AREA INTRODUCTION
History
According to legend, Venice was founded in 421 by Romans who fled the Goths.However, there are no historical records of Venice's origins The city was probably formed from the mass entry of refugees and the po estuary marshlands that followed the devastating invasion of northeastern Italy beginning by Quadi and Marcomanni in 166-168, who devastated the main central area in this area, It's Oderzo now The Roman resistance was overthrown in the early 5th century by the Visigoths and, about 50 years later, by the Huns led by Attila.
The last and longest invasion was by the Lombards in 568: this time left the Eastern Roman Empire a small strip of land along the coast of what is now Veneto, and the administrative and religious institutions were thus transferred to this remaining parish New ports were built, including those in Malamocco and Torcello in the Venetian Lagoon region Byzantine dominance in central and northern Italy was largely wiped out by the conquest of Ravenna's Exarchate (exarchate was a province of the Byxantine Empire, located far from Constantinople) in 751 by Aistulf During this period the local Byzantine governor (the "duke", later "doge") was stationed in Malamocco: the settlement on the islands in the lagoon probably increased accordingly in proportion to lombard's conquest of the Byzantine territories In 775-776 the position of pastor of Olivolo (Helibolis) was created. During the reign of Duke Agnello Particiaco (811-827) where the garrison duke was moved from Malamocco to the best protected place was the island of Rialto (Rivoalto, "High Shore"), the present site of Venice The monastery of St Zachary was built, the first duke's palace and st Mark's church, as well as a defensive wall (civitatis murus) between Olivolo and Rialto In 828 the city's popularity was increased because the relics (forcibly taken from Alexander) were placed in the newly built church of St Mark Church power was also transferred to the Rialto As the community continued to grow and Byzantine power dwindled, an anti-Eastern ethos grew, leading to the development of independence and eventually independence.
From the 9th to the 12th centuries Venice developed into a city-state (an Italian thalassocracy or Repubblica Marinara, and three similar cities were Genoa, Pisa and Amalfi) The strategic location at the head of the Adriatic Sea that brought venice's naval and economic strengths is indisputable The city became a thriving center of trade between Western Europe and the rest of the world (especially the Byzantine Empire and the Islamic world).
In the 12th century the important things for Venice's strengths were built: The Venetian ammunition depot was started in 1104; Venice acquired control of the Brenner Pass from Verona in 1178, opening up a lifeline for silver from Germany; The last doge (governor-general) of the aristocracy, Vitale Michiele, died in 1172. The Venetian Republic occupied the eastern shores of the Adriatic Sea before 1200, mainly for commercial reasons, because pirates stationed in that area were a threat to trade The Doge, at the time, was the Duke of Dalmatia and the Duke of Istria. The later-owned lands, stretching from Lake Garda to as far west as the Adda River, known as "Terraferma", were partially occupied as a buffer zone against the surrounding dangerous waters, partly securing trade routes through the Alps, and partly securing the supply of wheat from the continent, That the city has to rely on.
In building into a maritime empire, the republic took control of most of the islands in the Égée Sea, including Kypros and Crete, and became a dominant power driver in the Near East By the standards of the time, Venice's control of its continental lands was relatively bright citizens of cities such as Bergamo, Brescia and Verona who rebelled to defend Venice's sovereignty when threatened by invaders.
Venice became an empire after the 4th Crusade, a war that thanks to the involvement of Venice of Constantinople poured in 1204 to establish the Latin Empire; Venice itself created an influential region called the Duchy of the Archipelago Unfortunately, the colonization of Constantinople eventually proved to be the end of the Byzantine Empire as well as the fall of the Anatolian style that followed Manzikert Although the Greeks retook the devastated city and the Empire half a century later, the Byzantine Empire was in fact powerless, and existed as a ghost on its former part until the Subcontinent Mehmet the Conqueror occupied the city in 1453 Many of the things that were taken during the war were brought back to Venice, including the winged Lion of St Mark, a symbol of Venice Only Venetian ships could effectively transport people, supplies and especially war horses.
Venice began to lose its position as a center of international trade after the end of the Renaissance Nevertheless, the Venetian Empire was a major exporter of agricultural products and, until the mid-18th century, a center of production.
After 1070 years, the Republic lost its autonomy when Napoleon Bonaparte, on 12 May 1797, conquered Venice in the First Campaign of Alliance The French conquistador ended the city's most monumental century in its history: it was during the Settecento period (1700s) that Venice became perhaps the most magnificent city in Europe, greatly influencing art, architecture, and literature Napoleon was seen as a liberator by the city's Jews, although nowhere else in Italy had they lived through centuries had fewer limits than Venice He demolished the gates of the Ghetto and ended restrictions on where and when Jews could live and travel in the city.
