Venice ... once a mighty maritime power, the former
Most Serene Republic, the Queen City of the Adriatic, and, today, still a shrine of countless works of art and architecture. Not
built on solid ground, Venice is a city with its collective feet anchored in the mud of islands in the center of the Laguna Venice at the head of the Adriatic Sea. The main streets are canals; the taxis are flat-bottom gondolas. Auto and foot traffic cross the canals on
ancient, picturesque stone bridges. Many of these canals are lined with magnificent palaces, some as much as five centuries old. And, here, romance is in its glory.
While music is a major interest throughout Italy, Venice has the bands - all year. Bands
populate the more prominent cafes, e.g., the Florian, Quadri and Lavena,
serenading with tangos, waltzes and even themes from movies and New York's Broadway.
Carnival and Regatta are two words which have supreme meaning to Venetians. The Venetian Carnival, in 2002, the 1st through 12th of February,
featured parties city-wide with the populace decked out in colourful costumes and wearing golden and silver masks. And each year on the third weekend of July Venice hosts a spectacular celebration with thousands of boats passing in review on the Grand Canal. The canal, which winds through Venice separating the two main groups of islands, is lined with, what seems like, the entire population of Italy.
We constantly receive e-mail from people inquiring about casinos. There are definitely casinos in Venice and they are stunningly magnificent.
And you have to have a lot of money even just to get in and look! Millions are won - and lost - but, even if you don't play, and if you are able to get in to take a peek, the sights that greet you in these glittering palaces may well be the price of admission.
Some special attractions:
Academy of Venice
Academy of Venice is one of the most prestigious galleries in Italy. Started in 1750 as a 'suitable place where young artists could paint', it was moved in the early 19th Century to its current location - what used to be church of La Carità. It evolved into a repository of paintings of Venetian school (Middle Ages, Renaissance through the eighteenth century). What you see, today, is the result of many remodelings culminating in wholesale
remodeling after World War II.
Archaeological Museum
Archaeological Museum is in the Palazzo della Crocetta. It is one of the most important museums in the world exhibiting artifacts describing the art and society of the Etruscans (and includes several Etruscan tombs). Other collections include many fine examples of Greek and Roman sculpture. Built in the 17th Century, it was ravaged by the flood of 1966 and since very carefully restored. The building is uniquely designed in the shape of a cross and bracketed by unusual gardens.
Bridge of Sighs
Bridge of Sighs - this was built in 1600 to connect the Doge's prisons with the interrogation cells in the main palace on the other side of the canal. It was romanticized and made famous by Britain's Lord Byron.
Correr Museum
Here is the best place to view displays of documents, weapons, coins, and other artifacts chronicling the political and military history of Venice through the centuries. You can enhance the impact of the displays of you are somewhat familiar with the history of Venice.
Customs House
For centuries, the Serene Republic of Venice was the trading center of the Mediterranean. Ships ferrying goods between Europe, the Middle East and even the Far East would put in at Venice to off load and transfer their cargo to other destinations. Then they would on-load cargo brought in by other ships - the official transfer point of most of the then-known world. Use of the Venice port was not free - and the customs house was sited where the Grand Canal meets the Laguna Venice so every ship, coming or going, could be easily inspected and the proper fees collected. Originally built in the 14th Century, it was replaced in the 17th Century and this is what you see today: the 'new building'. You'll want to note the unique golden globe supported by the twin Atlases atop the custom house tower. You
will especially enjoy the exceptionally good view looking across the Grand Canal toward St. Marks.
the Ghetto
This is the oldest ghetto in Europe. Very much alive, today, with its five synagogues, a Jewish museum, and even a kosher restaurant.
Guggenheim Museum
One look leaves no doubt that this is the Guggenheim Museum, Venetian version. On display are more priceless works of art including paintings by Chagall, Daĺ, Ernst, Kandinsky and Pollock.
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Doge's Palace
Doge's Palace is Venice, - yesterday, today and perhaps, tomorrow. To really maximize the psychological impact of this architectural wonder it must be approached from the Lagoon - the ancient 'front door' of Venice. From the coloured marble, the
aggressive geometric patterns to the unique arches with their four-leaf clover recesses, this building screams wealth and power: Venice, the crossroads of the Mediterranean. True, the power is gone and, like most other cities, there is an acute scarcity of wealth, but artistic riches are very much ever present to be viewed by all, rich and poor.
