Venice

Caravella Habitat invites you in its luxury apartment near Venice Italy.

Hereby some good and usefull info about Venice from Wikipedia :

Venice  is a city in northeastern ITALY sited on a group of 118 small islands separated by canals and linked by bridges.It is located in the marshy Venetian Lagoon which stretches along the shoreline, between the mouths of the Po river delta and the Piave Rivers. Venice is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture, and its artwork.The city in its entirety is listed as a World Heritage Site , along with its lagoon.

Venice is the capital of the Veneto region. In 2009, there were 270,098 people residing in Venice’s comune (the population estimate of 272,000 inhabitants includes the population of the whole Comune (Municipality) of Venezia; around 60,000 in the historic city of Venice (Centro storico); 176,000 in Terraferma (the Mainland), mostly in the large “frazioni” (roughly equivalent to “parishes” or “wards” in other countries) of Mestre and Marghera; 31,000 live on other islands in the lagoon). Together with Padua and Treviso, the city is included in the Padua–Treviso-Venice-Metropolitan Area (PATREVE), with a total population of 2,600,000. PATREVE is only a statistical metropolitan area without any degree of autonomy.

The name is derived from the ancient Veneti people who inhabited the region by the 10th century BC. The city historically was the capital of the Republic of Venice. Venice has been known as the “La Dominante”, “Serenissima”, “Queen of the Adriatic”, “City of Water”, “City of Masks”, “City of Bridges”, “The Floating City”, and “City of Canals”. Luigi Barzini described it in The New York Times as “undoubtedly the most beautiful city built by man”. Venice has also been described by the Times Online as being one of Europe’s most romantic cities.

The Republic of Venice was a major maritime power during the Middle Ages and Renaissance, and a staging area for the Crusades and the Battle of Lepanto, as well as a very important center 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 throughout most of its history. It is also known for its several important artistic movements, especially the Renaissance Period. Venice has played an important role in the history of symphonic and operatic music, and it is the birthplace of Antonio Vivaldi.

Venice has been a sought after tourist destination since, well, the moment the islands were colonized. The unique setting of the once great Serenissima Republic, its culture, architecture, history and food, have attracted visitors from all over the world. The greatness of Venice past and present is well documented, but just in case you needed to find some more reasons to visit Venice, the home of the Film Festival and the Biennale event, places to see and foods to try.

Some interesting informations about the ” Ingredients ” of Venice , (Info source  http://www.venezia.travel/blog-eventi/curiosita/quanti-ponti-ha-venezia.html )

Venice is sited on a group of 118 little islands which are connected together by 417 bridges including 72 private bridges , going across 150 ” Canali della Laguna ” (Lagoon Channels and waterways ) . 57  amazing bridges of Venice are made from wood , 300 are made from stone and the remaining 60 , are made from iron . 

However ,actually only 4 bridges cross the worldwide famous  ” Canal Grande ”  . 

It is very interesting to know that until 1500 , there were no scales on any bridge in Venice . This because horses could cross the bridges and carry heavy items without any difficulty .