Venice became part of Austria when Napoleon signed the Treaty of Campo Formio on 12 October 1797 The Austrians occupied the city on 18 January 1798 It was taken out of Austria by the Treaty of Pressburg in 1805 and became part of napoleon's Italian Kingdom, but was returned to Austria after Napoleon's defeat in
1814, when it became part of the Austrian-controlled Kingdom of Lombardy- Venetia In 1848-1849 a revolution reestablished the Republic of Venice in a short time In1866, following the Six-Week War, Venice, along with the rest of Venetia, became part of Italy.
Since 1797, the city has deteriorated severely, with many ancient mansions and other buildings abandoned and falling into irreparable status, although the Lido became a popular tourist beach in the 19th century.
In the 20th century, the extraction of water from the aquifers caused Venise to sink gradually The sinking process has slowed markedly since wells were banned in the1960s However, the city is still threatened by frequent low-level flooding (acqua alta, "high water") which causes water levels to rise to a height of about a few centimeters higher than the city's wharves, which often occur due to tides Studies indicate that the city continues to sink at a relatively slow rate of 1222 mm per year.
Geography
Venice sits atop alluvial silt washed into the sea by the rivers flowing eastward from the alps across the Veneto plain, with the silt being stretched into long banks, or lidi, by the action of the current flowing around the head of the Adriatic Sea from east to west.
Figure 1.3 Venice viewed from the International Space Station
Subsidence, the gradual lowering of the surface of Venice, has contributed—along with other factors—to the seasonal Acqua alta ("high water") when much of the city's surface is occasionally covered at high tide.
Those fleeing barbarian invasions who found refuge on the sandy islands of Torcello, Iesolo, and Malamocco, in this coastal lagoon, learned to build by driving closely spaced piles consisting of the trunks of alder trees, a wood noted for its water resistance, into the mud and sand, until they reached a much harder layer of compressed clay Building foundations rested on plates of Istrian limestone placed on top of the piles.
Between autumn and early spring, the city is often threatened by flood tides pushing in from the Adriatic Six hundred years ago, Venetians protected themselves from land-based attacks by diverting all the major rivers flowing into the lagoon and thus preventing sediment from filling the area around the city This created an ever- deeper lagoon environment Additionally, the lowest part of Venice, St Mark's Basilica, is only 64 centimetres (25 in) above sea level, and one of the most flood- prone parts of the city.
During the 20th century, when many artesian wells were sunk into the periphery of the lagoon to draw water for local industry, Venice began to subside It was realized that extraction of water from the aquifer was the cause The sinking has slowed markedly since artesian wells were banned in the 1960s However, the city is still threatened by more frequent low-level floods—the Acqua alta, that rise to a height of several centimetres over its quays—regularly following certain tides In many old houses, staircases once used to unload goods are now flooded, rendering the former ground floor uninhabitable.
Studies indicate that the city continues sinking at a relatively slow rate of 1–2 mm per annum; therefore, the state of alert has not been revoked.
The government of Italy committed to providing 20 million euros in funding to help the city repair the most urgent aspects although Brugnaro's estimate of the total damage was "hundreds of millions" to at least 1 billion euros.
On 3 October 2020, the MOSE was activated for the first time in response to a predicted high tide event, preventing some of the low-lying parts of the city (in particular the Piazza San Marco) from being flooded.
Demographic
The city was one of the largest in Europe in the High Middle Ages, with a population of 60,000 in AD 1000; 80,000 in 1200; and rising up to 110,000–180,000 in 1300 In the mid-1500s the city's population was 170,000, and by 1600 it approached 200,000.
In 2009, there were 270,098 people residing in the Comune of Venice (the population estimate of 272,000 inhabitants includes around 60,000 in the historic city of Venice (Centro storico), 176,000 in Terraferma (the mainland); and 31,000 on other islands in the lagoon); 47.4% were male and 52.6% were female Minors (ages 18 and younger) were 14.36% of the population compared to pensioners who numbered 25.7% This compared with the Italian average of 18.06% and 19.94%, respectively The average age of Venice residents was 46 compared to the Italian average of 42 In the five years between 2002 and 2007, the population of Venice declined by 0.2%, while Italy as a whole grew by 3.85% The population in the historic old city declined much faster: from about 120,000 in 1980 to about 60,000 in 2009 and to below 55,000 in 2016.
As of 2018, 86% of the population was Italian The largest immigrant groups include: 5,934 (2.3%) Bangladeshis, 5,578 (2.1%) Romanians, 4,460 (1.7%) Moldovans, 3,351 (1.3%) Chinese, and 2,511 (1%) Ukrainians.
Venice is predominantly Roman Catholic (85.0% of the resident population in the area of the Patriarchate of Venice in 2018 ), but because of the long-standing relationship with Constantinople, there is also a noticeable Orthodox presence; and as a result of immigration, there is now a large Muslim community (about 25,000 or 9.5% of city population in 2018 and some Hindu, and Buddhist inhabitants.
Since 1991, the Church of San Giorgio dei Greci in Venice has become the see of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Italy and Malta and Exarchate of Southern Europe, a Byzantine-rite diocese under the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople.
