Venice. Territories that have gone under water. The history of Venice: the powerful Republic became a ghost town A short message about how Venice came into being

Venice (Italy) - the most detailed information about the city with photos. The main attractions of Venice with descriptions, guides and maps.

City of Venice (Italy)

Venice is a city in northeastern Italy, the capital of the province of Veneto. It is included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites and is one of the most unique and famous cities on the planet, the historical center of which is built on 118 islands of the Venetian Lagoon. Venice is stunning, fabulous, romantic. More than 20 million tourists come here to look at the charming canals, graceful architecture and bridges, ride gondolas and listen to the songs of gondoliers, walk along San Marco and photograph the Rialto Bridge, taste local cuisine and feel the Venetian atmosphere. Venice is a city that buzzes every day like an agitated beehive, and then freezes in the evening, this is a place that has hardly changed in 6 centuries in appearance and in which there are no cars at all.

Venice is located in the Adriatic Sea almost at the latitude of our Krasnodar region. The historical center is located on many islands, separated by canals and connected by bridges, which are called "Sestieri". It includes the districts of Cannaregio, Castello, Dorsoduro, San Polo, Santa Croce and San Marco, where the main monuments and attractions are located. Other islands in the Venetian Lagoon include Murano, Torcello, San Francesco del Deserto and Burano. The architecture of Venice is a special architectural style called Venetian. Most of the architectural and cultural monuments were built between the 12th and 16th centuries. Interestingly, most of Venice's historical buildings are built on stilts made of Alpine larch, which does not rot in water.

Venice Grand Canal

Geography and climate

Venice is located on 118 islands of the Venetian Lagoon of the Adriatic Sea. The islands are separated by 150 canals and connected by 400 bridges. The city is a major seaside resort and one of the largest Italian seaports.

Venice is located in a subtropical climate zone. Summers are quite hot, winters are mild. Frost and snow are rare in winter. Although in the cold season it is quite chilly here due to the proximity of the sea. Due to surge waves, floods often occur in Venice.

Unfortunately, this unique city is gradually sinking under water. 4-5 mm every year. During the 20th century alone, Venice went under water by more than 20 cm. In just a few decades, it may become uninhabitable. So far, the MOSE project to save Venice, which involves the construction of dams around the city, has not significantly corrected this situation.

Best time to visit

The worst times to visit are during carnival (very expensive and crowded) and rainy times in late autumn and winter (cold, windy and wet). In summer it can get quite hot. The best time to get to know Venice is spring and autumn.

Gondola - traditional Venetian means of transportation

Practical information

1. Population - 264.6 thousand people.
2. Area - 414.6 square kilometers.
3. Language - Italian.
4. Currency - euro.
5. Time - Central European UTC +1, summer +2.
6. Visa - Schengen.
7. Restaurants are open from 12.00 to 22.00. Shops from 10.00 to 19.00
8. Tourist tax ranges from 3.50 to 5 euros per person.

Story

During the Roman Empire in Antiquity, the Veneti tribe lived here, who gave their name to the future city and province. People began to settle in the vicinity of the Venetian Lagoon, fleeing the raids of the barbarians. An urban settlement began to form here in the 6th-7th century. Initially it was located on the islands of Malamocco and Torcello and belonged to Byzantium. In the 7th century, the settlements of the Venetian lagoon were united under the rule of the Doge, effectively the head of state. The Doge was elected from rich and influential families for a life term. During the entire existence of the Venetian Republic, more than 100 doges were elected.

In the 9th century, the importance and influence of Venice began to grow at a rapid pace. In 828 the relics of St. Stamps stolen in Alexandria. St. Mark is the patron saint of the city. Interestingly, the Venetian Republic was a unique state entity. There was practically no vassalage here, and the Doge was forbidden to appoint a successor to himself.

From the 12th to the 15th centuries, the Venetian Republic was one of the most powerful states in Europe. The prerequisite for this was the defeat of Constantinople in 1204 by the crusaders. The republic became the main link between East and West. By 1300, Venice was the richest city on the European continent.

In the 15th century, the expansion of the Turks and the subsequent reorientation of trade routes towards the Atlantic undermined the economic and trading power of the city. The mighty republic ceased to exist. At the end of the 18th century, Venice was conquered by Napoleon. After some time it was part of the Habsburg possessions, until in 1866 it became part of Italy.

How to get there

Venice has an international airport, Marco Polo, which is located near Mestre (actually a suburb of Venice). You can take a bus from the airport to Piazzale Roma. The railway station has connections with Milan, Trieste, Verona, Rome and the rest of Italy. Cruise ships and yachts usually arrive at Stazione Marittima. Trains from the mainland pass through Mestre to Venice Santa Lucia train station on its western side. Attention - do not confuse with the Venice Mestre page, which is the last stop on the mainland. Direct trains to Venice run from Munich, Paris, Vienna, Budapest, Zagreb.

The main means of transportation around Venice and its islands are vaporetto and water taxis. Vaporetto is the most economical way to travel. It is better to buy a day ticket to get to the islands of Murano and Burano. Boarding the vaporetto takes place at special stations. To cross the Grand Canal you can use the traghetto. These are public gondolas operated by two gondoliers. The fare costs only 2 euros per person (cash only).

