Venice, Italy Essay - 1526 Words

Venice, Italy The city of Venice was built on the water; therefore the canals of Venice have always been an important part of the life of Venetians. Venice is a city of 120 small islands with over 400 bridges linking them. The more than 150 canals serve as streets of the city, making it unlike any other city (Kertzer). It is connected to the mainland, which is two and a half miles away by both rail and highway bridge (encyclopedia.com). Venice?s history as well as its state in the present revolves around the water and the canals that serve the city. A Brief History The first settlers to Venice were refuges fleeing the Visigoth and Hun invaders after the fall of Rome (Steves). At this time the islands were uninhibited, muddy, and†¦show more content†¦Eventually, Venice joined the Byzantine Empire and became a religious power. Also during this time the merchant fleet grew to be the biggest in the Mediterranean, making it a prominent military power (Steves). Venice defeated its rival, Genoa, in 1380 and was now the leading European sea power (Thehistorychannel.com). The fifteenth century was the height of Venetian power and Venice was known as the ?queen of the seas? (encyclopedia.com). During this time many of the great buildings of Venice were built such as the Doges Palace, St. Mark?s Basilica, and the Frari church. It had the reputation of being luxury-loving and was one of the grandest cities in Europe (Steves). Although Europe?s richest city at the time, the 1600s were the beginning of Venetian decline. Because of the discovery of America in 1453 many of the nations west of Italy began to lost power. Napoleon invaded and Venice was under French and Austiran rule until 1866 when Venice finally joined Italy (Steves). Since the 1950?s there has been much flooding and sinking, leading many to fear if there is a bright future for the city of Venice (thehistorychannel.com). Venetian Canals: The Facts Venice was built in the middle of the Laguna Veneta. The meeting of the sea with freshwater streams formed the lagoon (Simonis). Being on the water was crucial for the development of Venice. Trade was what kept the tiny city alive as it shipped luxury goods such as silk, ceramics and carpets fromShow MoreRelated Venice is a City in Northeastern Italy Essay557 Words   |  3 PagesVenice is just a strikingly fascinating city. Anyone can get lost in the adventurous streets of Venice. This beautiful city has over one-hundred seventy seven canals and over four-hundred bridges! In Venice, there are over three-hundred gondolas, long narrow boats used on the canals of Venice. Every year Venice receives around eighteen million tourists. Venice is divided by quarters, which makes Venice divided into six quarters in all. 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