There is also a historic Jewish community in Venice The Venetian Ghetto was the area in which Jews were compelled to live under the Venetian Republic The word ghetto (ghèto), originally Venetian, is now found in many languages Shakespeare's play The Merchant of Venice, written in the late 16th century, features Shylock, aVenetian Jew The first complete and uncensored printed edition of the Talmud was printed in Venice by Daniel Bomberg in 1523 During World War II, Jews were rounded up in Venice and deported to extermination camps Since the end of the war, the Jewish population of Venice has declined from 1500 to about 500 Only around 30 Jews live in the former ghetto, which houses the city's major Jewish institutions In modern times, Venice has an eruv, used by the Jewish community.
Government
The legislative body of the Comune is the City Council (Consiglio Comunale), which is composed of 36 councillors elected every five years with a proportional system, contextually to the mayoral elections The executive body is the City Administration (Giunta Comunale), composed of 12 assessors nominated and presided over by a directly elected Mayor.
Venice was governed by centre-left parties from the early 1990s until the 2010s, when the Mayor started to be elected directly Its region, Veneto, has long been a conservative stronghold, with the coalition between the regionalist Lega Nord and the centre-right Forza Italia winning absolute majorities of the electorate in many elections at local, national, and regional levels.
The current Mayor of Venice is Luigi Brugnaro, a centre-right independent businessman who is currently serving his second term in office.
The municipality of Venice is also subdivided into six administrative boroughs (municipalità) Each borough is governed by a council (Consiglio) and a president, elected every five years The urban organization is dictated by Article 114 of the Italian Constitution The boroughs have the power to advise the Mayor with nonbinding opinions on a large spectrum of topics (environment, construction, public health, local markets) and exercise the functions delegated to them by the City Council; in addition, they are supplied with autonomous funding to finance local activities.
The historic city of Venice is divided into six areas called sestieri:
Each sestiere is now a statistical and historical area without any degree of autonomy.
The six fingers or phalanges of the ferro on the bow of a gondola represent the six sestieri.
The sestieri are divided into parishes – initially 70 in 1033, but reduced under Napoleon, and now numbering just 38 These parishes predate the sestieri, which were created in about 1170 Each parish exhibited unique characteristics but also belonged to an integrated network Each community chose its own patron saint, staged its own festivals, congregated around its own market center, constructed its own bell towers, and developed its own customs.
Other islands of the Venetian Lagoon do not form part of any of the sestieri, having historically enjoyed a considerable degree of autonomy.
Each sestiere has its own house numbering system Each house has a unique number in the district, from one to several thousand, generally numbered from one corner of the area to another, but not usually in a readily understandable manner.
Economy
Venice's economy has changed throughout history Although there is little specific information about the earliest years, it is likely that an important source of the city's prosperity was the trade in slaves, captured in central Europe and sold to North Africa and the Levant Venice's location at the head of the Adriatic, and directly south of the terminus of the Brenner Pass over the Alps, would have given it a distinct advantage as a middleman in this important trade In the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, Venice was a major center for commerce and trade, as it controlled a vast sea-empire, and became an extremely wealthy European city and a leader in political and economic affairs From the 11th century until the 15th century, pilgrimages to the Holy Land were offered in Venice Other ports such as Genoa, Pisa, Marseille, Ancona, and Dubrovnik were hardly able to compete with the well organized transportation of pilgrims from Venice.
Armenian merchants from Julfa were the leading traders in Venice, especially the Sceriman family in the 17th century They were specialized in the gems and diamonds business The trade volume reached millions of tons, which was exceptional for 17th century.This all changed by the 17th century, when Venice's trade empire was taken over by countries such as Portugal, and its importance as a naval power was reduced In the 18th century, it became a major agricultural and industrial exporter The 18th century's biggest industrial complex was the Venice Arsenal, and the Italian Army still uses it today (even though some space has been used for major theatrical and cultural productions, and as spaces for art) Since World War II, many Venetians have moved to the neighboring cities of Mestre and Porto Marghera, seeking employment as well as affordable housing.
Today, Venice's economy is mainly based on tourism, shipbuilding (mainly in Mestre and Porto Marghera), services, trade, and industrial exports Murano glass production in Murano and lace production in Burano are also highly important to the economy.
The city is facing financial challenges In late 2016, it had a major deficit in its budget and debts in excess of €400 million "In effect, the place is bankrupt", according to a report by The Guardian Many locals are leaving the historic center due to rapidly increasing rents The declining native population affects the character of the city, as an October 2016 National Geographic article pointed out in its subtitle: "Residents are abandoning the city, which is in danger of becoming an overpriced theme park" The city is also facing other challenges, including erosion, pollution, subsidence, an excessive number of tourists in peak periods, and problems caused by oversized cruise ships sailing close to the banks of the historical city.