Gondolas are one of the main attractions of Venice. These boats are historically the main means of transportation along the canal streets. Now they serve to entertain tourists. The gondolas are controlled by gondoliers. This is a very prestigious and profitable profession, which is almost impossible for outsiders to get into. The state keeps strict records of gondoliers. Their number is regulated - 425 people. Moreover, this profession is usually passed on from father to son. The cost of a gondola ride around Venice is about 80 euros.

Shopping and purchases

Venice has always been a city of merchants. Consequently, most Venetians still own or work in a store. Be careful when purchasing souvenirs and goods. A huge tourist flow does not always guarantee high quality.

Shops are open from 10 am to 7 pm and later. People buy in Venice: antiques, leather goods, shoes, scarves, jewelry, books, Murano glass, carnival masks and costumes. Brand stores can be found in the area of ​​​​Piazza San Marco. Typical tourist traps: "pasta cauliflower" and "Venetian limoncello" are not Italian cuisine. No Italian will ever buy this.

Food and drink

Venice is famous for its excellent restaurants, but the general perception is that Italian food here is not the best, and Venetian pizza is traditionally the worst in Italy. We recommend trying polenta, risotto with cuttlefish sauce, seafood dishes, and pasta here. Be careful when restaurant menu prices are based on the weight of the dish (usually "etto", abbreviated as "/hg").

Attractions

Venice is full of attractions, historical and cultural monuments: squares and bridges, churches and historical buildings will not leave anyone indifferent.

The heart of Venice, its most famous and beautiful square. Napoleon called San Marco "the most elegant drawing room in Europe." Famous attractions, expensive shops and the oldest cafes are located here. The Venetian doges and Marco Polo walked along it, and the famous Casanova reveled in the cafe.

One of the main landmarks of Venice and Piazza San Marco in particular. This is the tallest building in the city, with a height of 98.5 meters. The current bell tower of St. The stamp dates back to 1912. The original 12th century structure collapsed in 1902. Initially, in the 9th century, the bell tower served as a watchtower and lighthouse. For 8 euros you can admire the panorama of the city from a height of almost 100 meters.

St. Mark's Basilica is the main religious building in Venice. An ancient church in the Byzantine style, which is rarely seen in Western Europe. The relics of St. Mark (apostle and evangelist) and valuable works of art that were taken from Constantinople. The relics were stolen from the Saracens by Venetian merchants in the 9th century. From that time on, the winged lion became the symbol of Venice. The Basilica of San Marco was the Doge's court church until 1807. The first basilica was built in 829 and burned in 976 during a revolt against Doge Pietro Candiano IV. Some researchers believe that during the fire the relics of St. The stamps were lost. The current basilica was completed in the 11th century. It is built in the shape of a Greek cross. The interior is richly decorated with mosaics and many varieties of marble.

The Doge's Palace is the symbol of San Marco, a masterpiece of Gothic art and the center of power of the Venetian Republic. The Doge's Palace consists of three large parts: the wing to the Basin of San Marco, which contains the main council chamber (which is the oldest part of the building), the wing to Piazza San Marco (the former Palace of Justice) and the Renaissance wing, which housed the Doge's residence.

The Clock Tower is a historic building from the 15th century with a clock in the early Renaissance style. The tower is located in the northern part of St. Mark so that the clock can be seen from the Venetian Lagoon. The lower floors of the tower form an arch that leads to the main street of Venice - Merceria, which connects San Marco and Rialto. The top of the tower is decorated with two bronze statues of "Moors" ringing a bell. Just below is a sculpture of a winged lion with an open book. There used to be a statue of the Doge nearby, which was removed by the French at the end of the 18th century. On the floor below there is a copper statue of the Virgin and Child. The clock is located above the arch and has a large dial with Roman numerals.

Grand Canal

The Grand Canal or Grand Canal is Venice's most important waterway, dividing the city on two sides. Its length is just under 4 km. Interestingly, from above Venice looks like a fish. And the line of the Grand Canal resembles the letter "S". This waterway has been the center of vibrant Venetian life and trade since the Middle Ages. Along the perimeter of the Grand Canal you can admire dozens of magnificent buildings and palaces from the 12th to 16th centuries, where the richest and most influential Venetians lived. The Grand Canal ends at Piazza San Marco with a wonderful panorama of the lagoon. There are 4 bridges across it, the most beautiful and famous of which is the Rialto.

Rialto is one of the symbols of Venice, the first bridge across the Grand Canal. It was originally made of wood and allowed ships to approach San Marco. It was only in 1588 that the Rialto was rebuilt and faced with white marble, which is called Istrian stone here. The bridge is 22 meters wide and 48 meters long. It is a unique arcade 7.5 meters high, topped by several smaller arcades that are crossed by three parallel staircases. The Rialto area is known for its famous market, open every day except Sunday.

The Cathedral of Santa Maria della Salute is the symbol of Dorsoduro and one of the architectural dominants of the Grand Canal. This church was built by the Venetians in gratitude for the relief from the plague in 1630. Since then, on November 21, the city celebrates the feast of the Madonna della Salute. The Venetians are building a floating bridge of boats from St. Mark's Square to the church. The central part of the church has an octagonal shape, above which rises a large hemispherical dome. Six small chapels were built around it. The central part is connected to the south side by a presbytery topped by a smaller dome and two bell towers.

