Located in northeastern Italy, Venice is the capital of the Veneto region of Italy. It is built on a group of more than 100 islands separated by wide open waters and canals. The islands are in the shallow Venetian Lagoon, an enclosed bay lying between the mouths of the Po river and the Piave river (between Brenta and Sile). More than half of the total area of Venice is covered by water. For this reason, parts of the city are connected by bridges. Venice, together with the city of Padua and the city of Treviso, belongs to the Padua-Treviso-Venice Metropolitan Area (PATREVE), a statistical metropolitan area with a total population of 2.6 million.
Venice’s name comes from the ancient “Veneti” people who inhabited the area in the 10th century BC. The city of Venice was the capital of the Venetian Republic for more or less a thousand years. In this context it was also known as Serenissima, Ruler and Queen of the Adriatic. During the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, it was a great financial and maritime power and a staging ground for the Crusades. The city-state, which held many powers, is considered to be the first truly international financial center, emerging in the 9th century and reaching its greatest fame in the 14th century. In addition to the Battle of Inebahtı, from the 13th century to the end of the 17th century, the city became an important center of trade, especially in silk, grain and spices, as well as a center of art. The newly invented German printing press spread rapidly throughout Europe in the 15th century, and Venice was quick to adopt it. the leading printer of Venice, which became the printing capital of the world in 1482, was Aldus Manutius. Manutius invented paperback books that could be carried in a saddlebag. His Aldine Editions included translations of almost all the Greek manuscripts known at the time. Known as a great cultural center, Venice was known for many important artistic activities, especially during the Renaissance.
For most of its history, the Republic of Venice was rich in artistic, cultural, commercial and many other aspects and was known as the “Queen of the Adriatic”. For centuries it owned numerous territories along the Adriatic Sea and on the Italian peninsula. It left a significant impact on architecture and culture that can still be seen today. However, the sovereignty of the Venetian Republic ended during the War of the First Coalition when Napoleon Bonaparte conquered Venice on May 12, 1797 and the city of Venice was considered part of the Kingdom of Italy in 1866.
Venice has had many “bests” and “firsts” and continues to achieve great successes today, as it did in the past. The Arsenal of Venice is considered by many historians to be the first factory in history and the base of Venice’s naval power. A world-renowned center of culture and art, the city also played an important role in the history of instrumental and operatic music. Tomaso Albinoni and Antonio Vivaldi, world-renowned Baroque composers, were born here. Venice has also played an important role in literature with world-renowned writers such as Marco Polo and Giacomo Casanova, and has inspired many well-known writers abroad. Since it has been a center of culture and art for centuries, this knowledge is also reflected in the field of education. For this reason, Venice is also one of the most renowned international centers of higher education. The city is also very famous for its cuisine. Tiramisu, one of the most well-known favorite desserts today, is thought to have been invented in Treviso in the 1970s. Venetian cuisine often combines local flavors with influences from centuries of contact with distant countries, which is why the food there is so delicious. Venice, a city of canals, has the distinction of being the largest car-free urban area in Europe due to its geographical conditions. 21. it is unique in Europe in that it has remained a city with no motorized transportation for over a century. Rowing races are organized in Venice every year. Throughout the year there are also many races called Regata(e).
Tourism has been an important part of the Venetian economy since the 18th century. 19. in the 18th century, it became a fashionable center for the “rich and famous” who stayed and dined in luxury establishments such as the Danieli Hotel and Caffè Florian, and continued to be a fashionable city until the early 20th century. in the 1980s, the Carnival of Venice was revived. The city became a major center of international conferences and festivals, attracting visitors from all over the world for theatrical, cultural, cinematic, artistic and musical productions, such as the prestigious Venice Biennale and the Venice Film Festival, the oldest festival in the world. In the 21st century, Venice remains a popular tourist destination and an important cultural center. Today, with its unparalleled scenery and rich artistic and cultural heritage, it is also an indispensable stop on a grand cruise.
with nicknames such as “La Dominante”, “La Serenissima” (“the calmest”), “Queen of the Adriatic”, “The City of Water”, “The City of Masks”, “The City of Bridges”, “The City of Canals” and “The Floating City”, the Lagoon and the historic parts of Venice within the lagoon were listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987. Parts of Venice are famous for the beauty of their setting, architecture and artwork. For this reason, the city is often referred to as a “living museum”. Today, Venice has numerous attractions such as the Basilica of San Marco, the Doge’s Palace, the Grand Canal and Piazza San Marco. Lido di Venezia is also a popular international luxury destination, attracting thousands of actors, critics, celebrities and many others in the film industry.
As a water city, Venice faces some challenges, but it is still one of the most visited destinations. Captivating in its natural beauty, Venice has a romantic atmosphere due to the fact that transportation throughout the city is mostly by water and is famous for its gondolas. Venice has been voted “the most beautiful city in the world” many times and has been described as “one of the most romantic cities in Europe” by The Times and “undoubtedly the most beautiful city built by man” by The New York Times. For this reason, it is one of the first places in the world especially preferred by romantic couples. Let Venice fascinate you too! We wish you a good trip in advance!