VENICE TRAVEL
GENERAL INFORMATION -Venice (Italian-Venezia) is a city in north-eastern Italy with a group of 118 small islands separated by 150 canals and linked by 400 bridges. Venice is situated on Adriatic Sea. It is located in the marshy Venetian Lagoon. Venice is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. Venice, the world's only pedestrian city, is easily walkable. Venice also known as the "City of Water", "City of Masks" and "City of Bridges", "The Floating City", and "City of Canals". The Republic of Venice was a major maritime power during the Middle Ages and Renaissance, as well as a very important centre of commerce (especially silk, grain, and spice) and art in the 13th century up to the end of the 17th century. This made Venice a wealthy city. Venice was the flourishing trade centre between the Byzantine Empire and the Islamic world. Venice became an imperial power in 1204 by capturing Constantinople and establishing the Latin Empire. They brought, the gilt bronze horses from the Hippodrome of Constantinople, which were originally placed above the entrance to St Mark's Cathedral in Venice. At the peak of its power and wealth, it had 36,000 sailors operating 3,300 ships, dominating Mediterranean commerce. The Venice Island is connected by a bridge named Ponte della Liberta which is 3.85Kms long and built along the Venice Railroad Bridge. Before the bridge is the Piazzale Roma, a square in Venice at the entrance of the city and acts as main Bus Station for the bus, and also close to the Santa Lucia Railway Station for Venice.
HISTORY-Venice was formed in the sixth century CE, when Italian refugees fleeing Lombard invaders camped on the islands in the Venice lagoon. The settlement soon had an outside ruler, an official appointed by the Byzantine Empire, from a base in Ravenna. In 751, when the Lombards conquered Ravenna, the Byzantine dux became a Venetian Doge, appointed by the merchant families who had emerged in the town. Over the next few centuries Venice developed as a trading centre, happy to do business with both the Islamic world as well as the Byzantine Empire. In 992 Venice earned special trading rights with the empire in return for accepting Byzantine sovereignty again. The city grew richer, and independence was gained in 1082. However, they retained trading advantages with Byzantium by offering the use of their navy. The government also developed and in 1144 Venice is first called a commune. In twelfth century the heir of a deposed Byzantine emperor promised to pay Venice and convert to Latin Christianity if they put him on the throne. Venice had agreed to transport a crusade to the ‘Holy Land’, but this became stuck when the crusaders couldn’t pay. But when Byzantine Emperor was returned and unable to pay, relationships soured and the new emperor was assassinated. The crusaders then sieged, captured and sacked Constantinople. Many treasures were removed by Venice, who claimed a part of the city, Crete and large areas including parts of Greece, all of which became Venetian trading outposts in a large empire. In the fifteenth century Venetian capture of Vicenza, Verona, Padua and Udine. This era, 1420-50, was arguably the high point of Venetian wealth and power. Venice’s decline began in 1453, when Constantinople fell to the Ottoman Turks. The Venetian Republic came to an end in 1797, when Napoleon’s French army forced the city to agree to a new, pro-French, ‘democratic’ government, the city was tastefully looted. Venice was briefly Austrian after a peace treaty with Napoleon, but became French again after the Battle of Austerlitz in 1805 and formed part of the short lived Kingdom of Italy. The fall of Napoleon from power saw Venice placed back under Austrian rule. There was brief independence in 1848, when revolution ousted Austria, but the latter empire crushed the rebels. In the 1860s Venice became part of the new Kingdom of Italy.
GEOGRAPHY-It is located in the marshy Venetian Lagoon which stretches along the shoreline, between the mouths of the Po and the Piave Rivers. A city in north eastern Italy sited on a group of 118 small islands separated by canals and linked by bridges.
