Venice Italy, A Guide for Travelers to One of the Most Romantic Destinations in the World

History, Beauty and Culture

Venice is possibly the most romantic city you'll ever visit. It is almost redundant to describe the charms of this fabulous floating city, surrounded by hundreds of tiny canals. While wandering through the maze of footpaths or sitting back in a gondola and exploring the city by water, be sure to stop and visit San Marco Square, the famous Rialto Bridge, the elegant Doge's Palace, the Bridge of Sighs and the Church of San Giorgio Maggiore. Venice is truly a place like no other, with its quaint alleyways, waterways and way of life.

The first settlements in Venice date back to the 5th century, when the mainland people came to venice to escape the invasions that followed the fall of the Roman Empire, fighting just to survive, overtime these small pieces of land surrounded by water took on the semblance of a real town. A very unique and special place that became the only one like it in the world.

Gondolas, are one of venice's most famous symbols worldwide. This venetian boat is extremely ancient and was the result of complex techniques. The typical gondola is 11 meters long and weighs 600 kilograms. Considering its weight and size it is very easy to maneuver by one person.

Places to see in Venice

St. Mark's Square-is really the heart of Venice, mostly because of its location on the banks of the grand canal, and because of the great number of beautiful, historical monuments located there. Politically and culturally, St. Mark's Square has always been a very important and strategical area in Venice.

The Rialto Bridge's-24-foot arch was designed to allow passage of galleys, and the massive structure was built on some 12,000 wooden pilings that still support the bridge more than 400 years later. The architect, Antonio da Ponte, competed against such eminent designers as Michelangelo and Palladio for the contract.

The bridge has three walkways: two along the outer balustrades, and a wider central walkway leading between two rows of small shops that sell jewelry, linens, Murano glass, and other items for the tourist trade.
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. However, it was only in the 19th century that it came to be called the 'Bridge of Sighs' after Lord Byron's famous reference in his poem Childe Harold's Pilgrimage "I stood in Venice on the Bridge of Sighs, a palace and prison on each hand".

Jewish Ghetto-When on March 29th, 1516 the Government of the Serenissima Repubblica issued special laws, the first Ghetto of Europe was instituted. It was an area where Jews were forced to live and which they could not leave from sunset to dawn. The area was closed by gates watched by guards and up till now the marks of the hinges are visible there.
St. Mark's Basilica-majestically symbolizes the lagoon and enshrines the city's history. Possession of the saint's relics enabled the Republic to establish its authority, from 828 onward, over Grado and Aquileia. In 1063, under Doge Domenico Contarini, it was decided to rebuild the church on the same Greek cross plan as the previous one. In 1096 it was finished, but the decorative work continued until the beginning of the 19th century. The model had been furnished by the Church of the Holy Apostles in Constantinople (536-46); five domes covering the crossing and each of the arms, supported by large piers linked by arches. The light was thus directed towards the centre of the basilica, leaving the side aisles in comparative shadow

Entertainment

Venice has a strong classical music scene – top venues to hear Baroque classics from the likes of Vivaldi include Chiesa di Santa Maria delta Pieta, Chiesa di San Bartolomeo and Chiesa delle Zitelle on Giudecca. San Marco’s Scuola Grande di San Teodoro, and San Polo’s Scuola Grande di San Giovanni Evangelista also host concerts, where musicians don 18th century costume and masks, giving an idiosyncratic take on famous works.
Performance art afficionados welcomed the recent return of Venice’s opera treasure, the Teatro La Fenice, decimated by fire in 1996. La Fenice also hosts high-calibre ballet, music and theater.

Principal theater venues in Venice include Teatro Goldoni – between the Rialto Bridge and St. Mark's Square - Teatro Fenice, Teatro Malibran and Teatro Italia; all boasting beautiful interiors.

The outstanding Biennale festival showcases some of the world’s leading contemporary artists in music, theater, art, dance, cinema and architecture at choice venues every two years. The next festival runs from June to October 2005.

Restaurants

Cipriani Restaurant

Hotel Cipriani, Giudecca 10, 30133 Venice

Tel: +39 041 520 7744 | Fax: +39 041 520 3930

La Caravella

Hotel Saturnia e International, Calle Larga XXII Marzo, San Marco 2398, 30124 Venice

Tel: +39 041 520 8377 | Fax: +39 041 520 7131

Ristorante Do Leoni

Hotel Londra Palace, Riva degli Schiavoni 4171, 30122 Venice

Tel: +39 041 520 0533 | Fax: +39 041 522 5032

Gran Caffe' Ristorante Quadri

Piazza San Marco 120, 30124 Venice

Tel: +39 041 522 2105 | Fax: +39 041 520 8041

Grand Canal

Albergo Monaco e Grand Canal, Calle Vallaresso, San Marco 1325, 30124 Venice

Tel: +39 041 520 0211

Harry's Bar

Calle Vallaresso, San Marco 1323, 30124 Venice

Tel: +39 041 528 5777 | Fax: +39 041 520 8822

La Colomba

Piscina di Frezzeria, San Marco 1665, 30124 Venice

Tel: +39 041 522 1175 | Fax: +39 041 522 1468

Osteria da Fiore

Calle del Scaleter, San Polo 2202, 30125 Venice

Tel: +39 041 721 308 | Fax: +39 041 721 343

Fiaschetteria Toscana

Campo San Giovanni Grisostomo, Cannaregio 5719, 30131 Venice

Tel: +39 041 528 5281 | Fax: +39 041 528 5521

Al Covo

Campiello della Pescaria, Castello 3968, 30122 Venice

Tel: +39 041 522 3812

Vini Da Arturo

Calle degli Assassini, San Marco 3656, 30124 Venice

Tel: +39 041 528 6974

Harry's Dolci

Fondamenta San Biagio, Giudecca 773, 30133 Venice

Tel: +39 041 522 4844 | Fax: +39 041 522 2322

Antico Pignolo

Calle Specchieri, San Marco 451, 30124 Venice

Tel: +39 041 522 8123 | Fax: +39 041 520 9007

Ai Gondolieri

Fondamenta dell'Ospedaletto, Dorsoduro 366, 30123 Venice

Tel: +39 041 528 6396 | Fax: +39 041 521 0075

Da Mario alla Fava

Calle Stagneri, San Marco 5242, 30124 Venice

Tel: +39 041 528 5147 | Fax: +39 041 244 3520

Did You Know......

Venice is built on 117 islands and features 150 canals.

Major Industry: Tourism

Electricity: 220 volts, 50 Hz; standard two-pin plugs

Time Zone: GMT + 1

Country Dialing Code: 39

Area Code: 041

Population: 70,000; 180,000 metro area

Land Area: 178 square miles

Average Annual Rainfall: 34 inches

Average January Temperature: 36 degrees F

Average July Temperature: 75 degrees F