In June 2017, Italy was required to bail out two Venetian banks—the Banca Popolare di Vicenza and Veneto Banca—to prevent their bankruptcies Both banks would be wound down and their assets that have value taken over by another Italian bank, Intesa Sanpaolo, which would receive €5.2 billion as compensation The Italian government would be responsible for losses from any uncollectible loans from the closed banks The cost would be €5.2 billion, with further guarantees to cover bad loans totaling €12 billion.
Venice is an important destination for tourists who want to see its celebrated art and architecture The city hosts up to 60,000 tourists per day (2017 estimate) Estimates of the annual number of tourists vary from 22 million to 30 million This
"overtourism" creates overcrowding and environmental problems for Venice's ecosystem By 2017, UNESCO was considering the addition of Venice to its "In- Danger" list, which includes historical ruins in war-torn countries To reduce the number of visitors, who are causing irreversible changes in Venice, the agency supports limiting the number of cruise ships as well as implementing a strategy for more sustainable tourism.
Tourism has been a major part of the Venetian economy since the 18th century, when Venice—with its beautiful cityscape, uniqueness, and rich musical and artistic cultural heritage—was a stop on the Grand Tour In the 19th century, Venice became a fashionable centre for the "rich and famous", who often stayed and dined at luxury establishments such as the Danieli Hotel and the Caffè Florian, and continued to be a fashionable city into the early 20th century In the 1980s, the Carnival of Venice was revived; and the city has become a major centre of international conferences and festivals, such as the prestigious Venice Biennale and the Venice Film Festival, which attract visitors from all over the world for their theatrical, cultural, cinematic, artistic, and musical productions.
Today, there are numerous attractions in Venice, such as St Mark's Basilica, the Doge's Palace, the Grand Canal, and the Piazza San Marco The Lido di Venezia is also a popular international luxury destination, attracting thousands of actors, critics, celebrities, and others in the cinematic industry The city also relies heavily on the cruise business The Cruise Venice Committee has estimated that cruise ship passengers spend more than 150 million euros (US$193 million) annually in the city, according to a 2015 report Other reports, however, point out that such day- trippers spend relatively little in the few hours of their visits to the city.
Transport
Venice is famous for its canals It was built on an archipelago of 118 islands made up of about 150 canals and a shoddy lagoon The islands on which the city was built are connected by about 400 bridges In the old center, the canals acted as roads, and every form of traffic was on water or on foot In the 19th century a main inland road brought a train station to Venice, and a road for cars and parking was added in the20th century Crossing from the land entrances on the northern edge of the city,traffic inside the city remains, as in centuries ago, entirely on water or on foot.Venice is Europe's largest metropolitan area without a car, the only one in Europe to maintain its operations as a normal city in the 21st century without relying on cars or trucks at all.
The classic Venetian boat is a gondola, whether today it is used primarily for visitors, or for weddings, funerals, or other holidays The majority of Venetians today travel by motorboat ("vaporetti") on routes along the main canals and between the islands in the city The city also has many private boats The gondolas still commonly used by the Venetians were the traghetti, which carried pedestrian passenger ferries across venice's Main Canal at certain points with no bridges. Venice is served by a new airport, Marco Polo International Airport, or Aeroporto di Venezia Marco Polo, named after the famous citizen born here The airport is on land and was rebuilt far from the coast so that visitors had to take a bus to the port,and from there use a water taxi or alilaguna waterbus
Sport
The most famous Venetian sport is probably Voga alla Veneta ("Venetian-style rowing"), also commonly called voga veneta A technique invented in the Venetian Lagoon, Venetian rowing is unusual in that the rower(s), one or more, row standing, looking forward Today, Voga alla Veneta is not only the way the gondoliers row tourists around Venice but also the way Venetians row for pleasure and sport Many races called regata(e) happen throughout the year.The culminating event of the rowing season is the day of the "Regata Storica", which occurs on the first Sunday of September each year.
The main football club in the city is Venezia F.C., founded in 1907, which currently plays in the Serie A Their ground, the Stadio Pier Luigi Penzo, situated in Sant'Elena, is one of the oldest sports venues in Italy.
The local basketball club is Reyer Venezia, founded in 1872 as the gymnastics clubSocietà Sportiva Costantino Reyer, and in 1907 as the basketball club Reyer currently plays in the Lega Basket Serie A The men's team were the Italian champions in 1942, 1943, and 2017 Their arena is the Palasport GiuseppeTaliercio, situated in Mestre Luigi Brugnaro is both the president of the club and the mayor of the city.
Education
Venice is a major international centre for higher education The city hosts the Ca' Foscari University of Venice, founded in 1868; the Università Iuav di Venezia, founded in 1926; the Venice International University, founded in 1995 and located on the island of San Servolo and the EIUC-European Inter-University Centre for Human Rights and Democratisation, located on the island of Lido di Venezia.
Other Venetian institutions of higher education are: the Accademia di Belle Arti(Academy of Fine Arts), established in 1750, whose first chairman was GiovanniBattista Piazzetta, and the Benedetto Marcello Conservatory of Music, which was first established in 1876 as a high school and musical society, later (1915) becameLiceo Musicale, and then, when its director was Gian Francesco Malipiero, the StateConservatory of Music (1940).