Murano is the famous island of glassblowers, one of the most famous islands of the Venetian Lagoon. If you are going to buy Murano glass, then only here. Glass factories and craftsmen moved here in the 13th century to protect Venice from fire and preserve production secrets.

Until 1171 the island was part of the Santa Croce area. In 1275, Murano masters were given broad rights. They could draw up their own laws and even print coins.

Burano is one of the islands of the Venetian lagoon, famous for its colorful houses, lace and culinary traditions. The first houses on the island of Burano were built at the beginning of the 11th century. They began to make houses colored so that fishermen could distinguish their homes in the fog. This tradition has become the main feature of Burano, which attracts many tourists.

The center of the island is the area of ​​​​the Church of San Martino and Piazza Baldassara Galuppi. San Martino is the only church on the island. It is famous for the fact that its bell tower is tilted several degrees from its axis.

A popular landmark of Venice, which is not a bridge at all, but a passage connecting the Doge's Palace and the prison. It was built of white marble at the beginning of the 17th century.

The Academic Bridge is the newest of the bridges over the Grand Canal. It was built in the mid-19th century during the Habsburg ownership of Venice. Rebuilt in 1933.

Other attractions and monuments of Venice

Ca" Rezzonico

Ca" Rezzonico is one of the few palaces on the Grand Canal open to the public. There is an 18th century museum with paintings and frescoes taken from other palaces. The building was built in 1667 and in 1702 bought by a merchant from Genoa - Rezzonico. Giorgio Ballroom The Massari is the most famous room of the palace.It has been restored, decorated with beautiful chandeliers, sculptures and frescoes. On the second floor there is a room of paintings by Pietro Longhi (which depicts the daily life of the Venetians).

Campo Santa Margherita is a square in the historical district of Dorsoduro. Here you can enjoy a real Venetian atmosphere: 14th-15th century architecture, small shops, bars, restaurants, a tiny fish market and a street market. On the opposite side is the famous Ponte dei Pugni bridge, which connects Campo Santa Margherita with Campo San Barnaba.

Redentore is a 16th century church on the island of Giudecca, designed by Palladio. The facade of the building is made of white marble.

The island of San Giorgio Maggiore is an island on the opposite side of the Grand Canal lagoon opposite Piazza San Marco. The island long belonged to the influential Venetian Memmo family. On the island there is an ancient monastery founded in the 10th century, a church designed by Palladio, a bell tower from the late 18th century and much more interesting things. In addition, the island offers a beautiful panorama of San Marco.

The Church of San Sebastiano is a 16th century church in the Renaissance style designed by Abbondi. The interior is decorated with frescoes by Paolo Veronese from the 16th century. The church can be considered almost Veronese's workshop and is considered a masterpiece of Venetian art. This cultural monument is practically unknown to tourists.

The Church of Santa Maria dei Carmini is a church in the Dorsoduro district near Piazza Santa Margherita. The church was founded in the 13th century and rebuilt in Renaissance style in 1500. The presbytery and side chapel were built between 1506 and 1514 by Sebastiano Mariani. On the left side there is a beautiful Gothic portal and the bell tower of Giuseppe Sardi, topped by a statue of the Madonna del Carmine.

The Church of San Giacomo di Rialto is one of the oldest churches in Venice (and possibly the oldest). It was built in 421 in the Rialto quarter. The church is usually called Chiesa di San Giacometto (translated as "little Giacomo") due to its small size compared to other religious buildings in the city.

Church of San Jeremiah - located in the Cannaregio area, just a few minutes walk from Santa Lucia Station. The façade of the church overlooks the Grand Canal. Saint Lucia of Syracuse rests here.

The Church of San Simeone Piccolo is located in the Santa Croce quarter on the Grand Canal embankment. The church was built in 1738 by Giovanni Antonio Scalfarotto in the neoclassical style. The architect was apparently inspired by the Roman Pantheon. It is the only church in Venice where services are still conducted in Latin. The dome has the shape of an oval bowl. It is covered with lead plates and visually increases the height of the building. Interestingly, the church has an underground crypt that has not been fully explored.

Fondaco dei Tedeschi is a palace on the Grand Canal next to the Rialto Bridge. It was built in the first half of the 13th century. Nowadays there is a natural history museum here.

The Church of San Zan Degola is located in one of the quietest corners of the city, far from the popular routes and crowds of tourists between San Giacomo Dall Orio and Fondaco dei Turci in the Sestere di Santa Croce quarter. Here it seems that time has stood still on the border with the past: there are practically no shops, people with cameras and smartphones. The church is very old. Mentions of it date back to the 11th century. Now it belongs to the Russian Orthodox community.

Tolentini Church - located in the Santa Croce Sestiere quarter, opposite the square of the same name. The church was built at the beginning of the 17th century. Doge Francesco Morosini is buried here.

Pesaro is one of the most beautiful Baroque palaces in Venice. The palace was built in 1710. The majestic beauty of the baroque facade, decorated with various statues, surpasses the beauty of the interior interiors. Unfortunately, most of the decorations were destroyed or damaged. Only a few frescoes remain.

Frari is a 15th century Franciscan church. The church's bell tower is the second tallest after San Marco. The interior is extensive and rich in works of art by Titian.

Campo San Polo is a square square in the Sestire di San Polo quarter, the second largest in Venice after San Marco.

The Kamerlenghi Palace is a palace of an unusual pentagonal shape near the Rialto Bridge. It was built in the 16th century. The façade is lined with marble.

