Venice
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Although the concept of a city built on the sea might sound somewhat far-fetched when we think about it, that's exactly what we have with Venice.
Capital of the north-eastern Veneto region, Venice is in fact a series of man-made islands built on the eponymous lagoon, feeding out into the Adriatic Sea. As recently as 421 AD there was nothing here but mud-flats but gradually something quite extraordinary started to take shape. |
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The story of Venice's rise and fall is one that can go toe to toe with that of Rome; in both cases, a tiny plot of land grew exponentially, dominating the world, before a gradual decline and fall from grace. Whereas the Roman Empire's growth came largely through military might, the Venetian golden age was based on trade, ingenuity and no small amount of guile. At the height of its power, Venice was the trade capital of the world, dominating the waves from its tiny lagoon to the new worlds in the east. The riches that poured into Venice during its medieval heyday have left a remarkable imprint on the city-scape that is unlike any other in the world.
Venice is the central island in the Venice Lagoon, one of several hundred islets, and itself made up of dozens of oddly-shaped jigsaw puzzle pieces that are separated by a series of canals and held together by a network of bridges. There are six districts on the main island of Venice, known as sestieri, which roughly translates as "sixths". The most famous of the six sestieri is San Marco as this is the home to the major sights in the city including Saint Mark's Basilica, Saint Mark's Square, the Doge's Palace (also known as the Palazzo Ducale) and Saint Mark's Bell Tower.
The starting point for most itineraries of Venice is its most illustrious square: Piazza San Marco. The beautiful square is edged by elegant porticoed walkways concealing a series of cafes and restaurants, one of the best places for people-watching in the world. There's very rarely a shortage of people to watch either, and those people mingle in semi-harmony with the thousands of pigeons who call the square home, eagerly eyeing titbits from passing tourists. At one end of the square lies the city's most important religious building: the Basilica di San Marco, Saint Mark's Basilica. This is one of the most beautiful cathedrals in the world, not only for its intricate facade but also for the treasures it holds within. For one of the best views of the piazza you can make your way to the roof of the Basilica and take it all in.
This isn't quite the best view in Venice however; that accolade belongs to the 98 metre high Saint Mark's Bell Tower. If you're just starting your first walk around Venice and you want to get your bearings, this is the ideal way to start. Take the lift to the top of the tower and you can enjoy the incredible views of the city, but also start to understand how the lagoon is mapped out and the role it has within daily life.
From the dramatic vantage point at the top of the tower you can see the Grand Canal snaking its way around the centre of Venice, along with the smaller islands that lay in the distance. There are 118 islands in the lagoon and whilst you probably won't wish to visit them all, there are some that certainly merit some attention.
The best way to travel around Venice is via water buses which are called vaporetti. Before embarking on a vaporetto ride, it's a good idea to first familiarise yourself with the Venice Water Bus Vaporetto Map with its complex network of routes, numbers and colours. Once you've got to grips with that you can start to make your way around the lagoon effectively. One of the first stops should be the island of Murano; many of the lagoon's islands are synonymous with a certain trade and in the case of Murano that trade is glass. You can visit Murano's Glass Museum or even see the glass being made at the little factories around the island.
Another island that's famous for a certain trade is Burano (just one letter out from Murano), which is famed for its production of lace. It may well be the case however, that you come away from Burano not thinking about lace, but about the extraordinary collection of multi-coloured buildings that create a mesmerising effect. Burano can even boast its own leaning tower and is certainly not to be missed.
Back on the main island of Venice, the Rialto Bridge is one of the most beautiful bridges in the world. It's one of the very symbols of Venice and stands astride the Grand Canal. If you're looking for the very essence of Venice, you can find it here as the busy waterway throngs with vaporetti vying for position with the tiny gondolas, manned by gondoliers in their typical hats and striped shirts. Simply walking the streets of Venice is one of the most enjoyable ways of getting to know the city, but for a treat you can also take a romantic gondola ride around the canals whilst being serenaded by a gondolier. Away from the serenading gondoliers, you'll find a rather more polished performance on offer at the city's most famous theatre: Teatro La Fenice.
Depending on the time of year, you may wish to spend some of your time exploring Venice's museums and art galleries. They're busier during the summer and at a time when you might be more interested in enjoying the warm weather, but during those cold, atmospheric days of winter, you can enjoy the delights of the Gallerie dell'Accademia, the Scuola Grande di San Rocco or the Peggy Guggenheim Collection to give just three examples. Absolutely not to be missed, no matter the time of year, is the Doge's Palace; it was from here that the city's ruler (The Doge) made the important decisions that affected world trade, but also the location of another famous bridge. Il Ponte dei Sospiri translates to the familiar name of the Bridge of Sighs; so-called as the prisoners crossing its internal walkway would catch their last glimpse of the outside world here before reaching the palace dungeons.
As one of the world's number one tourist destinations, travel to, from and around Venice is a sophisticated business. Most international travellers come via Venice Marco Polo Airport; located on the mainland around 12 kilometres away from the city centre. Venice is connected to the mainland by a long road and rail bridge across the lagoon. By rail you can access the heart of the city at the Santa Lucia Train Station from which you can connect to the other major cities in Italy. The road portion of the bridge allows cars to reach the edge of the city centre at a small island called Tronchetto, where there's a large car parking facility. One of the most important travel hubs is Piazzale Roma: a large square that you can reach by bus, and from where passengers arriving by bus or by private car, can make their way to the centre of Venice, either on foot or by taking one of the vaporetti.