Culture
Venice has long been a source of inspiration for authors, playwrights, and poets,and at the forefront of the technological development of printing and publishing.Two of the most noted Venetian writers were Marco Polo in the Middle Ages and,later, Giacomo Casanova Polo (1254–1324) was a merchant who voyaged to the
Orient His series of books, co-written with Rustichello da Pisa and titled Il Milione provided important knowledge of the lands east of Europe, from the Middle East to China, Japan, and Russia Giacomo Casanova (1725–1798) was a prolific writer and adventurer best remembered for his autobiography, Histoire De Ma Vie (Story of
My Life), which links his colourful lifestyle to the city of Venice.
The city features prominently in Henry James's The Aspern Papers and The Wings of the Dove It is also visited in Evelyn Waugh's Brideshead Revisited and Marcel Proust's In Search of Lost Time Perhaps the best-known children's book set in Venice is The Thief Lord, written by the German author Cornelia Funke.
The poet Ugo Foscolo (1778–1827), born in Zante, an island that at the time belonged to the Republic of Venice, was also a revolutionary who wanted to see a free republic established in Venice following its fall to Napoleon.
Venice also inspired the poetry of Ezra Pound, who wrote his first literary work in the city Pound died in 1972, and his remains are buried in Venice's cemetery island of San Michele.
Venice is also linked to the technological aspects of writing The city was the location of one of Italy's earliest printing presses called Aldine Press, established by Aldus Manutius in 1494.From this beginning Venice developed as an important typographic center Around fifteen percent of all printing of the fifteenth century came from Venice, and even as late as the 18th century was responsible for printing half of Italy's published books.
By the end of the 15th century, Venice had become the European capital of printing, having 417 printers by 1500, and being one of the first cities in Italy (after Subiaco and Rome) to have a printing press, after those established in Germany The most important printing office was the Aldine Press of Aldus Manutius; which in 1497 issued the first printed work of Aristotle; in 1499 printed the Hypnerotomachia Poliphili, considered the most beautiful book of the Renaissance; and established modern punctuation, page format, and italic type.
An 18th-century view of Venice by Venetian artist Canaletto.
Venice, especially during the Middle Ages, the Renaissance, and Baroque periods, was a major centre of art and developed a unique style known as the Venetian School In the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, Venice, along with Florence and Rome, became one of the most important centres of art in Europe, and numerous wealthy Venetians became patrons of the arts Venice at the time was a rich and prosperous Maritime Republic, which controlled a vast sea and trade empire.
In the 16th century, Venetian painting was developed through influences from thePaduan School and Antonello da Messina, who introduced the oil painting technique of the Van Eyck brothers It is signified by a warm colour scale and a picturesque use of colour Early masters were the Bellini and Vivarini families, followed by Giorgione and Titian, then Tintoretto and Veronese In the early 16th century, there was rivalry in Venetian painting between the disegno and colorito techniques.
Canvases (the common painting surface) originated in Venice during the early Renaissance These early canvases were generally rough.
In the 18th century, Venetian painting had a revival with Tiepolo's decorative painting and Canaletto's and Guardi's panoramic views.
Venice is built on unstable mud-banks, and had a very crowded city centre by the Middle Ages On the other hand, the city was largely safe from riot, civil feuds, and invasion much earlier than most European cities These factors, with the canals and the great wealth of the city, made for unique building styles.
Venice has a rich and diverse architectural style, the most prominent of which is the Gothic style Venetian Gothic architecture is a term given to a Venetian building style combining the use of the Gothic lancet arch with the curved ogee arch, due to Byzantine and Ottoman influences The style originated in 14th-century Venice, with a confluence of Byzantine style from Constantinople, Islamic influences from Spain and Venice's eastern trading partners, and early Gothic forms from mainland Italy Chief examples of the style are the Doge's Palace and the Ca' d'Oro in the city. The city also has several Renaissance and Baroque buildings, including the Ca' Pesaro and the Ca' Rezzonico.
Venetian taste was conservative and Renaissance architecture only really became popular in buildings from about the 1470s More than in the rest of Italy, it kept much of the typical form of the Gothic palazzi, which had evolved to suit Venetian conditions In turn the transition to Baroque architecture was also fairly gentle This gives the crowded buildings on the Grand Canal and elsewhere an essential harmony, even where buildings from very different periods sit together For example, round-topped arches are far more common in Renaissance buildings than elsewhere.