The Arsenal has been the heart of Venetian shipbuilding since the early 12th century. This huge production complex was built to equip ships and was at that time one of the largest production facilities in Europe. Nowadays there is a maritime historical museum here.

Scuola Grande di San Marco is a historical building of the 13th century in the Renaissance style, the seat of one of the 6 largest Venetian scuola (guilds).

The Jewish ghetto is located in the Cannaregio quarter and was founded in 1500. The ghetto area has tall buildings and low ceilings because Jews were not allowed to settle anywhere else. There are five synagogues here that represent the different Jewish ethnic groups that have lived in Venice for 5 centuries.

Palazzo Contarini del Bovolo is a Gothic palace with a beautiful spiral staircase. It was built by the Venetian Contarini family in the 15th century.

Ca d'Oro

Ca' d'Oro is one of the most remarkable examples of Venetian Gothic architecture and one of the most elegant historical buildings in Venice, located in the Cannaregio area on the Grand Canal. The palace was built in the 15th century. Nowadays the Franchetti Gallery is located here.

Represented by a group of 118 small islands, separated by canals and connected by bridges. located in the Venetian Lagoon of the Adriatic Sea. The unique architectural style of Venice was formed during the heyday of the Venetian Republic in the 14th-16th centuries. Venice is currently listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The city's name comes from the Veneti, who inhabited the region in the 10th century BC. The Republic of Venice was a major maritime power during the Middle Ages and Renaissance, as well as a very important center of trade (silk, grain, and spices). This made Venice a wealthy city for most of its history. Venice has played an important role in the history of symphonic and operatic music and is the birthplace of Antonio Vivaldi.

An urban settlement on the islands of the Venetian Lagoon was formed in the second half of the sixth century, and after one century all the islands began to obey one ruler - the Doge. There were 120 doges in Venice, the first was elected in 697, and the last abdicated in 1797.

From the 9th to the 12th centuries, Venice developed into a city-state. Its strategic position on the Adriatic made the city an almost invulnerable maritime and trading power. After the elimination of pirates along the Dalmatian coast, the city became a thriving center of trade between the Western and the rest of the (mostly Islamic) world.

In the mid-fifteenth century, Venice faced Turkish expansion, which forced Europe to look for other trade routes. As a result, the city ceased to be an important trading post and, when Venice was captured by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1797, the city was no longer a powerful power.

During the 18th century, Venice became perhaps the most elegant and sophisticated city in Europe, thanks in large part to art, architecture and literature.

In the nineteenth century, Venice became part of Italy for a time, but in 1866, after the Third Italian War of Independence, Venice and Veneto became part of the Kingdom of Italy. During the Second World War, Venice managed to avoid severe destruction; the city remained virtually untouched.

Tourism has been the main source of income in Venice since the beginning of the eighteenth century, when tourist excursions to the picturesque places of the city appeared here. Today it is one of the most visited cities in the world, with an average of about 50,000 tourists visiting Venice every day. In the 1980s, the Venice Carnival was revived, and the city began to host prestigious festivals: the Biennale and the Venice Film Festival, which attract visitors from all over the world.

Oh Venice! How many poems have been written about this amazing and unique city! Even her name conveys a beautiful poetic image of serenity. But lately the situation in the city can no longer be called cloudless, because the city is literally drowning before our eyes. And now you can often hear words of alarm that the city is slowly sinking under water and perishing irrevocably. There may not be a trace left of the once “serene” Venice in the near future. It is no coincidence that many now call it the oldest urban settlement in Italy, a city where visiting travelers and tourists only stop.

Of course, the townspeople do not look at this indifferently - throughout their history they have been struggling with water inflows as best they can, but now the elements are becoming even more active than usual. If we take the times of the Roman Empire as the starting point, Venice has already sunk three meters under water and the process of such immersion cannot stop. Scientists see the main reason for this in the ever-increasing pressure of ground-based structures; the fact that artesian wells do not stop their constant operation also plays a big role.

On the brink of disaster

Once, namely 50 years ago, the city was already on the verge of disaster. Then the violence of the elements captured almost the entire territory of Northern Italy. Local residents who are still alive to this day remember those fateful hours with horror. The tide that entered the city in the evening caused a rapid rise in water. Nothing could be opposed to this unexpected misfortune. It turned out that the Lagoon was unable to withstand the water in order to protect Venice from the pressure of the waves...

An ominous communication silence hung over the city, telephones stopped working, houses became dark due to the loss of electricity, and gas was not available. Everyone who was in it could only walk in high rubber shoes. Eyewitnesses of the incident say that if there had not been a lull for some time, the destructive effects of the tide would have caused irreparable damage to the city.

For the already ancient foundations of castles and the residential sector, the danger is posed not only by strong tides of waves, but even by their gentle splashing. And therefore, in such a situation, there was practically no chance of keeping the buildings in a stable position. Without any doubt, the walls would begin to collapse, the roofs would fly off and, as a result, their complete collapse would occur. But by chance, the elements, as they arose, suddenly began to recede, the wind no longer raged and the water began to recede.

The consequences of the disaster were monstrous and the extent of the damage was colossal. But the loss of Venice would not be included in any material costs. But the very possibility of the existence of the city, and not just some partial destruction, was in question. This is a city monument. Venice is not just some individual historical attractions, it completely represents one huge monument and heritage of history.