AREA-414.57Km2
POPULATION-2, 70,700
CO-ORDINATES-45°26′15″N 12°20′9″E
HISTORYTIME ZONE-UTC+1 and in Summer UTC+2
AIRPORT-The closest commercial airport is Marco Polo Airport ( IATA: VCE), on the mainland near Mestre (a more typical Italian city, without Venice's unique structure). It is 8.0kms from Venice. There is a city bus and a shuttle bus from Marco Polo to Piazzale Roma. The airport terminal has three floors, the ground floor for arrivals and the second floor for departures. The departure area has 70check-in desks and has two lounges airside for customers.
CLIMATE-
MONTH JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC
HIGH 7 9 12 16 21 25 28 27 23 18 12 7
LOW -0.1 0.8 4 8 13 16 18 18 14 10 4 0.6
VENICE ATTRACTIONS & SIGHTS-
HISTORY-Venice was formed in the sixth century CE, when Italian refugees fleeing Lombard invaders camped on the islands in the Venice lagoon. The settlement soon had an outside ruler, an official appointed by the Byzantine Empire, from a base in Ravenna. In 751, when the Lombards conquered Ravenna, the Byzantine dux became a Venetian Doge, appointed by the merchant families who had emerged in the town. Over the next few centuries Venice developed as a trading centre, happy to do business with both the Islamic world as well as the Byzantine Empire. In 992 Venice earned special trading rights with the empire in return for accepting Byzantine sovereignty again. The city grew richer, and independence was gained in 1082. However, they retained trading advantages with Byzantium by offering the use of their navy. The government also developed and in 1144 Venice is first called a commune. In twelfth century the heir of a deposed Byzantine emperor promised to pay Venice and convert to Latin Christianity if they put him on the throne. Venice had agreed to transport a crusade to the ‘Holy Land’, but this became stuck when the crusaders couldn’t pay. But when Byzantine Emperor was returned and unable to pay, relationships soured and the new emperor was assassinated. The crusaders then sieged, captured and sacked Constantinople. Many treasures were removed by Venice, who claimed a part of the city, Crete and large areas including parts of Greece, all of which became Venetian trading outposts in a large empire. In the fifteenth century Venetian capture of Vicenza, Verona, Padua and Udine. This era, 1420-50, was arguably the high point of Venetian wealth and power. Venice’s decline began in 1453, when Constantinople fell to the Ottoman Turks. The Venetian Republic came to an end in 1797, when Napoleon’s French army forced the city to agree to a new, pro-French, ‘democratic’ government, the city was tastefully looted. Venice was briefly Austrian after a peace treaty with Napoleon, but became French again after the Battle of Austerlitz in 1805 and formed part of the short lived Kingdom of Italy. The fall of Napoleon from power saw Venice placed back under Austrian rule. There was brief independence in 1848, when revolution ousted Austria, but the latter empire crushed the rebels. In the 1860s Venice became part of the new Kingdom of Italy.
GEOGRAPHY-It is located in the marshy Venetian Lagoon which stretches along the shoreline, between the mouths of the Po and the Piave Rivers. A city in north eastern Italy sited on a group of 118 small islands separated by canals and linked by bridges.
AREA-414.57Km2
POPULATION-2, 70,700
CO-ORDINATES-45°26′15″N 12°20′9″E
HISTORYTIME ZONE-UTC+1 and in Summer UTC+2
AIRPORT-The closest commercial airport is Marco Polo Airport ( IATA: VCE), on the mainland near Mestre (a more typical Italian city, without Venice's unique structure). It is 8.0kms from Venice. There is a city bus and a shuttle bus from Marco Polo to Piazzale Roma. The airport terminal has three floors, the ground floor for arrivals and the second floor for departures. The departure area has 70check-in desks and has two lounges airside for customers.