It can be argued that Venice produced the best and most refined Rococo designs At the time, the Venetian economy was in decline It had lost most of its maritime power, was lagging behind its rivals in political importance, and its society had become decadent, with tourism increasingly the mainstay of the economy But Venice remained a centre of fashion Venetian rococo was well known as rich and luxurious, with usually very extravagant designs Unique Venetian furniture types included the divani da portego, and long rococo couches and pozzetti, objects meant to be placed against the wall Bedrooms of rich Venetians were usually sumptuous and grand, with rich damask, velvet, and silk drapery and curtains, and beautifully carved rococo beds with statues of putti, flowers, and angels Venice was especially known for its beautiful girandole mirrors, which remained among, if not the, finest in Europe Chandeliers were usually very colourful, using Murano glass to make them look more vibrant and stand out from others; and precious stones and materials from abroad were used, since Venice still held a vast trade empire.Lacquer was very common, and many items of furniture were covered with it, the most noted being lacca povera (poor lacquer), in which allegories and images of social life were painted Lacquerwork and Chinoiserie were particularly common in bureau cabinets.
Venice is known for its ornate glass-work, known as Venetian glass, which is world-renowned for being colourful, elaborate, and skilfully made Many of the important characteristics of these objects had been developed by the 13th century. Toward the end of that century, the center of the Venetian glass industry moved to Murano, an offshore island in Venice The glass made there is known as Murano glass.
Byzantine craftsmen played an important role in the development of Venetian glass. When Constantinople was sacked in the Fourth Crusade in 1204, some fleeing artisans came to Venice; when the Ottomans took Constantinople in 1453, still more glassworkers arrived By the 16th century, Venetian artisans had gained even greater control over the colour and transparency of their glass, and had mastered a variety of decorative techniques Despite efforts to keep Venetian glassmaking techniques within Venice, they became known elsewhere, and Venetian-style glassware was produced in other Italian cities and other countries of Europe.
FAMOUS TOURISM SPOTS, FESTIVALS & ACTIVITIES
Famous Tourism Spots
Certainly Venice's best-known church, and one of the most easily recognized in the world, St Mark's Basilica (Basilica di San Marco) was originally the Doge's private chapel, decorated with Byzantine art treasures that are part of the booty brought back by Venetian ships after the fall of Constantinople.
The gold-backed mosaic pictures above the doorways on the faỗade only hint at the mosaic artistry inside, where 4,240 square meters of gold mosaics cover the domes and walls These set a distinctly Byzantine tone to its soaring interior, but you'll find treasures from other periods, including later mosaics designed by Titian and Tintoretto - names you'll encounter all over the city.
The magnificent golden altarpiece, the Pala d'Oro, one of the finest in Europe, was begun by early 12th-century artists, and centuries later, adorned with nearly 2,000 gems and precious stones If you can tear your eyes from this, the mosaic domes, and the multitude of richly decorated altars, glance down at the floor, a masterpiece of marble inlay And take time to see the gold reliquaries and icons in the Treasury. (Barbara Radcliffe Rogers, 2022)
Piazza San Marco (St Mark's Square)
The vast expanse of Venice's largest square is brought together and made to seem almost intimate by the elegant uniformity of its architecture on three sides But more than its architectural grace, St Mark's Square (Piazza San Marco) is loved as Venice's living room, the place everybody gathers, strolls, drinks coffee, stops to chat, meets friends and tour guides, or just passes through on the way to work or play.
Three sides are framed in arcades, beneath which are fashionable shops and even more fashionable cafés The open end is bookmarked by the erratic, exotic curves, swirls, mosaics, and lacy stone filigree of St Mark's Basilica.
Above it towers the brick shaft of the campanile For overviews of this busy piazza, you can go to its top or to the top of the Torre dell'Orologio, where a pair of
"Moors" strikes the hour ( Barbara Radcliffe Rogers, 2022)
Palazzo Ducale (Doge's Palace) and Bridge of Sighs
Palazzo Ducale (Doge's Palace) and Bridge of Sighs
Visitors arriving in Venice once stepped ashore under the faỗade of this extraordinary palace They couldn't have failed to be impressed, both by its size and the finesse of its architecture.
If they were received inside by the Doges, the impression would only strengthen as they entered through the Porta della Carta, a perfect example of Venetian Gothic at its height, and ascended the monumental Scala dei Giganti and the gold-vaulted Scala d'Oro to be received in what many consider to be the palace's most beautiful chamber, Sala del Collegio.
Even jaded 21st-century travelers gasp in awe at the palace's grandeur and lavish decoration You'll see works by all the Venetian greats, including Tintoretto, whose Paradise is the largest oil painting in the world.
Not open on public tours but included on private tours is a walk across the Bridge of Sighs to the dark cells of the Prigioni - the prisons from which Casanova made his famous escape The best view - and the postcard classic - of the Bridge of Sighs is from the Ponte della Paglia, on the Riva degli Schiavoni behind the Doge's Palace. Lines for admission to the Doge's Palace are often long, but you can avoid these, and see sections of the palace not open to general visitors, with a Skip the Line: Doge's Palace Ticket and Tour A local guide will take you past the lines and explain the history and art in each of the dazzling rooms before leading you across the Bridge of Sighs and into the notorious prison ( Barbara Radcliffe Rogers, 2022)
Sweeping through the heart of Venice in a giant reverse S curve, the Grand Canal is the principal boulevard through the city, connecting Piazza San Marco, Rialto Bridge, and the arrival points of the rail station and bridge from the mainland.
