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| Venice History : |
Venice (Italian: Venezia,
Venetian: Venesia or Venexia) is
a city in northern Italy, the
capital of the region Veneto, a
population of 271,251 (census
estimate January 1, 2004).
Together with Padua, the city is
included in the Padua-Venice
Metropolitan Area (population
1,600,000). Venice has been
known as the "La Dominante",
"Serenissima", "Queen of the
Adriatic", "City of Water", "City
of Bridges", and "The City of
Light". It is considered by many
to be one of the most beautiful
cities in the world.[1]
The city stretches across 118
small islands in the marshy
Venetian Lagoon along the
Adriatic Sea in northeast Italy.
The saltwater lagoon stretches
along the shoreline between the
mouths of the Po (south) and
the Piave (north) Rivers. The
population estimate of 272,000
inhabitants includes the
population of the whole
Comune of Venezia; around
62,000 in the historic city of
Venice (Centro storico); 176,000
in Terraferma (the Mainland),
mostly in the large frazione of
Mestre and Marghera; and
31,000 live on other islands in
the lagoon.
The Venetian Republic was a
major maritime power during the
Middle Ages and Renaissance,
and a staging area for the
Crusades and the Battle of
Lepanto, as well as a very
important center of commerce
(especially silk, grain and spice
trade) and art in the 13th century
up to the end of the 17th century.
Venetian: Venesia or Venexia) is
a city in northern Italy, the
capital of the region Veneto, a
population of 271,251 (census
estimate January 1, 2004).
Together with Padua, the city is
included in the Padua-Venice
Metropolitan Area (population
1,600,000). Venice has been
known as the "La Dominante",
"Serenissima", "Queen of the
Adriatic", "City of Water", "City
of Bridges", and "The City of
Light". It is considered by many
to be one of the most beautiful
cities in the world.[1]
The city stretches across 118
small islands in the marshy
Venetian Lagoon along the
Adriatic Sea in northeast Italy.
The saltwater lagoon stretches
along the shoreline between the
mouths of the Po (south) and
the Piave (north) Rivers. The
population estimate of 272,000
inhabitants includes the
population of the whole
Comune of Venezia; around
62,000 in the historic city of
Venice (Centro storico); 176,000
in Terraferma (the Mainland),
mostly in the large frazione of
Mestre and Marghera; and
31,000 live on other islands in
the lagoon.
The Venetian Republic was a
major maritime power during the
Middle Ages and Renaissance,
and a staging area for the
Crusades and the Battle of
Lepanto, as well as a very
important center of commerce
(especially silk, grain and spice
trade) and art in the 13th century
up to the end of the 17th century.
| Municipal coat of arms |
Etymology
The name is connected with the
people known as the Veneti,
perhaps the same as the Eneti
(Ενετοί) mentioned by Homer.
The meaning of the word is
uncertain. Connections with the
Latin verb 'venire' (to come).A
connection with the Latin word
venetus, meaning 'sea-blue', is
possible.
The name is connected with the
people known as the Veneti,
perhaps the same as the Eneti
(Ενετοί) mentioned by Homer.
The meaning of the word is
uncertain. Connections with the
Latin verb 'venire' (to come).A
connection with the Latin word
venetus, meaning 'sea-blue', is
possible.
Origins and history
While there are no historical
records that deal directly with
the origins of Venice, the
available evidence has led
several historians to agree that
the original population of Venice
comprised refugees from
Roman cities such as Padua,
Aquileia, Altino and Concordia
(modern Portogruaro) who were
fleeing successive waves of
Germanic invasions and
Huns.[2] Some late Roman
sources reveal the existence of
fishermen on the islands in the
original marshy lagoons. They
were referred to as incola
lacunae (lagoon dwellers).
Beginning in 166-168, the Quadi
and Marcomanni destroyed the
main center in the area, the
current Oderzo. The Roman
defences were again
overthrown in the early 5th
century by the Visigoths and,
some 50 years later, by the
Huns led by Attila. The last and
most enduring irruption was
that of the Lombards in 568.
This left the Eastern Roman
Empire a small strip of coast in
current Veneto, and the main
administrative and religious
entities were therefore
transferred to this remaining
dominion. New ports were built,
including those at Malamocco
and Torcello in the Venetian
lagoon.
