My "Belles Choses": November 2011

Friday, November 11, 2011

The Beauty of Venice, Italy on a Fall Day

Venice, Italy (Italian Venezia) is a city on the water located in Northern Italy. This beautiful city has been called one of Europe's most romantic cities.
270,000 people reside in the whole Comune of Venezia and 60,000 in the historic city of Venice.

People began to live in this region in the 10 Century BC. This exquisite city has been known as the "City of Water" "City of Mask" City of Bridges" "The Floating City" and the "City of Canals"

There are 117 small islands in the marshy Venetian Lagoon along the

Adriatic Sea. Venice was a major maritime power during the Middle Ages and Renaissance. This was historically a wealthy city.

St. Marks Square (Piazza San Marco)

Arriving at the square. This is the symbolic heart of Venice with the grand St. Marks Church at one end and the Campanile Bell Tower rising in the middle. Famous cafes line the square, residents and visitors sit and have a coffee in this majestic city.

Flooding in the city. The day we arrived by water taxi, there were wooden crates along the walk-way area to protect your feet from the rising water.

The flood of 1966. Dozens of canals criss - cross this historic city. High water (acqua alta) is a persistent problem that extends for centuries. To combat this problem, many years ago some new buildings were built in place of the old buildings on impermeable stone foundations or the entrances to buildings have been raised.

Transportation is by boat only. No motorized vehicles are allowed in this historical city on the water.

Doge's Palace (Palazzo Ducale)

The Doges ruled the Venetian Empire until 1797. The Doges lived here and their government offices were also in this building.

Bridge of Sighs (Ponte dei Sospiri)

Built in 1602, this bridge connected the interrogation rooms in the Doges Palace with the prison cells. The name came from the fact that prisoners "sighed" as they were passing across the bridge because of their loss of freedom.

The Bridge of Sighs is made of white limestone, it is a covered bridge and has bars on the windows.

Railto Bridge

This bridge spans the canal. This elegant arch was the first bridge of the Grand Canal. It was first built in 1180 and then rebuilt in marble in 1588-1592.

Carnival of Venice
This carnival is held annually in the city, starting 2 weeks before Ash Wednesday. Venetian masks are all the rave during this carnival.

Venice is famous for Venetian glass. This ornate glass work had developed many important characteristics by the thirteenth century, toward the end of the century. The center of the Venetian glass industry moved to the Venetian Island of Murano.