Only four bridges cross its 3.8-kilometer length, but stripped-down gondolas called traghetti shuttle back and forth at several points between bridges The Grand Canal was the address of choice for anyone who claimed any influence in Venice. Palaces of all the leading families open onto the canal, their showy Venetian Gothic and Early Renaissance facades facing the water, by which visitors arrived.
These grand palaces – or at least their facades – are well preserved today, and a trip along the canal by vaporetto, Venice's floating public transport system, is the best way to see them Or you can see the palaces at a more leisurely speed on a VeniceGrand Canal Small Group 1-Hour Boat Tour, which also includes some of the smaller canals And, of course, a ride along the Grand Canal in a gondola is one of the most romantic things to do in Venice at night ( Barbara Radcliffe Rogers, 2022)
Ponte di Rialto (Rialto Bridge) and San Polo
Once the only bridge across the Grand Canal, Rialto Bridge marks the spot of the island's first settlement, called Rivus Altus (high bank) Built in 1588, some 150 years after the collapse of a previous wooden bridge, this stone arch supports two busy streets and a double set of shops.
Along with serving as a busy crossing point midway along the canal, it is a favorite vantage point for tourists taking - or posing for - photos, and for watching the assortment of boats always passing under it.
Festivals and Activities
While Venice hosts boating events all year-round, it is the warm days of May that really kick-start the boat racing season The best-known of these races is the Vogalonga, a rowing competition that accepts competitors from around the world, held in late May or early June.
For information about the festivals and events that happen each May in Venice, read below Note that May 1, Labor Day, is a national holiday, so many businesses, including museums and restaurants, will be closed Many Italian and European tourists take advantage of the holiday to visit Venice making popular tourist sights especially crowded on May 1 May is also generally considered high season for Venice hotels.
All of the events below have been canceled or postponed in 2020 Please check the official websites for the most up-to-date information on each event.
May 1 - Labor Day and the Festa Della Sparesca
Primo Maggio is a national holiday in Italy, so many Venetians head out of town for a long weekend Those who stay in town get to witness the Festa Della Sparesca, a gondolier regatta held at Cavallino in the lagoon While some Venetians leave town, many more tourists arrive, making Saint Mark's Square extremely crowded If you are in Venice on May 1, you're probably better off avoiding Venice's top tourist attractions (Elizabeth Heath ,2020)
Mid May - Festa della Sensa
The Festa della Sensa, the ceremony which commemorates Venice's marriage to the sea, takes place on the first Sunday after Ascension Day (the Thursday that is 40 days after Easter) Historically the doge performed the ceremony, held in a special boat, of marrying Venice with the sea by throwing a gold ring into the water.
However today the ceremony is performed by the mayor who uses a laurel wreath. Following the ceremony, there is a big boat regatta and the day also usually includes a huge fair.
Didier Descouens / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0
Mare Maggio, held for 3 days around the middle of May, is a newer festival although it still includes historical re-enactments and traditions related to boating and the city's naval glory of the past It's held inside the Arsenale, so it's a great chance to see inside the city's military zone.
The Vogalonga, held the weekend following the Sensa festival, is an exciting 32- kilometer rowing race that includes several thousand participants The course runs from the San Marco Basin to the island of Burano, the halfway point, and returns through the Grand Canal to finish at the Punta della Dogana in front of San Marco. This is one of the top water festivals in Venice, and it draws participants from many parts of Italy and beyond It's fun to watch, too Because the date of the Sensa festival changes each year, the Vogalonga sometimes takes place in early June instead of May (Elizabeth Heath , 2020)
Surrender yourself to a spellbinding masquerade
Carnevale in Venice is a world-famous festival that takes place in the 2 weeks leading up to Shrove Tuesday (February or March) With masked balls, regatta boat races, mask-making workshops and all-manner of kaleidoscopic carnival fun, the vibrant festival has to be seen to be believed.
While many of the celebrations take place in and around St Mark's Square, the whole of Venice rallies to contribute to the magnificent Carnevale spectacle From parades to performances, events burst into life across the entire city during the fortnight It's the iconic masquerade balls that provide the ultimate Carnevale experience, though Local hotels can help arrange tickets and costume hire for one of the unforgettable balls.
August–September - Venice Film Festival
Rub shoulders with the stars at this world-famous celebration of cinema
Venice Film Festival is one of the world's oldest and most iconic celebrations of cinema Running since 1932, the red carpet is rolled out annually for a glamorous set of the movie world's A-list to showcase their work.
Chic but carefree, the festival typically focuses on mainstream Hollywood flicks,though a spotlight is shined on a selection of international and art house films, too.Tickets can be purchased for individual films or multiple screenings, and you won't have to spend the earth to join the fun One not to be missed for film buffs, the sun- kissed festival offers an amazing opportunity to see the latest movies while indulging in some subtle celebrity spotting.