Thank God, everything worked out, and the city can still delight everyone who decided to admire it. He has seen a lot in his time - periods of prosperity, decline and sweet years of rebirth. Therefore, people’s task in relation to it should be extremely simple - to do everything so that more than one generation can admire such a unique place.

First settlements

This city is completely different from a metropolis in our usual sense. The history of Venice contains a lot of interesting things. The Venetian lagoon, which is divided by more than one hundred and fifty canals and ducts with almost four hundred bridges, gave rise to this unique phenomenon, where the historical center of the city is located on more than one hundred islands. A long, interrupted spit serves as a kind of border that fences off the site of modern Venice from the mainland.

It is also a dividing strip between the Adriatic Sea and a relatively shallow lagoon, which has a large number of shallows. By and large, they are not small parts of land, they only resemble it, representing silt or sand formations deposited by rivers. That's why they're like swampy soils. Being unsteady and very unreliable, they are excellent places that can hide persecuted people from enemies.

Those who are interested in history are interested in knowing what Venice was like at the very beginning and how it was built. The first buildings that were erected by people on the site of the current city, of course, date back to ancient times and such settlements belonged to fishermen and salt miners. A more accurate date for the founding of the city, if you rely on the research of scientists, should be considered 560. In those distant years, the Lombards carried out their devastating raids on Italy. The head of the church, Peacock, taking all the church's shrines and wealth, hastily left Aquileia and found refuge for himself and the patriarchate on the small island of Grado.

Other church ministers followed his example, creating their own bishoprics on the islands one after another, which were in different cities of Italy. Therefore, this difficult time is considered, albeit conditionally, the date of the formation of Venice. One can imagine in what unusual and difficult conditions the first settlers lived. To connect small islands with each other, wooden decks were built, for this it was necessary to drive huge piles that could be supported in the unstable bottom or soil.

Therefore, in the future, one can observe that all buildings, even the most grandiose ones, have a base of wooden piles, which were driven to a depth of at least three meters, and in some cases the driving depth was three times greater, reaching up to ten meters. They are located very densely and, as a rule, there is space on top for platforms that connect oak and larch logs. Such devices are the basis for laying stone foundations.

For example, for the church of Santa Maria della Salute, many log houses were used; it has more than a million different wooden piles, mainly from species such as oak, alder, and larch. It took more than two years to build all this. The construction of the Rialto Stone Bridge took more than 10 thousand piles. The scale can also be indicated by the fact that the foundation of Venice is entirely based on the forests of Dalmatia. The strength of such piles is very reliable, because, for example, larch, lowered into salt water, becomes as strong as iron.

Heyday

The history of Venice has seen its ups and downs. If we talk about the period of greatest prosperity, then the Middle Ages became its golden age. This applies both during the Crusades and after them. By the beginning of the fifteenth century it was already an influential state. Venice's prosperity also owed much to its trade. At this time, the paths by sea had long been trodden, merchant affairs were going uphill. An endless stream of wealth flowed to Venice from all over the world. All this made it possible to build magnificent buildings and cathedrals. The greatness of the merchant fleet and the scale of trade could be evidenced by the fact that in 1424 thousands of first-class ships were already plying the seas here.

The construction and renovation of the city proceeded on a grand scale. As Venice was built, embankments were laid, bridges were erected, great attention was paid to the construction of new canals, while old ones that had already outlived their usefulness were filled in. But by the beginning of the sixteenth century, Venice began to gradually decline in political circles, its economic role and ability to significantly influence the world economy weakened. With the capture of Constantinople by the Turks, Venice was removed from ports abroad. New routes to India and the New World were opened, markets arose in Europe - countries such as Spain, England, Holland, all this undoubtedly affected the state of affairs and the Venetians were irrevocably deprived of their advantages in the trade sphere.

This is interesting: Venezuela owes its name to Venice. European navigators led by A. Vespucci, on one of their travels, noticing Indian houses on stilts that stood right in the lake, could not help but remember Venice. Since then, the name of the Latin American country, translated from Italian as little Venice, has taken root and has survived to this day.

But the wealth that was accumulated during the heyday did not go away and, embodied in beautiful architecture and other attractions, still allowed Venice to remain one of the largest cultural centers not only in Europe, but, without exaggeration, the entire globe. During the heyday of fine art, they began to call her Serenissima - the Most Serene. The famous Venetian school of painting is still remembered today. Namely, it was in those years that it was founded. Among its natives are masters whose creations still delight the eyes of visitors - these are palaces and temples. And among the masters, history remembers such outstanding names as Bellini, Carpaccio, Titian, Giorgione, Tintoretto, Veronese.

Morals of ancient Venice

But it was not only Venetian painting and architecture that attracted visiting gentlemen in those years. Strange as it may seem, with the growth of visual culture, morality in the city fell. Often, prostitutes were the center of attention of guests no less than urban architectural objects and paintings. Historians attribute the adventures of the famous womanizer Casanova to this Venetian period. Among other things, this womanizer unwittingly became a trendsetter - triangular hats and raincoats, which could be seen at the carnivals of Venice, became fashionable thanks to him.