The Byzantine domination of
central and northern Italy was
subsequently largely eliminated
by the conquest of the
Exarchate of Ravenna in 751 by
Aistulf. During this period, the
seat of the local Byzantine
governor (the "duke/doux", later
"doge") was situated in
Malamocco. Settlement across
the islands in the lagoon
probably increased in
correspondence with the
Lombard conquest of the
Byzantine territories.
In 775-776, the bishopric seat of
Olivolo (Helipolis) was created.
During the reign of duke Agnello
Particiaco (811-827) the ducal
seat was moved from
Malamocco to the highly
protected Rialto (Rivoalto, "High
Shore") island, the current
location of Venice. The
monastery of St. Zachary and
the first ducal palace and
basilica of St. Mark, as well as a
walled defense (civitatis murus)
between Olivolo and Rialto were
subsequently built here.
In 828, the new city's prestige
was raised by the theft of the
relics of St. Mark the Evangelist
from Alexandria, which were
placed in the new basilica. The
patriarchal seat was also moved
to Rialto. As the community
continued to develop and as
Byzantine power waned, it led
to the growth of autonomy and
eventual independence.
While there are no historical
records that deal directly with
the origins of Venice, the
available evidence has led
several historians to agree that
the original population of Venice
comprised refugees from
Roman cities such as Padua,
Aquileia, Altino and Concordia
(modern Portogruaro) who were
fleeing successive waves of
Germanic invasions and
Huns.[2] Some late Roman
sources reveal the existence of
fishermen on the islands in the
original marshy lagoons. They
were referred to as incola
lacunae (lagoon dwellers).
Beginning in 166-168, the Quadi
and Marcomanni destroyed the
main center in the area, the
current Oderzo. The Roman
defences were again
overthrown in the early 5th
century by the Visigoths and,
some 50 years later, by the
Huns led by Attila. The last and
most enduring irruption was
that of the Lombards in 568.
This left the Eastern Roman
Empire a small strip of coast in
current Veneto, and the main
administrative and religious
entities were therefore
transferred to this remaining
dominion. New ports were built,
including those at Malamocco
and Torcello in the Venetian
lagoon.
The Byzantine domination of
central and northern Italy was
subsequently largely eliminated
by the conquest of the
Exarchate of Ravenna in 751 by
Aistulf. During this period, the
seat of the local Byzantine
governor (the "duke/doux", later
"doge") was situated in
Malamocco. Settlement across
the islands in the lagoon
probably increased in
correspondence with the
Lombard conquest of the
Byzantine territories.
In 775-776, the bishopric seat of
Olivolo (Helipolis) was created.
During the reign of duke Agnello
Particiaco (811-827) the ducal
seat was moved from
Malamocco to the highly
protected Rialto (Rivoalto, "High
Shore") island, the current
location of Venice. The
monastery of St. Zachary and
the first ducal palace and
basilica of St. Mark, as well as a
walled defense (civitatis murus)
between Olivolo and Rialto were
subsequently built here.
In 828, the new city's prestige
was raised by the theft of the
relics of St. Mark the Evangelist
from Alexandria, which were
placed in the new basilica. The
patriarchal seat was also moved
to Rialto. As the community
continued to develop and as
Byzantine power waned, it led
to the growth of autonomy and
eventual independence.
Transportation
Venice is world-famous for its
canals. It is built on an
archipelago of 118 islands
formed by about 150 canals in a
shallow lagoon. The islands on
which the city is built are
connected by about 400
bridges. In the old center, the
canals serve the function of
roads, and every form of
transport is on water or on foot.
In the 19th century a causeway
to the mainland brought a
railway station to Venice, and an
automobile causeway and
parking lot was added in the
20th century. Beyond these land
entrances at the northern edge
of the city, transportation within
the city remains, as it was in
centuries past, entirely on water
or on foot. Venice is Europe's
largest urban car free area,
unique in Europe in remaining a
sizable functioning city in the
21st century entirely without
motorcars or trucks.
Venice is world-famous for its
canals. It is built on an
archipelago of 118 islands
formed by about 150 canals in a
shallow lagoon. The islands on
which the city is built are
connected by about 400
bridges. In the old center, the
canals serve the function of
roads, and every form of
transport is on water or on foot.