  1. Step into the great Renaissance at the Gallerie dell’Accademia – Visit this museum which is stacked full of pre 19th Century Venetian Art. What does that mean ? Gentile and Giovanni Bellini, Canaletto, Carpaccio, Cima da Conegliano, Giorgione, Lorenzo Lotto, Mantegna, Rocco Marconi, Antonello da Messina, Tiepolo, Tintoretto, Titian (Tiziano), Veronese, Vasari, Leonardo da Vinci (Drawing of Vitruvian Man).
  2. Have an aperitivo or a sundowner at a Bacaro, and don’t forget the Spritz – visit some of the characteristic bacari in Venice, small osterie (Tavern,Auberge) like places which specialize in small portions not dissimilar to tapas. Here you must enjoy the baccalà mantecato (A typical Veneto region seafood dish made with code fish and other simple yet delicious ingredients) and wash it down with a Spritz, the Venetian drink which has now reached international fame made with ice, Aperol, white wine, seltzer and a slice of orange.
  3. Listen to Vivaldi at La Fenice Theatre – Baroque music was basically invented in Venice, and Vivaldi, is one of the most important exponents of the genre, and a Venetian himself. Bask in the glory of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons in the location where it was intended to be performed: La Fenice Theatre in Venice.
  4. The city of Palaces – The unique architecture of Venice is just one of the many factors which have contributed to the city’s endless charm. From the Palazzo Ducale, one of the best specimens of Venetian architecture to the Scuola di San Rocco, a more Renaissance style or many of the patrician private palaces that line the canals of the city, make sure to take in as many as you can.
  5. Take a tour on the Gondola – Now Venetian stay can be complete without a tour on a Gondola. Enough said.
  6. Buy in glass in Murano – The Venice Laguna houses more than just the islands that make up the Venetian Capital. On the outskirts sit two of the most unique and picturesque craftsmen islands imaginable. The fist is Murano, where the world famous glass is hand blown. You can’t leave Venice without having seen the craftsmen at work on the islands and without sample of the unique glasswork.
  7. Buy lace in Burano – Burano is special on two fronts: firstly it is the sister island of Murano, a unique place where the embroiderers of lace have been working for centuries, Here is where the prestigious Venetian lace was made and exported world wise. Burano is also special as the colourful fishermen’s cottage that make up its unique architecture make this one of the most beautiful places in Italy.
  8. Visit the Guggenheim Collection – One of the most attractive elements of Venice is that its ancient settings blend seamlessly with the modern. Thus Peggy Guggenheim, the notorious American collector settled in the City after the Second World War and bequeathed part of her collection upon her death.
  9. Freak out at Poveglia – Within the Venice Laguna there are many small islands including Murano, Burano and the infamous Poveglia. Legend has it that the island is the most haunted place in Italy. The island is out of bounds but you can take a guided tour by boat.
  10. Take in the view from the San Marco bell tower – At almost 99m (325ft), the Campanile is the city’s tallest building, originally built between 888 and 912.The view is of course superb, taking in the Lido, the whole lagoon and (on a clear day) the Dolomites in the distance.
  11. Sample the unique Venetian Cuisine – Italy has plenty of culinary delights to offer, but make sure to orded the correct foods in each city or region. Don’t dare to order Osso buco with risotto in Venice, try instead a squid ink spaghetti or a delicious tramezzino (a type of sandwich). Here are 15 delicious Venetian dishes you have to try while in the Serenissima. And here are 5 traditional Venetian restaurants to try them at.
  12. Go to the market on the Giudecca – The Giudecca is an island on the south of the City. The name of the islands suggests it was populated by Jews in the late medieval and renaissance period, though the Ghetto is actually at the north of the City. Recently the Guidecca has enjoyed a revival, but its definitely worth going to the ancient market which happens on the islands and shop for fresh produce with the locals.
  13. Visit the Ghetto – Marvel at the first Ghetto in Europe instituted in the 1516. The area was where the Jewish population of Venice was segregated. Today the area in the Canaregio Sestiere in the North of Venice is still populated by a large community of Jews and you can experience a different wonder of Venice.
  14. Kiss under the Ponte dei Sospiri – The Bridge of Sighs is one of the most famous bridges in Venice, Legend has it that its unique name was coined by Lord Byron in the 19th century as prisoners would sigh at their final view of beautiful Venice through the window before being taken down to their cells. Another, more romantic legend has it that lovers will be granted eternal love and bliss if they kiss on a gondola at sunset under the Bridge of Sighs as the bells of St Mark’s Campanile toll.
  15. Take home a Venetian Carnival Mask – The Venetian Carnival is known all over the World both for its history and its revelry. The traditional Venetian Carnival masks (and costumes) are things of great beauty, and it’s a must to take one home with you. Alternatively, you can shop for a fully fledged baroque ensemble at Antonia Sautter’s atelier.
  16. Visit the Rialto fish market – The Rialto bridge is also a must see location in Venice. Make sure t go during the fish market, it’s the oldest market in Europe that still operates.
  17. Take a tour of the Grand Canal in a Riva motor boat – No visit to the Serenissima can be complete without a tour of the Grand Canal. Why not do it ins style, like the celebrities of the Golden Age of Cinema who attended the Film Festival on the island, make sure to take a tour on a Riva, the iconic Italian motor boat makers.

And on a last note, one of the most beautiful things to do in Venice is to just stroll around and get lost in this singular city.

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