Tourist information on Venice, Italy

Venice is a city in northern Italy that is one of the country's leading tourist destinations. It includes the 117 small islands and 177 canals in the marshy Venetian Lagoon along the Adriatic Sea. The capital of the Veneto region, Venice currently has a population of just under 300 thousand and is divided into six districts (sestiere): Cannaregio, San Polo, Dorsoduro, Santa Croce, San Marco and Castello. The city derives its name from the ancient tribe (the Veneti) which inhabited the area at the time of the Roman Empire. Often described as the most beautiful city in the world, Venice has variously been known as the Queen of the Adriatic, the City of Masks, the City of Bridges and the Floating City.

Venice's uniqueness as a pedestrian city, its scenic beauty and abundance of architectural treasures have made it one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. Presently, it averages around 50 thousand visitors a day. Venice's tourist hot spots are St Mark's Basilica, the Grand Canal, the Rialto and the Piazza San Marco. The Venice Lido is an island of tranquillity, a stunning beach district ten minutes by boat from San Marco. Europe's largest car-free urban space, Venice can be explored on foot and by boat. Its many waterways are traversed by its 409 bridges. If you get tired of walking, you can take vaporetti (water buses) and water taxis, or if you have cash to burn and are in a romantic frame of mind, take a lazy ride along the canals in a gondola. Visitors to Venice should be aware that the city is prone to high water (acqua alta), which causes the streets and squares to flood; sirens are sounded whenever this occurs.

Venice's historic architecture is dominated by its distinctive Gothic style, which combines Byzantine, Arab and Gothic influences and is exemplified by the Doge's Palace and the Ca' d'Oro. Other important styles are Renaissance and Baroque. The city's most impressive architectural jewels are its many famous churches, which include: Saint Mark's Basilica (Basilica di San Marco), situated on the Piazza San Marco; San Giovanni e Paolo, a huge Dominican church that accommodates the tombs of the Doges; Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari, a large friary church which contains many fine paintings, including Titian's Assunta; Santa Maria dei Miracoli, an attractive church with impressive exterior marble facings.

Venice's rich cultural heritage is preserved by some of Italy's finest galleries and museums. These include: Galleria dell'Accademia di Venezia, the city's main art museum; Correr Museum (San Marco Square), with collections of globes and Roman antiques and an important picture gallery; the Jewish Museum (Museo Ebraico); Mocenigo Palace; the Peggy Guggenheim Museum (Palazzo Venier dei Leoni, in the Dorsoduro region of Venice); Ca' Pesaro, a palace with an important gallery of 19th century Italian art; Ca' Rezzonico, a museum of the 18th Century; the Naval History Museum (Museo Storico Navale); the Natural History Museum; and Goldoni's House (Casa Goldoni), the home of a famous Venetian playwright.

Other important landmarks include: the Doge's Palace (Palazzo Ducale, in San Marco square); La Fenice Theater (Teatro La Fenice, west of San Marco square); the Jewish Ghetto; the Bell tower of St. Mark's (Campanile di San Marco); the Clock tower (Torre dell'Orologio); and Scuola grande di San Rocco, Tintoretto's guild house showcasing Manierist art at its best.

The Rialto Bridge (Ponte di Rialto) on San Polo is one of Venice's most recognisable landmarks. It dates back to 1591, replacing the previous wooden bridge that collapsed in 1524. Zattere is a long, sunny walk along the Giudecca canal. The picturesque islands of Murano, Burano and Torcello are also worth visiting - they can easily be reached via boat from the mainland. Murano's Glass Museum and Burano's Lace Museum are worth the trip. There is also the Lido, a long narrow island, famous for its beaches, with more modern buildings that include a youth hostel and a hotel. The Venetian lagoon includes some smaller islands, which are now uninhabited but worth visiting. Other nearby beauty spots include Lake Garda, Italy's largest lake, and Jesolo, one of the best beaches in Italy (45 minutes away by car or by boat).

The city is host to several major cultural events (which unfortunately tend to coincide with when it is at its busiest). The Carnival of Venice is held every year, starting usually two few weeks before Ash Wednesday. The Venice Biennale, an international cultural festival, takes place every two years and includes the Venice Film Festival (la Mostra Internazionale d'Arte Cinematografica di Venezia), the earliest established international film festival. The Regata 'Storica (Historic fleet event) is held on the first Sunday of every September and commemorates a historic event of 1489. It is a regatta-pageant that contains Venetian boats of all kinds from the city's past.

It is not advisable to visit Venice in the summer, on account of the elevated temperatures (which cause the canals to smell) and the high numbers of tourists. Venice is at its best in the spring and autumn. The most popular way to approach Venice is by boat or train. The nearest commercial airport is Marco Polo Airport on the mainland near Mestre, 25 km from Venice. Buses and coaches connect the airport with Venice. Alternatively, you can take a train from Mestre to the Venezia - Santa Lucia train station on the west side of Venice. Water buses (vaporetti) and water taxis provide an easy and affordable way to get from the mainland to the islands or other locations in the city.

The Republic of Venice originated early in the 9th century, when a Byzantine ducal seat was established in what is now known as the Rialto. Previously, the area had been inhabited by refugees from nearby Roman cities (including Padua and Treviso) and the countryside fleeing the Huns and Germanic invaders. Over the next three centuries, Venice grew into a city state, acquiring great commercial power through its strategic location on the Adriatic. By the 12th century, it had become a major maritime commercial empire, prosperously trading in salt and spices. Venice acquired greater influence and power after the Fourth Crusade, which brought about the fall of Constantinople and the end of the Byzantine Empire. By the mid-13th century, Venice has become the wealthiest city in Europe, governed by a great council that was headed by an elected duke (the Doge). The city's slow decline began in the 15th century when the Ottomans thwarted its attempts to hold onto Thessalonica. Venice lost its monopoly on the trading routes to the East when Portugal found a sea route to India, thereby opening up trade routes for other European powers.

During the Renaissance, Venice was major centre for art, developing a style known as the Venetian School. In the 16th century, Venice became one of Europe's leading centres of music. Among its famous composers are Antonio Vivaldi, Giovanni Gabrieli, Giovanni Picchi and Girolamo Dalla Casa. In 1797, Venice's irreversible decline was secured when the city was seized by Napoleon, bringing to an end a century in which the city had experienced a cultural transformation and become the most elegant city in Europe. Shortly afterwards, Venice was absorbed into Austria-Hungary, but in 1866, after the Third Italian War of Independence, it became part of the newly founded kingdom of Italy. Venice never regained its commercial importance but remains one of the most alluring places to visit, vying with Paris as the most romantic city in the world.