In the 19th century a causeway
to the mainland brought a
railway station to Venice, and an
automobile causeway and
parking lot was added in the
20th century. Beyond these land
entrances at the northern edge
of the city, transportation within
the city remains, as it was in
centuries past, entirely on water
or on foot. Venice is Europe's
largest urban car free area,
unique in Europe in remaining a
sizable functioning city in the
21st century entirely without
motorcars or trucks.
The Ponte dei Sospiri, the "Bridge of Sighs".
Waterways
The classical Venetian boat is
the gondola, although it is now
mostly used for tourists, or for
weddings, funerals, or other
ceremonies. Most Venetians
now travel by motorised
waterbuses (vaporetti) which
ply regular routes along the
major canals and between the
city's islands. The city also has
many private boats. The only
gondolas still in common use by
Venetians are the traghetti, foot
passenger ferries crossing the
Grand Canal at certain points
without bridges. Visitors can
also take the watertaxis
between areas of the city.
The classical Venetian boat is
the gondola, although it is now
mostly used for tourists, or for
weddings, funerals, or other
ceremonies. Most Venetians
now travel by motorised
waterbuses (vaporetti) which
ply regular routes along the
major canals and between the
city's islands. The city also has
many private boats. The only
gondolas still in common use by
Venetians are the traghetti, foot
passenger ferries crossing the
Grand Canal at certain points
without bridges. Visitors can
also take the watertaxis
between areas of the city.
Public transportation
Azienda Consorzio Trasporti
Veneziano (ACTV) is the name
of the public transport system in
Venice. It combines both land
transportation, with buses, and
canal travel, with water buses
(vaporetti). In total, there are 25
routes which connect the city.
Azienda Consorzio Trasporti
Veneziano (ACTV) is the name
of the public transport system in
Venice. It combines both land
transportation, with buses, and
canal travel, with water buses
(vaporetti). In total, there are 25
routes which connect the city.
Airports
Venice is served by the newly
rebuilt Marco Polo International
Airport, or Aeroporto di Venezia
Marco Polo, named in honor of
its famous citizen. The airport is
on the mainland and was rebuilt
away from the coast; however,
the water taxis or Alilaguna
waterbuses to Venice are only a
seven-minute walk from the
terminals.
Some airlines market Treviso
Airport in Treviso, 20km from
Venice, as a Venice gateway.
Some simply advertise flights to
"Venice" without naming the
actual airport except in the small
print.
Venice is served by the newly
rebuilt Marco Polo International
Airport, or Aeroporto di Venezia
Marco Polo, named in honor of
its famous citizen. The airport is
on the mainland and was rebuilt
away from the coast; however,
the water taxis or Alilaguna
waterbuses to Venice are only a
seven-minute walk from the
terminals.
Some airlines market Treviso
Airport in Treviso, 20km from
Venice, as a Venice gateway.
Some simply advertise flights to
"Venice" without naming the
actual airport except in the small
print.
Car
Venice is practically a no car
zone, being built on the water.
Cars can reach the car/bus
terminal via the bridge (Ponte
della Liberta) (SR11). It comes in
from the West from Mestre.
There are two parking lots
which serve the city: Tronchetto
and Piazzale Roma. Cars can be
parked there 24hrs/7days a
week for around 25 euros per
day. A ferry to Lido leaves from
Tronchetto parking lot and it is
served by vaporetti and buses
of the public transportation.
Venice is practically a no car
zone, being built on the water.
Cars can reach the car/bus
terminal via the bridge (Ponte
della Liberta) (SR11). It comes in
from the West from Mestre.
There are two parking lots
which serve the city: Tronchetto
and Piazzale Roma. Cars can be
parked there 24hrs/7days a
week for around 25 euros per
day. A ferry to Lido leaves from
Tronchetto parking lot and it is
served by vaporetti and buses
of the public transportation.
| View of Venice from St Mark's Campanile. |
Piazza San Marco in Venice, with
St Mark's Campanile in the background.
St Mark's Campanile in the background.
Typical masks worn during the
Carnival of Venice.
Carnival of Venice.
| Venice and surroundings in false color, from TERRA satellite. The picture is oriented with North at the top. |
Rialto Bridge seen from a waterbus.
Venice and its Lagoon
UNESCO World Heritage Site
UNESCO World Heritage Site
| Tel: (+39)-347-070-1833 |
