Venice

Venice

Venice is the capital of region Veneto. It has the nickname, "Queen of the Adriatic" and "City of Water". The city stretches across numerous small islands in the marshy Venetian Lagoon along the Adriatic Sea .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. Two vaporetti approach each other on the Canale Grande. 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 motorized 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. Venice: The kaleidoscopic scenario born of an amazing, intricate and harmonious communication network of water and stone casts light and shadows unique in the world upon a city already singular for its art, history and culture. Venice and its lagoon are listed as World Heritage Sites by UNESCO.

History

From the ninth to the twelfth century Venice developed into a city state , a Repubblica Marinara, the other three being Genoa, Pisa, and Amalfi). Its strategic position at head of the Adriatic made Venetian naval and commercial power almost invulnerable. The city became a flourishing center of the trade between Western Europe and the rest of the world (especially the Byzantine Empire and the Islamic world). For some thousand years, the chief magistrate and leader of the Most Serene Republic of Venice was styled the Doge, a rare but not unique Italian title derived from the Latin Dux, as the English Duke. After a period of Byzantine domination in 8th century, Venice became an independent marine Republic ruled by its elected dux or doge. The Most Serene Republic of Venice was a Venetian state originating from the city of Venice .It existed from the 8th century until the 18th century (1797). It is often referred to as the Serenissima, which is Latin for its title, "Most Serene”. In the High Middle Ages, Venice became extremely wealthy through its control of trade between Europe and the Levant, and began to expand into the Adriatic Sea and beyond. Venice was involved in the Crusades almost from the very beginning; The Venetian Republic was a major sea power and a staging area for the Crusades, as well as a very important centre of commerce (especially the spice trade) and art in the Renaissance. A commercial superpower that lasted through the Middle Ages and the Renaissance(Titian or Tiziano was the leader of the 16th-century Venetian school of the Italian Renaissance) enjoyed 1100 years of uninterrupted influence in the Mediterranean.

Through Venice

A nice walk through the town is the perfect introduction to Venice, through which the first-time visitor is subtly introduced to the beauty and complex history of the world's longest existing Republic. The architectural and artistic treasures to be found throughout the city of Venice, reflect a continual process of enrichment through which the Venetians showed their great sense of nationalism at a time when the rest of Europe was in chaos. Modern day Venice is still an intriguing and mystifying city to visit. Its great history seems to resonant throughout the whole city. Traditions and festivals continue throughout the calendar year marking events from the rich history of Venice, the Queen of the Sea. We can supply you with different itineraries depending if you already know the most typical and popular places in Venice , so you can choose an itinerary in the surroundings of the Venetian region between typical Italian towns such as Padua, Vicenza , Verona or an itinerary for wine tasting and grappa tasting , or just take a walk in the popular places of Venice. San Marco Square is the only true square in Venice (the others open areas are “campi” .it has been the scene of some of the most important religious and political activities of the “Serenissima” as well as the centre of Venetian social life for almost a millennium. The Basilica di San Marco (saint mark's basilica), church in Venice that was begun in its original form in 829 (consecrated in 832) as an ecclesiastical structure to house and honour the remains of st. mark the patron saint of Venice, and his attribute of a winged lion in time became the official symbol of the Venetian republic. San Marco basilica, built beside the Palazzo Ducale, or doges' palace, also served as the doge's chapel. the plan is a Greek cross, and the building is surmounted by five domes. the design is distinctly Byzantine, and it is likely that both Byzantine and Italian architects and craftsmen were employed in the construction and decoration. over the centuries, additions of sculpture, mosaics, and ceremonial objects have increased the church's richness. the famed four bronze horses on the west facade gallery, for example, were brought to Venice at the time of the fourth crusade (1204) from Constantinople, where they had been part of a Greco-roman triumphal “quadriga” . Doge's Palace Walk introduces you to the political and social institutions that made Venice by far the most liberal and free state in Europe during the Middle ages. Along with the richly decorated chambers of the Palace that provide the perfect introduction to the great artists of Venice.The Doge's Palace is a gothic palace in Venice (Italian Palazzo Ducale di Venezia). The current palace was largely constructed from 1309 to 1424 on 9th century origins. The palace was the residence of the Doge of Venice and contained the offices of a number of political institutions, arranged around a central courtyard. The first floor was occupied by lawyers offices, the Chancellery, the Censors and the Naval Offices. On the second floor were the Grand Council chamber, the Ballot chamber and the Doge's apartments. The third floor boasts the Sala del Collegio where foreign ambassadors were received. There are rooms used by the government bodies like the Council of Ten as well. The building also contains the Bussola chamber, where citizens could submit written complaints; The Sala dei Tre Capi and the State Inquisitor Room. Perhaps the most spectacular room is the Grand Council chamber or Sala del Maggior Consiglio, originally the meeting place for the legislature. This huge space is lined, walls and ceiling, with paintings, particularly portraits of the Doges, but one of which, Tintoretto's vast Paradise, is reputedly the world's largest painting on canvas. Another great room is the Sala dello Scrutinio, with some more Doges, and other interesting paintings, including Andrea Vicentino's Lepanto. At the rear of the palace is the [Bridge of Sighs], connecting to the prison. One of the ceremonial duties of the doge was to celebrate the symbolic marriage of Venice with the sea. This was done by casting a ring from the state barge, the Bucentaur, into the Adriatic. Grand Canal This is the most important means of communication in the city. Almost four hundred meters long, thirty to seventy meters wide, it divides the historic center into two parts and it is traversed via vaporetti and traditional gondolas. Along its banks the most beautiful Venetian palaces from the Middle Ages to the eighteenth century have been built as Leoni Palace, headquarters of the famous Peggy Guggenheim art collection, containing works by Picasso, Klee, Kandinskij. Crossing the Accademia Bridge, one of three that cross the Grand Canal, we find the Accademia Gallery, which holds a vast collection of Venetian painters from the fourteenth to the eighteenth centuries. We then arrive at the arcades of the celebrated Rialto Bridge, which is situated halfway along the route of the Grand Canal. Almost fifty meters long and seven meters high at water level, it is traversed by three sets of stairs. The Bridge of Sighs received its name in the 17th century, because the prisoners who passed through it on their way to the prison cells on the other side would most likely see the beautiful sight of the lagoon and the island of S.Giorgio and freedom for the last time. The clock shows the hours in Roman numerals, the phases of the moon and the Zodiac. It also gives indications to sailors about the tides and which months are more favorable for sailing. The Serenissima gave a large reward to the Ranieri brothers who constructed the clock tower, but legend has it that later their eyes were removed in order to keep them from repeating such a wonder.
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Gondola Tour

