeons, and lively atmosphere, the piazza is surrounded by some of Venice's most popular landmarks. For example, the Basilica di San Marco is one of the world's great churches. The outside of the church is topped by five gilded domes, while the ceilings, walls, and panels inside the basilica are richly decorated with golden mosaics. Also on the Piazza San Marco is the 16th-century Palazzo Ducale (Doges' Palace). This palace was the home of the doges (dukes) that ruled Venice from the 8th to the 18th century. The doges were the highest officials of the republic of Venice. The rooms and staircases of the palace have been decorated by generations of Venetian painters and craftsmen. The famous Bridge of Sighs connects the Palazzo Ducale to the prisons that lie across a narrow canal. Another popular landmark on the Piazza San Marco is the 324-foot (99-meter) bell tower called the Campanile. It is a reconstruction of the original that collapsed in 1902. CultureVenice is known for its many museums, theaters, and festivals. For example, the Accademia on the Grand Canal, an art museum, contains a large collection of works by Venetian artists. The Ca'd'Oro (House of Gold) is a palace from the 15th century that today houses a museum with furniture, paintings, and sculptures. The Peggy Guggenheim Collection contains artwork from the first half of the 20th century. La Fenice is a famous theater where operas, concerts, and ballets by well-known artists are performed. Venice is also famous for its carnival celebration, held each year right before the start of the Christian period of fasting and reflection known as Lent. People come from all over the world to experience the Venetian carnival costume balls. EconomyTourism employs a large part of the Venetian work force. Venetian glass and lace are popular hand-crafted products. Because of its location on the Adriatic Sea, fishing and shipping are also important to the economy. HistoryVenice came into being after the fall of the Roman Empire when invaders swept through Italy in the 6th century AD. Great numbers of people from the mainland of Italy moved onto the islands of the lagoon to escape these invaders. Growth of the city-stateFrom the 8th century until 1797, Venice was ruled by a leader called a doge (duke). The doge was chosen from among the ruling families of Venice and held office for life. The doge was advised by a group of wealthy nobles and merchants known as the Council of Ten. Over the centuries Venice grew into a powerful city-state because of the cleverness of its merchants and rulers. They turned Venice into a power that controlled the seas. Venice's location allowed it to trade easily with the East. In fact, for hundreds of years Venice's main ties were with the Byzantine Empire, the eastern part of the Roman Empire that had survived the fall of Rome. The Byzantine Empire was centered on Constantinople, the city now known as Istanbul, in Turkey. A series of Christian military expeditions known as the Crusades were very profitable for Venice. Venetian trade flourished after Constantinople was conquered in 1204 during the Fourth Crusade. The Byzantine territory was then divided between the Venetians and the crusaders. In this way, Venice acquired a commercial empire in the eastern Mediterranean. DeclineVenice reached the height of its power in the 15th century. In addition to its dominance of the eastern Mediterranean, the republic also controlled the Italian mainland westward almost to Milan. However, after the 15th century, Venice began to decline. Like many other European cities, Venice was struck repeatedly by the plague, a disease that killed much of the population in the 14th through the 16th century. The opening of new trade routes to the East in the 16th century also harmed Venetian trade. At the same time the city-state began to lose territory. It was attacked on the mainland by other European states and in the Mediterranean by the Turkish Ottoman Empire, which had captured Constantinople in 1453. In 1797 the city was conquered by the French general Napoleon, and rule by the doges was ended. Venice was given to Austria later that year. In 1866 Austria in turn was forced to give Venice to Italy. By the end of the 19th century, the city was becoming a major tourist destination. Recent historyIn modern times, Venice has been sinking into the sea at an alarming rate, and the city's central region is plagued by flooding. Although attempts have been made to prevent further flooding, no permanent solution to the problem has been found. Air pollution also continues to be an issue for the city, especially because it causes damage to Venice's art treasures. The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) added Venice to its World Heritage List in 1987 and instituted a major project to help the city overcome these issues. Population (2000 estimate), 277,300. |