FAMOUS DISHES
Famous Dishes
Bigoli in salsa is another signature starter dish of Venice Bigoli, or bigoi as they called in the local dialect, are essentially long, thick, whole-wheat strands of pasta resembling spaghetti A salsa or sauce consisting of onions and salt-cured fish (sardines or anchovies) is then used to accompany the pasta Traditionally served on giorni di magro or lean days such as Good Friday and Christmas Eve, this simple but delicious dish is now served all year round in Venice (Rosemarie Scavo, 2015)
(Source: https://www.eatingeurope.com/blog/essential-food-venice/)
If you’re lucky enough to be visiting during the Carnevale (Carnival) period, then you must try fritole, which are sweet pastry fritters traditionally prepared and eaten as part of the festivities before Lent Made with a rich batter consisting of flour, eggs, butter, milk, sugar, pine nuts and raisins, they are molded in balls, deep fried in oil and dusted with sugar Highly recommended for those with a sweet tooth! (Rosemarie Scavo, 2015)
(Source: https://www.eatingeurope.com/blog/essential-food-venice/)
This delectable agrodolce or sweet-sour dish is definitely our favorite Consisting of fried sardine fillets marinated in vinegar, onions, raisins and pine nuts, saor was originally conceived in the Middle Ages as a method of preservation by Venetian sailors and fishermen With modern refrigeration, preserving fish (and other foods) in this way is no longer necessary However, the simultaneously sweet and tangy flavors characterizing this preservation method were clearly very appealing to the Venetians’ taste buds and, as a result, the dish lives on as a modern-day antipasto or appetizer.
(Source: : https://www.eatingeurope.com/blog/essential-food-venice/)
Coming in at a close second is another sublime fish-based antipasto Baccala mantecato or creamed dried cod is prepared by soaking, poaching and blending the fish into a smooth mousse seasoned with olive oil, salt and pepper You may also come across parsley and garlic in some variations It is then served spread on slices of fresh bread or grilled white polenta, a typical staple of the Veneto region. (Rosemarie Scavo, 2015)
(Source: : https://www.eatingeurope.com/blog/essential-food-venice/)
It’s hardly surprising that risotto is a major feature in Venetian cuisine as theVeneto is one of Italy’s main rice-growing regions In fact, risotto is even more common than pasta in Venice, so you will find it on nearly every menu in a variety of flavors, most commonly with vegetables, meat, game, or fish.
The most quintessential risotto dish in Venice is Risi e Bisi which mixes rice (of the vialone nano variety) with fresh peas Often described as a cross between risotto and thick soup, this humble and comforting dish contains onions, butter, parsley, and pancetta.
Traditionally, risi e bisi was eaten on the 25th of April, the day of St Mark, patron of Venice It was offered to the Doge (ruler of Venice) by the peasantry from the lagoon islands to mark the special occasion.
Nowadays risi e bisi is served all year round but is best eaten in spring when the peas are at their reshest, smallest, and sweetest (Rosemarie Scavo, 2015)
(Source: https://www.nomadepicureans.com/europe/italy/venice-food/)
Consisting of flour, butter, sugar, yeast, egg whites, milk, and a pinch of salt, baicoli are small, slightly sweet traditional biscuits Similar to buranelli, baicoli were hugely popular among seamen and were often packed along for long sea expeditions.
Ovoidal and thin, these dry biscuits get their name from their peculiar shape as in the Venetian dialect “baicoli” indicates small fishes, such as sea bass Good to eat in their original form, baicoli are even better when served with zabaglione, or dipped in a cup of hot chocolate or wine (Rosemarie Scavo, 2015)
(Source: https://www.nomadepicureans.com/europe/italy/venice-food/)
Sourvernir for tourists
TOUR SCHEDULE
CULINARY AND ACOMMODATION
TOUR GUIDE
Vietnam's International Tour Guide
Nguyen Thanh Duoc is a tour guide from Green Lotus Tourist, he is licensed international tour guide in Ho Chi Minh City With a foreign language of English, with 2 years of experience leading Vietnamese delegations abroad to travel, it will be possible to lead the delegation to Venice
6.1 Nguyen Thanh Duoc - International Tour Guide Licence
Source: http://www.huongdanvien.vn/index.php/guide/cat/05
Local Tour Guide in Venice
She further studied Russian, English and Polish, majoring in history and art at Ca'Foscari University.
After graduating, she devoted herself to the study and discovery of the masterpieces, histories and secrets of the world's most magical city: Venice.
She took the first exam to work as a tour manager, then the second exam to become an authorised tour guide in Venice.
The guide looks forward to taking you to visit Venice!
Tour Guide fee
7.2 Transportation in the city of Venice
TRANSPORTATION
PRICE
Service Unit price Amout Into money Total
Local tour guide in Venice 3 040 000/day 5 day 15 200 000