CLIMATE-
MONTH JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC
HIGH 7 9 12 16 21 25 28 27 23 18 12 7
LOW -0.1 0.8 4 8 13 16 18 18 14 10 4 0.6
VENICE ATTRACTIONS & SIGHTS-
001-ST. MARK'S SQUARE (PIAZZA SAN MARCO) -Piazza San Marco was constructed in the 9th century as a small square dotted with trees and was laid out in front of the original St. Mark's Basilica. The piazza was enlarged in 1174 after the canal and an adjoining dock were filled in. The centrepiece of the piazza is, magnificent St. Marl's Basilica . Commissioned in 1071 by doge Domenico Contarini, this amazing church is built in Venetian-Byzantine style, a mixture of western and eastern styles. The basilica has a separate campanile ,bell tower that stands 98.6 meters tall (323 ft) and is one of the city's most recognizable landmarks. The other dominant building around St. Mark's Square is the Dog's Palace. A beautiful gothic structure, it faces the Venetian lagoon and was completed in the early 15th century. Also located along the square are the 12th century Procuratie Vecchie, buildings that housed the apartments and offices of the procurators; the Procuratie Nuovo, which provided more offices and was built in the mid17th century; the National Library of St. Mark's; the Museum of Archaeology and the Correr Museum, the north side of Piazza are the long arcade lined with the shops and restaurants at ground level, with offices above. The restaurants include the famous Caffe Quadri, which was patronized by the Austrians when Venice was ruled by Austria in the 19th century. Between the Dog's Palace and the Library is the Piazzetta (little piazza) San Marco. Beyond that is the Clock Tower (Torre dell'Orologio), completed in 1499, above a high archway where the street known as the Merceria (a main thoroughfare of the city) leads through shopping streets to the Rialto, the commercial and financial centre. It is known for the two columns located there that pay homage to two of Venice's patrons - St. Mark and St. Teodoro of Amasea. The columns have long served as the official gateway to the city. Piazza San Marco is also full of pigeons. Pigeons have long been a problem in the square but only recently did the city pass a law that banned the feeding of these birds.
002- ST. MARK'S BASILICA (BASILICA DI SAN MARCO) –The present Basilica was constructed in 1063 and was consecrated in 1094.Until 1807, it was Dog’s private chapel and after 1807 it became a public chapel. It was the symbol of Venetian wealth and power. Its design is a mixture of eastern and western architecture styles resulting in a unique architecture typical for Venice. Considered one of the best examples of Italo-Byzantine architecture in the world. It lies at the eastern end of the Piazza San Marco, adjacent and connected to the Doge's Palace. The exterior of the basilica has been added to over the centuries by the merchants when they returned from the Orient .The basilica exterior has five arched portals and decorated in two levels. The lower level depicts the stories of St. Mark’s relics. The mosaics in the upper level arches depict stories from the life of Jesus, the one above the central portal is the gilded mosaic known as “The Last Judgment.” Above the large central window is the Winged Lion, symbol of Venice and on the central balcony are statues of Greek Horses, installed in 1254. The horses were originally displayed at the Hippodrome of Constantinople but are now in the basilica's museum. And on the top most position is the statues of the Saint Mark and the angels. The statue of the Four Tetrarchs, taken from Constantinople in 1204.The basilica is laid out in a Greek cross design and each arm has a central nave with side aisle. Its interior is even more spectacular than the building's exterior. The magnificent marble floors are arranged in a geometric pattern. The interior is covered with work of gilded mosaics and depicts the stories of New Testament and Old Testament. The walls are painted with the stories of the Virgin Mary, St. Peter, St. Clement, St. John the Evangelist and St. Mark. The canopy over the high altar is, the Golden Pall. It is a panel of gold decorated with precious gems, sitting on columns decorated with 11th century reliefs. Byzantine goldsmiths were hired at the end of the 10th century to complete the work on this portion of the basilica, much of which is now protected by glass.