Venice is the central island in the Venice Lagoon, one of several hundred islets, and itself made up of dozens of oddly-shaped jigsaw puzzle pieces that are separated by a series of canals and held together by a network of bridges. There are six districts on the main island of Venice, known as sestieri, which roughly translates as "sixths". The most famous of the six sestieri is San Marco as this is the home to the major sights in the city including Saint Mark's Basilica, Saint Mark's Square, the Doge's Palace (also known as the Palazzo Ducale) and Saint Mark's Bell Tower.
The starting point for most itineraries of Venice is its most illustrious square: Piazza San Marco. The beautiful square is edged by elegant porticoed walkways concealing a series of cafes and restaurants, one of the best places for people-watching in the world. There's very rarely a shortage of people to watch either, and those people mingle in semi-harmony with the thousands of pigeons who call the square home, eagerly eyeing titbits from passing tourists. At one end of the square lies the city's most important religious building: the Basilica di San Marco, Saint Mark's Basilica. This is one of the most beautiful cathedrals in the world, not only for its intricate facade but also for the treasures it holds within. For one of the best views of the piazza you can make your way to the roof of the Basilica and take it all in.
This isn't quite the best view in Venice however; that accolade belongs to the 98 metre high Saint Mark's Bell Tower. If you're just starting your first walk around Venice and you want to get your bearings, this is the ideal way to start. Take the lift to the top of the tower and you can enjoy the incredible views of the city, but also start to understand how the lagoon is mapped out and the role it has within daily life.
From the dramatic vantage point at the top of the tower you can see the Grand Canal snaking its way around the centre of Venice, along with the smaller islands that lay in the distance. There are 118 islands in the lagoon and whilst you probably won't wish to visit them all, there are some that certainly merit some attention.
The best way to travel around Venice is via water buses which are called vaporetti. Before embarking on a vaporetto ride, it's a good idea to first familiarise yourself with the Venice Water Bus Vaporetto Map with its complex network of routes, numbers and colours. Once you've got to grips with that you can start to make your way around the lagoon effectively. One of the first stops should be the island of Murano; many of the lagoon's islands are synonymous with a certain trade and in the case of Murano that trade is glass. You can visit Murano's Glass Museum or even see the glass being made at the little factories around the island.
Another island that's famous for a certain trade is Burano (just one letter out from Murano), which is famed for its production of lace. It may well be the case however, that you come away from Burano not thinking about lace, but about the extraordinary collection of multi-coloured buildings that create a mesmerising effect. Burano can even boast its own leaning tower and is certainly not to be missed.
Back on the main island of Venice, the Rialto Bridge is one of the most beautiful bridges in the world. It's one of the very symbols of Venice and stands astride the Grand Canal. If you're looking for the very essence of Venice, you can find it here as the busy waterway throngs with vaporetti vying for position with the tiny gondolas, manned by gondoliers in their typical hats and striped shirts. Simply walking the streets of Venice is one of the most enjoyable ways of getting to know the city, but for a treat you can also take a romantic gondola ride around the canals whilst being serenaded by a gondolier. Away from the serenading gondoliers, you'll find a rather more polished performance on offer at the city's most famous theatre: Teatro La Fenice.
Depending on the time of year, you may wish to spend some of your time exploring Venice's museums and art galleries. They're busier during the summer and at a time when you might be more interested in enjoying the warm weather, but during those cold, atmospheric days of winter, you can enjoy the delights of the Gallerie dell'Accademia, the Scuola Grande di San Rocco or the Peggy Guggenheim Collection to give just three examples. Absolutely not to be missed, no matter the time of year, is the Doge's Palace; it was from here that the city's ruler (The Doge) made the important decisions that affected world trade, but also the location of another famous bridge. Il Ponte dei Sospiri translates to the familiar name of the Bridge of Sighs; so-called as the prisoners crossing its internal walkway would catch their last glimpse of the outside world here before reaching the palace dungeons.
As one of the world's number one tourist destinations, travel to, from and around Venice is a sophisticated business. Most international travellers come via Venice Marco Polo Airport; located on the mainland around 12 kilometres away from the city centre. Venice is connected to the mainland by a long road and rail bridge across the lagoon. By rail you can access the heart of the city at the Santa Lucia Train Station from which you can connect to the other major cities in Italy. The road portion of the bridge allows cars to reach the edge of the city centre at a small island called Tronchetto, where there's a large car parking facility. One of the most important travel hubs is Piazzale Roma: a large square that you can reach by bus, and from where passengers arriving by bus or by private car, can make their way to the centre of Venice, either on foot or by taking one of the vaporetti.
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Category: Major Cities of Italy
Region: Capital of Veneto Regional district: Metropolitan City of Venice Population: 260,520 Top sights: Piazza San Marco, Ponte Rialto, Basilica di San Marco Recommended accommodation: Rosa Salva Hotel Close by: Chioggia, Pellestrina, Caorle, Lido di Jesolo, Padova |
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