Post by Katie on Aug 7, 2020 15:41:41 GMT -5
Where is Venice on the Map?
Venice (/ˈvɛnɪs/; Italian: Venezia [veˈnɛttsja]; Venetian: Venesia or Venexia [veˈnɛsja]) is a city in northeastern Italy and the capital of the Veneto region. It is situated on a group of 118 small islands that are separated by canals and linked by over 400 bridges. The islands are located in the shallow Venetian Lagoon, an enclosed bay that lies between the mouths of the Po and the Piave rivers (more exactly between the Brenta and the Sile).
The name is derived from the ancient Veneti people who inhabited the region by the 10th century BC. The city was historically the capital of the Republic of Venice for a millennium and more, from 697 to 1797. It was a major financial and maritime power during the Middle Ages and Renaissance, and a staging area for the Crusades and the Battle of Lepanto, as well as an important center of commerce—especially silk, grain, and spice, and of art from the 13th century to the end of the 17th. The city-state of Venice is considered to have been the first real international financial center, emerging in the 9th century and reaching its greatest prominence in the 14th century. This made Venice a wealthy city throughout most of its history. After the Napoleonic Wars and the Congress of Vienna, the Republic was annexed by the Austrian Empire, until it became part of the Kingdom of Italy in 1866, following a referendum held as a result of the Third Italian War of Independence.
Venice has been known as "La Dominante", "La Serenissima", "Queen of the Adriatic", "City of Water", "City of Masks", "City of Bridges", "The Floating City", and "City of Canals". The lagoon and a part of the city are listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Parts of Venice are renowned for the beauty of their settings, their architecture, and artwork. Venice is known for several important artistic movements—especially during the Renaissance period—has played an important role in the history of symphonic and operatic music, and is the birthplace of Antonio Vivaldi.[10]
Although the city is facing some challenges (including an excessive number of tourists and problems caused by pollution, tide peaks and cruise ships sailing too close to buildings), Venice remains a very popular tourist destination, a major cultural centre, and has been ranked many times the most beautiful city in the world. It has been described by the Times Online as one of Europe's most romantic cities and by The New York Times as "undoubtedly the most beautiful city built by man".
Topography
Venice is an amalgamation of 117 small islands joined by 378 bridges, mostly of stone. Some of these islands are natural, while others are artificial, constructed by means of piles driven into the bottom of the shallow sea. All the houses of the city are built thus upon a network of piles. The islands are separated by a number of canals, three of which are larger than others. There are the Grand Canal, which traverses the city in the shape of the letter S, the Giudecca and the san Marco, which is the widest. Gondolas provide transport along the canals.
The lagoon of Venice is divided into the “dead” and the “living.” The former (Laguna Morta) is a system of small salt lakes and marshes formed by the sedimentary deposits of the streams flowing from the Alpes. The latter (Laguna Viva) is a shallow body of salt water out of which rise a few small islands, among them the group forming the city itself. The Laguna Viva is separated from the Adriatic Sea by a narrow strip of land (the Lido) that extends from Chioggia to Cortellazzo at the mouth of the River Piave. The strip of land is reinforced at many points with marble, and it has numerous openings for the passage of ships. Therefore, there are several Lidi. The tide in the “live” lagoon sometimes rises to a height of between nine and 10 feet, when it floods the streets. Six forts distributed about the Laguna Viva girdle the city.
It has an odd smell to it...
Venice represents the height of Western commerce in this age. With over 120,000 inhabitants, it is also the most populous city. The Republic of Venice covers a neatly carved out section of what was once the Holy Roman Empire. Cappadocians were once powerful here, though the Giovanni family is quickly moving in the ranks, becoming a true power in both human and Cainite politics.
Sestieres
The “sestieri” are the six districts of central Venice: San Marco, San Polo, Castello, Cannaregio, Dorsoduro & Santa Croce. With Venice being so small it is sometimes difficult to understand where one ends and the other begins.
The sestieri were originally marked out for tax purposes. Each residence within each sestieri was givena unique number (which is why the address system is so strange as it’s is not based on the streets). Here we give you a general guide to the six “sestieri” of Venice. But don’t forget there are loads of other amazing places to visit in the lagoon (Burano, Murano, Lido, Pellstrina etc) which you can read about if you click here.
Sestiere San Marco
Sestiere San Polo
This is one of the smaller districts but probably one of the most packed. It starts at Rialto bridge and includes the Rialto fish market.
Sestiere Cannaregio
In the northern part of the city Cannaregio covers quite a large area, including the Jewish Ghettp.
Sestiere Castello
Sestiere Santa Croce
Sestiere Dorsoduro
Guidecca
Although part of Dorsoduro we would like to mention Guidecca separately.
Other areas of Venice
There are so many wonderful places to explore in the Venetian lagoon.
The island of Lido is less than 15 minutes from Saint Mark’s square and is a fantastic place for kids as it has a beach, lots of parks. There’s even a horse riding school and a golf course.
Pellestrina is a wonderous place. It’s a fishing island in the lagoon and has lots of wild beaches and many fantastic taverns and inns.
Burano, Murano and Torcello
Certosa island, Sant ‘Erasmo and Vignole