True or not, numerous studies indicate that in the 18th century the entire internal policy of the city was aimed at the decomposition of the entire society, and not just, for example, the aristocracy. When her life of leisure and luxury was explicitly encouraged; It was considered a good thing to support the ignorance and licentious behavior of church ministers, and debauchery in monasteries. The authorities also encouraged the development of all sorts of continuous discord among the common people. In addition to the moral disaster, there were others - just as terrible in their destructive power. For example, the plague covered the city more than fifty times!

Ah, carnival, carnival...

This period is also characterized by the fact that at this time the world-famous Venetian carnivals began to emerge. If we figuratively talk about what the 18th century was like, then it was the age of masks. Here in the Venetian expanses, the mask was given the status of almost a state institution. This was one of the most significant inventions of the state, which lost any serious meaning. Starting from the first days of October until the Christmas holidays, then from the beginning of January until the first “Lenten” days, as well as on some other holidays, including the elections of the Doge and other governing officials, Venetians were allowed to wear masks. These days in total took up half of the calendar year...

Everything is replete with masks; they are already an indispensable attribute of clothing for both the Doge and the very last servant. Everything is done in masks and this is not only a game, as they say in public, everyday work is carried out in them, trials are conducted, fish are sold, they read, and they go on visits. It's hard to imagine, but that's exactly what happened. And the beginning of the origin of Venetian carnivals should be sought in the ancient customs of the Romans - Saturnalia.

These were such festive annual celebrations of Saturn, they were held when the harvest ended and there was a winter solstice. Carnival masks were born in mass celebrations. On this day, slaves could sit at the same table with their masters. The masks hid the true position of its wearer in society. This was invented in order to reduce the influence of class prejudices, which could spoil the mood of those having fun.

Now the carnival does not last for six months - only ten days. A huge number of tourists visit Venice every year. They come here not only to watch the carnival, but also to participate in it. These days, various concerts are held in open areas, theaters delight spectators with performances where the central theme is carnival. Fireworks roar and fireworks sparkle, and the doors of ancient palaces are open to those guests who dream of taking part in masquerade balls. The streets of Venice are full of townspeople dressed in the costumes of popular characters around the world, including Columbina, the emblem of the holiday.

No need to repair roads

The good thing about Venice, besides all its unique attractions, is that there are no roads. The main type of transport used by local residents and city guests is water. Just like on regular roads, there are “minibuses” - they deliver passengers along given routes. And although there is no highway, there are also signs akin to ordinary road ones. Famous all over the globe, gondolas serve as an excellent means of transport for romantic walks, which, as a rule, arouse special interest among tourists.

To ride on such an exotic vehicle, you need to pay quite a decent amount. An hour's walk costs seventy euros. The gondola is a rather long vessel - eleven meters long and one and a half meters wide. It is also a symbol of the city, as are the carnival events. By the way, it should be noted that this type of transportation is not used anywhere else. The first similar boat began to be built back in the second century, and if we talk about the elongated shape, then the countdown already begins five hundred years earlier.

There are two things that tourists pay attention to. They can be said to be one of the main features of Venice. The first is the lack of tree plantations. With this, as they say, everything is clear. The second is the pronounced dilapidation of the walls of the buildings. This is what puzzles many people. They just don’t realize that this is a specially created style that gives an irresistible look to Venice. For this purpose, even newly plastered buildings are artificially aged.
Information for tourists.

Those wishing to visit Venice should be interested to know that the island part itself, which is historical and where tourists mainly come, is quite compact and small in size. It will be a little more than four kilometers long and half as wide. Therefore, it is possible to pass it even in an hour and a half at a leisurely pace.

The city has six districts, which are separated by a large canal - Canal Grande. If you rise to a bird's eye view, you can see that Venice is similar in silhouette to a fish, cut in the middle by the same canal, on both sides of which the Venetian districts lie. Each of them is original and different from each other, having its own historical values ​​and unique atmosphere. Next to the canals and narrow crooked streets, churches and palaces stand sparkling with rich decoration.

Well, now about the places that every visitor must visit so that Venice and the history of the city can be more fully revealed to them. The relatively small city has more than one hundred and fifty churches, many other attractions: palaces, museums, galleries. Everyone can find something interesting for themselves. Here are some attractions:

• main square of San Marco. A very beautiful place, tiled with marble;
• St. Mark's Cathedral;
• the Doge's Palace - it housed the former rulers of Venice;
• Bridge of Sighs. Among the many bridges that you can talk about for hours and have various amazing stories, this bridge is notable for the fact that it was used to escort convicts from the Doge's Palace to prison. In those harsh times of the Inquisition, acquittals practically did not exist, so a short farewell to the convicted person took place here.
• Peggy Guggenheim Gallery. It is worth a visit for those who are interested in contemporary art, including the avant-garde.
• Academy Gallery. It will be very useful for those who are interested in classical art.

Service

The situation here is probably not as good as many tourists visiting this beautiful corner of Italy expect. You can often hear complaints about not very good service. Often you may be offered not very tasty, but at the same time very expensive food. Among other things, you may encounter rudeness. In this regard, experienced tourists advise buying food and eating away from the city center.

And living in a hotel in the city itself is simply an unaffordable luxury, which only wealthy tourists can afford. The prices are exorbitant. Therefore, most visitors stay somewhere in neighboring towns, for example, one of them is called Mestre. It is easily accessible by any means of transport - bus, train, boat or taxi. The cost of staying at a hotel is several times cheaper.

