- Where is the city of Venice
- History of Venice
- How to get to Venice
- Venice landmarks
- What to bring from Venice
Venice rightfully occupies the honorable place of the "pearl" of Italy in cultural and tourist respects, as the city is famous for its well-preserved sights, long history and medieval architecture. Shrouded in romantic legends, Venice attracts the attention of tourists due to its amazing atmosphere and magnificent network of canals, through which openwork arched bridges are thrown. Everyone who has been to Italy knows where Venice is.
Where is the city of Venice
Initially, the geographical location of the city was 118 islands of the Venetian lagoon, included in the Adriatic Sea and located in the north of Italy. However, in 1926, the local authorities decided to unite the city of Mestre with Venice, after which its total territory increased significantly.
Currently, Venice is the administrative center of the region of the same name, and its population is only 270,000 people. Despite its "diminutiveness", Venice is not only an open-air museum, but also a port city that plays a significant role in the economic development of Italy.
The general territory of the city is divided into several self-governing districts, each of which has its own history and original architectural appearance. The most popular tourist districts are Mestre Carpenedo, Venezia Murano Burano, Lido Pellestrina, Chirignago Zelarino and Marghera.
Not far from Venice are the cozy towns of Murano, Burano, Marcon, Mira and others, in which a variety of tours from Venice are organized.
History of Venice
During the heyday of the Roman Empire, the Veneti tribe lived on the territory of modern Venice, which became the main one for the name of the city. The first mentions of the mass settlement of the Venetian lagoon date back to the 5th-6th centuries, when most of the inhabitants began to concentrate on the islands of Malamocco and Torcello.
Beginning in the 7th century, the islands were united, with the Doge Paolo Lucio Anafesto appointed their ruler. Subsequently, the Doges were elected in Venice about 120 times, the last of which officially abdicated power in 1797.
During the 7th century, the city's economy developed rapidly due to the fact that Venice was the only territory under the control of Byzantium. The local leadership actively cooperated with Western countries, which made it possible to create several profitable trade corridors.
In the period from the 8th to the 9th century, Venice was given the status of an independent region, entitled to unhindered trade with other regions. At the same time, there is a significant expansion of the city's territory due to the annexation of the Dalmatian region. The 10th century saw the heyday and formation of the architectural appearance of Venice, which has remained practically unchanged to this day.
In the 18th century, the economic situation of the city was significantly shaken due to the fact that new sea routes were opened and the maritime trade in Venice fell into decay. However, the city quickly became the center of bohemian life, where great artists, architects, writers and musicians worked.
How to get to Venice
Knowing where Venice is, you can easily organize your trip to this amazing city. Today the following methods are available to Russian tourists: by plane; by train; by bus.
If you decide to fly by plane, then you need to know that Venice can be reached by both direct and charter flights from Moscow. The final destination will be the international airports "Marco Polo" or "Treviso", which are located near the city. The most democratic option is to purchase tickets from any major city in Russia for charter flights connecting in Prague, Rome, Frankfurt, Istanbul and Helsinki. Almost all Russian air carriers offer such services.
The best place to start your train journey is from Milan, as it is home to Station Centrale Station, from which you can easily get to Venice's central train station. Trains run every hour, and the travel time will be about 2.5 hours, which is quite convenient. You can get from Rossi to Venice only with transfers in Budapest, and you will spend 67 to 70 hours on the trip.
As for the bus, be prepared for a long trip as well. Starting your trip in Moscow, you will make a stop in Milan or Munich, after which you will find yourself in Tronchetto. From here, the central square of Venice can be reached by sea transport in 20-30 minutes.
Venice landmarks
The city is famous for a huge number of unique historical sites that tell about the history and culture of Venice. This list contains only a small part of the attractions recommended for visiting:
- St. Mark's Square, which is the "highlight" of the city, inviting tourists to get acquainted with the peculiarities of medieval architecture. Most of the buildings have retained their original appearance and embody an example of high art combined with the skill of sculptors.
- The Doge's Palace, or Palazzo Ducale, built from the 9th to the 13th century and now a museum. The architectural appearance of the building is made in three styles, and inside the palace you can see luxurious halls, each of which performed a specific function during the reign of the Venetian Doges.
- St. Mark's Cathedral, which is the most famous temple in the city due to its original façade decorated with unique mosaics. The cathedral houses a museum that houses the relics of St. Mark, taken from Alexandria in 831.
- Palazzo Santa Sofia, called by the locals the "Golden House", as its interior was made with gold leaf. In 1927, the Franchetti gallery was created on the basis of the palace, which attracts tourists to this day.
- Campanilla, considered the oldest architectural monument in Venice. The bell tower served as a watchdog for a long time, and in 1902 it was rebuilt after destruction.
- The Rialto Bridge is the oldest Venetian bridge crossing the Grand Canal. The arched structure of the bridge is notable for its airiness and is known for small galleries, inside which there are souvenir shops.
- The Grand Canal, which is the central waterway of the city. Tourists are invited to ride a gondola along the canal, accompanied by local guides dressed in national clothes.
- The museums of Venice, namely the Teodoro Correr Museum, the Accademia Gallery and the Peggy Guggenheim Museum, contain the most valuable collections of both classical and modern art.
What to bring from Venice
When leaving Venice, do not forget to buy original gifts and souvenirs for your loved ones in local shops. The fairer sex will love the legendary Murano glass: earrings, rings, figurines, bracelets and other jewelry. Such a present, made in the traditional Italian technique, will be remembered for a long time.
Venice cannot be imagined without a carnival, so do not be lazy to find on the shelves a variety of masks made of clay, papier-mâché and ceramics. Each mask is made in a single copy and decorated with rhinestones, feathers, beads, and, as a rule, painted by hand.
If you wish, take a trip to the neighboring island of Burano, where they make textiles and clothes from Burano lace of amazing beauty. At the same time, lace makers carry out individual orders for every taste.
Pay attention to natural cosmetics (soap, scrubs, creams, lotions), souvenirs in the form of key rings, plates of different sizes, magnets, pens, etc.