003-DOGE'S PALACE (PALAZZO DUCALE) - The Doge's Palace is a palace built in Venetian Gothic style, and one of the main landmarks of the city of Venice. The palace was the residence of the Doge of Venice, the supreme authority of the Republic of Venice, opening as a museum in 1923. The eastern wing, which faces the Rio di Palazzo, was built between 1301 and 1340. The western wing, facing the Piazetta San Marco, took an additional 110 years to build and was completed in 1450.On the first floor are the private room
of the Doge’s known as “Scala dei Giganti”. The Grand Chamber Council, is the largest room inside the Palazzo Ducale, measuring nearly the entire length, which looks out onto the waterfront. This was where the ruling elite of Venice met, usually about 1,000 individuals in total. In this room, a famous painting Tintoretto's "Paradise" is depicted, on full-wall was completed in 1577. It is the biggest oil painting in the world, a work started when Tintoretto was older and then finished by his son Domenico. On three sides of the hall, just under the ceiling's gilt decorations, there are the 76 portraits of the Doges, from the ninth, Obelerio, to the eighty-first Francesco Venier, work of Tintoretto. They sum up the history of Venice, including the tale of Marin Faliero, the Doge accused of high treason whose portrait is covered by a black cloth. The new prison was connected to the palace via the now famous Bridge of Sighs. Nowadays, the public entrance to the Doge's Palace is via the Porta del Frumento, in the waterfront side of the building.
of the Doge’s known as “Scala dei Giganti”. The Grand Chamber Council, is the largest room inside the Palazzo Ducale, measuring nearly the entire length, which looks out onto the waterfront. This was where the ruling elite of Venice met, usually about 1,000 individuals in total. In this room, a famous painting Tintoretto's "Paradise" is depicted, on full-wall was completed in 1577. It is the biggest oil painting in the world, a work started when Tintoretto was older and then finished by his son Domenico. On three sides of the hall, just under the ceiling's gilt decorations, there are the 76 portraits of the Doges, from the ninth, Obelerio, to the eighty-first Francesco Venier, work of Tintoretto. They sum up the history of Venice, including the tale of Marin Faliero, the Doge accused of high treason whose portrait is covered by a black cloth. The new prison was connected to the palace via the now famous Bridge of Sighs. Nowadays, the public entrance to the Doge's Palace is via the Porta del Frumento, in the waterfront side of the building.
004-GRANDE CANAL (CANAL GRANDE) – It is a “S” shape canal through the Venice is from the Saint Mark Basin to a lagoon near Santa Lucia Station in Venice. It is 3.80K m long, 30–90 m wide, with depth of five meters. It forms one of the major water-traffic corridors in the city. Public transport is provided by water buses and private water taxis, and many tourists explore the canal by gondola. Three bridges that cross the canal are the Rialto Bridge, the Ponte Degli Scalzi, and the Ponte dell 'Accademia. Along the Grand Canal are buildings of rich merchants made between 13th to 18th century. The noble Venetian families faced huge expenses to show off their richness in suitable palazzos. From the Byzantine Empire, goods arrived together with sculptures, friezes, columns and capitals to decorate the fondaco houses (are buildings combining the warehouses and merchants residence) of patrician families. The Byzantine art merged with previous elements resulting in a Venetian-Byzantine style. The buildings have Byzantine-style decoration like elongated arches and large loggias. During this period, facades included plaster in bright colours, pointed arches were popular, and columns were skinnier than before. Historical Regatta held every year on the first Sunday of September. The races are proceeded by a spectacular boat parade, led by the Serenissima, a heavily decorated boat. The best way to view the magnificent buildings along the Grand Canal is to travel by Vaporetto from one end to the other.
005-BRIDGES OF SIGH- Venice very famous Bridge of Sigh is over Palace River (Rio di Palazzo) and between New Prison and Doge’s Palace in which Interrogation Room was situated. The view from the Bridge of Sighs was the last view of Venice that convicts saw before their imprisonment. The prisoners would "sigh" as they crossed the bridge, probably catching their last glimpse of the outside world. Another story says that if a couple kisses under the Bridge of Sighs, while passing below on a gondola at sunset, they will enjoy eternal love. The construction was started in 1600 and completed in 1602 it is an Italian Renaissance in style bridge, the 11m (36ft) wide bridge is made of white limestone and the two windows with stone bars of the enclosed bridge.