Venice is a city in northern Italy, geographically occupying a group of islands. The climate in Venice is temperate, similar to the climate of Crimea, summers are hot and winters are mild.

The history of Venice is full of ups and downs. Today we will learn how the city on the water came into being.

The name of the city comes from the Veneti tribe, who inhabited the territory of the northern coast of the Adriatic Sea during the times. This territory was captured by the Romans and named Aquileia. Aquileia later became the administrative center of the province of Venetia. In 402 the province was ravaged by the Visigoths. According to legend, Venice was founded by residents of the province who fled from the Goths on March 25, 421. Settlement began with the Rialto Islands and continued during the decline of the Roman Empire. The main source of income for the inhabitants of the islands was fishing, salt mining and coastal navigation.

• We recommend reading:

While the tribes of the Huns, Lombards and Ostrogoths ravaged the cities of the Western Roman Empire, Venice, thanks to its isolated position and the fact that the inhabitants learned to build houses on stilts and live on the water, avoided the fate of mainland cities. The invasion of militant barbarians led to the resettlement of wealthy mainlanders to the islands.

The result of this was the rapid growth of trade and transportation of goods, as the fleeing nobles invested in these industries.

In the 6th century, Venice had the most powerful fleet on the Adriatic, which supported Emperor Justinian in the Eastern Roman Empire's war with the Ostrogoths. In gratitude, Byzantium granted Venice its protection and trading privileges. The Venetians elected their first Doge in 697. For more than 1000 years, Venice had 117 doges in power.

Due to its unique location, Venice was a trade and transport hub through which silk, rice, coffee and spices, which at that time were worth more than gold, reached Europe.

Middle Ages and trade

The competent policy of Doge Pietro Orseolo II, Morganist marriages, and the help Byzantium provided by Venice against the Saracens further increased the privileges of Venetian merchants. The “golden bull” given by Byzantium halved the duty on Venetian ships arriving in Constantinople. During the Crusades, Venice increased its wealth through loans to the crusaders and chartering ships. With varying success, for almost two centuries, Venice waged wars with Genoa, which were based on trade rivalry. In the 12th century, the first banks opened in Venice. Venetian sailors were the first to insure their cargo.

In the XII-XIII centuries, large ships with a displacement of up to 200 tons began to be built in the shipyards of Venice.

To increase its economic power, the Republic of Venice annexed mainland territories called terraferma. In 1494, the Venetian Luca Pacioli systematically described double-entry bookkeeping, which is successfully used in the modern world.

Decline

Since the 15th century, when great geographical discoveries were made, Venice lost its position to Portugal, Spain, Holland and England. By the 18th century, Venice had lost its former power, most of the mainland possessions passed to Austria. But the city itself shone with splendor. During this period, gambling and prostitution became widespread in Venice.

On May 1, 1797, Napoleon declared war on Venice. The Great Council decided to fulfill all the demands; on May 12, Doge Ludovico Manin abdicated the throne.

For the first time in more than a thousand years, Venice lost its independence.

The city's economy was undermined by the French continental blockade. But time passed, in 1869 the Suez Canal was opened, a new port was built in Venice, and the city became a popular place to start traveling to the East. The tourism business is developing, annual international art exhibitions are held in Venice, and the Golden Lion international film festival has been held since 1932.

Venice is a city on the water. The history of this corner is amazing. But before you go on vacation, you need to plan it carefully. Study the historical sights of the place where you are going on vacation in advance. This article is intended for those who have decided to travel to the most romantic corner of Europe.

Historical reference

The history of Venice goes back hundreds of years. This one is located on the Adriatic Sea. Historically, most of the city “stands on water.” Venice is beautiful. The history of the city is interesting and full of amazing events.

The city received its name in honor of the Veneti tribe who inhabited this territory. After many centuries, the Veneti were assimilated, but even today you can find their descendants in a place like Venice. The history of the city goes back centuries. And the optimal time to visit the city on the water is May and June!

History of Venice. Basilica of Santa Maria della Salute

It just so happens that Venice is a city of romance and love. There are also stunning cathedrals and churches, including the Basilica of Santa Maria della Salute. The history of Venice informs curious tourists that this basilica is the largest domed temple. It is located opposite the Doge's Palace, which will be discussed a little later.

The construction of the basilica in honor of the Virgin Mary was completed in 1682. The church is the pearl of a city like Venice. The history of the basilica is amazing. In 1630, the plague was raging in Europe. The townspeople offered prayers to the Holy Virgin. Unable to fight the bubonic plague, people died on the streets of the city. The city authorities turned to the Most Pure One with a prayer. If she stops the epidemic, a unique cathedral will be built in her honor in Venice. The Holy Virgin took pity, the plague retreated from the city, and the authorities immediately began the promised construction.

The architect of the basilica was the young and talented Balthasar Longen. The history of the creation of Venice confirms that the cathedral took almost 50 years to build. Unfortunately, the architect did not live to see the construction of the basilica completed. Every year on November 21, Venetians celebrate victory over the plague and praise the Virgin Mary in a festive mass. Externally, the basilica looks grandiose. It is decorated with pilasters, tympanums and sculptures. The interior decoration of the church is in no way inferior to the exterior. When visiting places of worship, clothing should be appropriate. You should not wear anything bright or open.

