Venice

Venice, the capital of northern Italy’s Veneto region, is built on more than 100 small islands in the Adriatic Sea. It has no roads, just canals – including the Grand Canal thoroughfare – lined with Renaissance and Gothic palaces. The central square, Piazza San Marco, contains St. Mark’s Basilica, which is tiled with Byzantine mosaics, and the Campanile bell tower offering views of the city’s red roofs.

Venice is also know at “Floating City” and one of the most picturesque cities in Italy. There are 177 canals in Venice. The S-shaped Grand Canal is the biggest and splits the city in two. Venice is also known for its bridges. There are 417 bridges in Venice. Gondolas are one of the leisure activity in Venice and it takes you through the short canals of the city giving a wonderful eye sight.

Houses in Venice are numbered according to districts, not streets, making it difficult to find addresses, even for postmen. The rule of thumb is to look for a monument, shop, or landmark in close proximity.

Venice is sinking at the rate of 1-2 millimeters a year. The population of Venice has decreased from 120,000 to 60,000 in the last 50 years. Some experts believe Venice could be a ghost town by 2030 with only tourists visiting by day.

Wonders of Venice

The San Marco bell tower, or campanile, was built in the 12th century and collapsed in 1902. The tower was rebuilt exactly the same as the previous one. It is 98.6 metres tall, making it the fifth tallest bell tower in Italy.

It is one of the most recognisable symbols of the city. The campanile was initially intended as a watchtower to sight approaching ships and protect the entry to the city. It also served as a landmark to guide Venetian ships safely into harbour.