006-RIALTO BRIDGE (Ponte di Rialto)- Rialto Bridge was constructed in 1591AD across San Polo and San Marco over Grand Canal and this was the first permanent bridge over Grand Canal, so it is the oldest bridge on the Grand Canal .This bridge was made on the site of older wooden bridges. The span of bridge is 96 feet and 75 feet wide and 24feet high above the water surface. It is formed by two inclined ramps so that tall ships can pass through the bridge ,with covered roof .There are portico shops on either side of the bridge and three walkways between the shops
007-BASILICA DI SANTA MARIA DELLA SALUTE (Basilica of St. Mary of Health) -This Basilica is situated on an island between St. Mark basin and Grand Canal. The Basilica was opened in 1687.It is visible when entering the Piazza San Marco from the water as its dome is very impressive and emblematic. The Salute is a vast, octagonal building with two domes and a pair of picturesque bell-towers at the back. At the apex of the pediment stands a statue of the Virgin Mary who presides over the church which was erected in her honour. The façade is decorated with figures of Saint George, Saint Theodore, the Evangelists, the Prophets, Judith with the head of Holofernes.
008-CA’ D’ ORO /HOUSE OF GOLD (Palazzo Santa Sofia)-This Venetian floral Gothic style palace built in 1430 by a rich Venetian family Marino Contarini by the same architect who made the Doge’s Palace. This building is located on Grand Canal. The principal façade faces the Grand Canal and is one of the most photographed buildings along the waterway. The building got its nickname because of the intricate detailing on the outside, which including decoration with such materials as gold leaf, vermilion, and ultramarine. Today, it is open to public as a gallery, it houses the Baron's extensive art collection, which features works by Venetian artists.
009-RIVA DEGLI SCHIAVONI-This lively area is Venice's most vibrant waterfront promenade. Positioned between the Doge's Palace and the Arsenale. Along the way the promenade is lined with numerous hotels, restaurants, bars and a number of notable historic buildings. Some of the hotels once functioned as palaces. For example, the Hotel Danieli used to be the Palazzo Dandolo, home to the aristocratic Dandolo family. Originally Byzantine in style. A large equestrian statue honouring Vittorio Emmanuele II, the first king of Italy is on the waterfront. Built in 1887from near the Hotel Danieli, and across a small bridge is another site along the promenade. Along the promenade is the Church of Santa Maria della Visitazione, known to locals as La Pietà. A walk along the Riva degli Schiavoni also provides great views of the island of San Giorgio Maggiore, located to the south.
010-ARSENNAL- Now a naval base and technology centre, Venice's Arsenale was the largest shipyard in the world. It played a major role in the city's naval warfare since the early 12th century. At the beginning it was a state ship yard that maintained privately-built naval ships . In the 14th century, firearms were being built at the Arsenale, including bombards and at a later date, small arms like crossbows and then guns were made there. Around 1500, another section of the arsenal was added the Novissimo Arsenale which housed an assembly line for the construction of hulls. By the early 16th century, when the yard was at its busiest, it is believed that about 16,000 employees known as Arsenalotti worked. Here workers developed the production line techniques of ship building that were not seen again until several centuries during the Industrial Revolution. The most stunning architectural feature of the Arsenale is the Porta Magna (main gate) which was added to the facility in 1460. Near the entrance, there are two lion’s statues taken from Piraeus in Greece, added more than two centuries after construction of the gateway was complete. Today, the Arsenale is mostly used by the Italian army and a part is only accessible to the public.
011-NAVAL HISTORY MUSEUM (Museo Storico Navale)- Situated near the Arsenale in the eastern Castello district of Venice, Museo Storico Navale is considered to be one of the best museums of its kind. Its collections include items relating to the naval and maritime history of Venice, and it has a large number of ship models and weapons on display
012-GONDOLA- Gondolas are the form of transportation through the canals of Venice. Designed to deal with the shallows and mud flats of the canals. Gondolas now used as sightseeing vessels for tourists. To be a gondolier is considered a noble profession that has been passed down from generation to generation through the centuries. Gondola stands are located throughout the city.