St. Mark's Square

The history of Venice is closely connected with this square. The first information in historical chronicles about this square dates back to the 9th century. Three centuries later it was expanded. They named it after the cathedral opposite which it is located. For many years, the main attraction of Piazza San Marco was the feeding of tame pigeons. San Marco is also famous for the fact that a huge number of films were shot there!

The square itself consists of two so-called parts:

• Piazzetta - distance from the Grand Canal to the Campanile.
• Piazza is the square in front of the entrance to San Marco Cathedral.

Stepping onto the piazzetta, you will immediately see two grandiose white columns. Previously there were three. The columns of Saints Theodore and Mark were presented to the Venetians as a trophy in honor of the victory over the Constantinople king Tire. Retrieving such a unique and huge exhibit from a ship is a serious matter. Unfortunately, the third column broke and fell to the bottom of the lagoon. There was no way to get it. Several centuries later, the column was covered with a dense layer of lagoon silt.

Basilica of San Marco

While walking around, be sure to visit the cathedral of the same name. This is a Catholic church, which differs from all other religious buildings with unique elements of Byzantine architecture. The basilica was built back in 832! But in 976 there was a fire. The basilica was rebuilt again. remained dominant, but elements of Gothic, Romanesque and Oriental styles were added. The walls inside the cathedral are decorated with unique ancient mosaic paintings. There is also a shrine with the relics of St. Mark in the cathedral. No tickets are needed to visit the cathedral; admission is free. You cannot wear revealing clothes in such places, or take pictures.

The most grandiose channel

The Grand Canal is S-shaped and runs through the entire main Venetian city. The large canal originates from the St. Mark's basin. Its 4 km route extends to the Santa Lucia train station. The width of the canal varies from 30 to 90 meters. Its depth is about five meters.

While sailing on gondolas, you will see 4 beautiful famous bridges:

• new Constitution Bridge;
• Rialto Bridge;
• Scalzi Bridge;
• Academy Bridge.

In the 10th century, the area with the Grand Canal was the center of Venice. There were a huge number of markets and trading points there. This is easily explained by the fact that maritime traders sailed through the canal on ships and concluded large trade deals.

Five centuries later, the Venetians built the Grand Canal with buildings in the Gothic style. And in subsequent centuries it was “marked” by the styles of Baroque and Classicism.

The grandiose construction was completed by the 18th century. And even now no one is erecting buildings there anymore.

Doge's Palace

This palace is a must-visit place for tourists. His story is long. The very first building was erected in the 14th century, when the Venetian state was powerful and rich. At that time, the Turkish threat did not yet exist, since the Turks did not have a serious fleet. The Doge's Palace was intended for the top officials of the state. The meetings of the Grand Council and the Council of Ten were held there. The Doge's Palace was rebuilt many times. It burned down several times, during the period of the power of the republic it did not correspond to its greatness, which caused another restructuring, etc. That is why the palace does not have a single style. Its façade resembles an overturned ship and features Gothic and Byzantine architectural elements.

The courtyard is decorated with many statues. Through it one could get to the second tier, where the coronation ceremony of the Doges took place. On the same floor are the personal chambers of statesmen of past centuries.

Has many rooms and halls. The first hall you will enter as tourists is Purple. The Doge of the Prosecutor's Office, wearing a purple robe, walked into it. The ceiling of the hall is decorated with lampshades, separated by gold stucco molding. You will get to know the rest of the halls on the tour.

Rialto Bridge

We continue the tour and return to the Grand Canal, to the Rialto Bridge. Let's talk about him. This is the very first bridge over the Grand Canal. It is the symbol of Venice. reveals the top ten popular places in Venice. There are 24 stalls selling souvenirs. William Shakespeare wrote about this crossing in his play “The Merchant of Venice.” The history of this bridge is impressive. It burned several times since it was built of wood. It happened that the crossing could not withstand the load and collapsed. But in 1551, the authorities held a competition for the best stone crossing. Among the participants' works was a project by Michelangelo himself. But the winner was the unknown architect Antonio de Ponte. Envious people whispered that the bridge would not hold up and would collapse. However, they were wrong. The bridge is already seven hundred years old, and it still stands. True, the Venice authorities are carrying out large-scale reconstruction until December 2016.

The Rialto Bridge is small in size:

• the maximum height in the center is 7.5 meters;
• The length of the bridge is 48 meters.

Tourists are amazed by the bridge supports. Each of them has 6 thousand piles driven into the bottom of the Grand Canal.

School of Grand di San Rocco

The school, built more than 6 centuries ago at the expense of the townspeople, still stands and delights tourists even today. Today the building houses a charitable organization. The school began its educational activities in 1515. They named her in honor of Saint Rocco. The Venetians believed that it was this saint who protected the city from the raging plague. Today, paintings that are already five hundred years old are displayed for tourists in this building! All of them are perfectly preserved. The main advantages of the San Rocco school are the paintings “The Adoration of the Shepherds”, as well as “The Temptation of Christ”.

Finally, about the fabulous Italian city...

The history of the construction of Venice is closely connected with the rise of the Venetian Republic. Fabulous Italy awaits tourists. It's worth remembering that life in Venice revolves around the canals, including the Grand Canal. Transport also moves along them. Be sure to buy a carnival mask as a souvenir; it is a symbol of Venice.

In 2017 it will take place from February 11 to 28. Two fabulous weeks await you. But always remember that visiting is good, but home is still better!