A great fire destroyed the interior in the Fifteenth Century leaving nothing but the marble shell. It was rebuilt but finer than before. The addition of the famous Scala dei Giganti (Staircase of the Giants) seemed to place an exclamation mark on any description of this 1,000 year old building. The inside is every bit as elegant but, best of all, is the art. The great rooms would dwarf almost any paintings but the classical works of Tintoretto, Tiziano and Veronese seem to rise to their surrounding.
Marciano Museum
Yes, there are many museums in Venice. Unique to the Marciano Museum is the original copy of the bronze horses that once stood guarding the Basilica of Saint Marks.
Mocerigo's Palace
This is the unofficial 'fashion' museum of Venice. View many of the rich fabrics, gowns and other fashioned items which were once showcases of the rich and famous of Venice.
Murano
Island
Murano, the glass island, established in 1296 by the glassblowers of Venice who moved to this island. Now, centuries later, their descendants are still 'turning sand into gold'.
Natural History Museum
Exhibits chronicling the evolution of life on our earth. Of special interest is the exhibit of fossils including the entire skeleton of a dinosaur.
Naval Historical Museum
Venice grew from a maritime republic to the primary naval power of the Mediterranean. Much of the history of this period can be viewed in the exhibits, here, which include a reconstructed il Bucintoro, a significant ship of the Venetian Navy which was an escort for the Doge on special
occasions, an assortment of gondolas and other relics of the period.
Palazzo Franchetti
Once considered one of the most ornate buildings of Venice for its colourful facade, this 14th Century structure really came of age when purchased by Baron Giorgio Franchetti for use as an art gallery, now the Ca' D'oro. Here you can view works by many of the old masters.
Palazzo Pesaro
This 16th Century palace is a good example of late Venetian-Gothic architecture. For centuries the home of the Pesaro family, the Papafava family took possession in the 18th Century and used it for social gatherings, etc, and not as a residence. Also at the Palazzo is the famous art museum, Ca' Pesaro. Of special note is the extraordinary oriental art collection.
Rialto Bridge
The Piazza di San Marco may be more famous, but the Ponte di Rialto (Rialto Bridge) is the true heart of Venice. The current structure was built in just three years, between 1588 and 1591, as a permanent replacement for the boat bridge and three wooden bridges that had spanned the Grand Canal at various times since the 12th Century. It remained the only way to cross the Grand Canal on foot until the Accademia Bridge was built in 1854.
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 ("Anthony of the Bridge," appropriately enough), 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. (NOTE: The bridge consists primarily of steps, making it a challenge for tourists with strollers or wheelchairs.)
St. Mark's Basilica
To many, St. Marks is the symbol of Venice. This beautiful church with its 5 domes looks more like an ancient church of Costantinopol. Over the centuries, embellishments have been added and others removed. This was the symbol of the power of Serenissima. From the ornate marbles adorned with all kinds of precious metals, all intended to impress; it did and it still does.
see also:
St. Mark's Bell Tower
St. Mark's Square
St. Mark's Bell Tower
Standing like a lone sentinel in one corner of St. Mark's Square, this 325-foot bell tower was originally built over 10 centuries ago as a military watch tower. In the 16th Century it was rebuilt after extensive damage by an earthquake. Then, in 1902, the tower completely collapsed, was eventually rebuilt and
re-christened 25 April 1912 - exactly a millennium after its origination.
see also:
St. Mark's Basilica
St. Mark's Square
St. Mark's Square
St. Marks\'s Square is to Venice what Times Square is to New York or the Eiffel Tower is to Paris. It has been called 'the world's largest parlor' and, indeed, though is has no ceiling to shield the visitor from the heavens, it has the comfort of a parlor. Note the paving in the
plaza - rebuilt in the 16th Century of Istrian stone laid out in geometric
patterns which, combined with the unusual trapezoidal shape of the plaza lend the appearance of an area much larger than actual.
see also:
St. Mark's Basilica
St. Mark's Bell Tower
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