013-VASPORETTO-It is a water bus system in Venice. Because traveling the canals is the easiest way to get around the city, the Vaporetto are the most efficient and cost-effective modes of transportation. There are a number of vaporetto routes. Route -1 goes up and down the Grand Canal and stops at all six districts - called sestieri.
014-LIDO- Lido, is a 12km long sandbar that is home to approximately 20,000 residents. There are Grand Hotel Excelsior and the Grand Hotel des Bains. The island is known as the home of the annual Venice Film Festival, which takes place each September and attracts stars from around the globe. There are a number of private beaches, on the side of Lido that faces the Adriatic Sea (the other side faces the lagoon). Boats connect Lido to Venice and the mainland as well as to the Marco Polo Airport.
015-MURANO- It is a group of seven island in north side, about 1.5Km across and lies about 1.5Km from Venice. It is famous for its glass making, particularly lampworking. Murano’s glassmakers held a monopoly on high-quality glassmaking for centuries. The oldest Murano glass factory that is still active today is that of Pauly & C. – Compagnia Venezia Murano, founded in 1866. Other historical glass factories in Murano are Venini, Ferro Murano, Barovier & Toso, Simone Cenedese and Seguso.
016-VENICE FILM FESTIVAL-The Venice film Festival takes place in the Palazzo del Cinema in Lido Island and is the oldest one in the world. It is part of Venice Biennale and is held every year in late August. Founded by Giuseppe Volpi in 1932, the festival awards the best film, the best actor and actress.
017-REGATA STORICA-The Regata Storica takes place on the Canal Grande and is a parade of typical 14th century-style boats conducted by gondoliers (dressed in traditional costumes) carrying the Doge and the highest ranking officials. It’s represent a very interesting show of the “Voga alla Veneta” a historical sport practiced in the Venice lagoon over the centuries. The Regata is held every year during the first Sunday of September.
018-VENICE CARNIVAL- The Carnival of Venice (Italian: Carnevale di Venezia) is an annual festival. The Carnival ends with the Christian celebration of Lent, forty days before Easter on Shrove Tuesday (Pancake Tuesday or Mardi Gras), the day before Ash Wednesday. Venice carnival is famous all around the world .This event offers plenty of opportunities for fun. Costumes are really fabulous and can admire all of them just walking through Piazza San Marco. Exclusive dinner parties in costume are held in the most illustrious palaces contributing to the cherish atmosphere of the carnival days. The festival is held to celebrate the victory of the "Serenissima Repubblica" against the Patriarch of Aquileia, Ulrico in the year 1162. In the honour of this victory, the people started to dance and make reunions in San Marco Square. It was very famous during the eighteenth century. The redevelopment of the masks began as the pursuit of some Venetian college students for the tourist trade. Today, approximately 3 million visitors come to Venice every year for Carnival.
019-CASANOVA- Giacomo Girolamo Casanova was an Italian adventurer and author from the Republic of Venice. Casanova was a man with special gifts: a legendary seducer, but also amateur scholar, actor and for a short period even abbot. He has become so famous for his complicated and elaborate affairs with women that his name is now synonymous with "womanizer". When they put him in the Piombi, he was twenty-nine and had already travelled the world. But it was only after his escape that his destiny turned to fame and riches. His memoirs entitled "The story of my escape from the Piombi" were printed in 1788 and soon became the equivalent of a modern best-seller. Casanova left the Piombi on the night between 31 October and 1 November 1756. Digging up the wooden planks with a makeshift tool, he climbed out of his cell onto the roof and then down into an attic. Crossing the whole palace he reached the golden staircase where he was seen by a guard who mistook him for a politician who’d been locked in and let him out. A legend says he stopped for a coffee in San Marco Square before fleeing by sea on a gondola.