The Gondola has been a part of Venice since the 11th century. With its slim hull and flat underside, the craft is perfectly adapted to negotiating narrow, shallow canals. In 1562 it was decreed that all gondolas should be black to stop people making an ostentatious show of their wealth. For special occasions they are decorated with flowers. Today, gondola rides and usually taken by tourists to enjoy the full atmosphere of Venice from the Gran Canal.
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Carnival

Carnival The Venice Carnival with its distinctive masks and costumes, is a the high point of the city's year. Partygoers in 18th century costume flood the city which comes alive with music, theatre and dance. The two week celebrations range from the earthy to the esoteric, with masked balls and galas to attend. Every year the Carnival has a different theme, The carnival has existed since the 13th century, with masks worn to protect revellers' identities. the carnival in Venice is said to have originated from an important victory of the "Repubblica della Serenissima" in a war of 1162. to celebrate this victory, dances and reunions started to take place in San Marco square. at the beginning this celebration that started the day after Christmas went on for several centuries until the 17th century came, rejoicing in music, culture, rich garments and a growing middle class. and this is more the carnival we know, to which we relate more. the music of Vivaldi, the masks, the beautiful and mysterious women, craziness and treason, all together.
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Lagoon Islands

Spend a day by private motorboat and hostess through the nice and small lagoon islands , and have a nice lunch in a very typical restaurant. Burano A small island ten kilometres from the city, the most colourful of the islands of lagoon ,famous for its artistic handmade lace. In fact , at the doors and windows of the brightly painted houses the women are engaged in lace-making. Murano It is noted throughout the world for its glass industry, and a museum , Museo di Arte Vetraria , displays a unique collection of glassware. The furnaces, the shouts of the vendors coaxing visitors into the glassware shops, should not detract from the artistic atmosphere of the island. It’s worth to see the apse of the fine basilica of SS. Maria and Donato, a very masterpiece of Veneto-Byzantine art and the mosaic floor recalls that of St. Mark’s. Torcello It is almost a ghost island where only the stones speak of its glorious past. On the little island of Torcello we find a seventh-century cathedral, the Romanesque church of S. Fosca, and the archaeological museum containing artefacts from the lagoons.
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