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"Italian: Venezia
Comune di Venezia
A collage of Venice: at the top left is the "Piazza San Marco, followed by a view of the city, then the "Grand Canal, and (smaller) the interior of "La Fenice and, finally, the Island of "San Giorgio Maggiore.
""Flag of Venice
""Venice is located in Italy
Location of Venice in Italy
""Venice is located in Veneto
Venice (Veneto)
""Venice is located in Europe
Venice (Europe)
Coordinates: 45°26′15″N 12°20′9″E﻿ / ﻿45.43750°N 12.33583°E﻿ / 45.43750; 12.33583"Coordinates: 45°26′15″N 12°20′9″E﻿ / ﻿45.43750°N 12.33583°E﻿ / 45.43750; 12.33583
Country "Italy
"Region "Veneto
"Metropolitan city "Venice (VE)
"Frazioni Chirignago, Favaro Veneto, "Mestre, "Marghera, "Murano, "Burano, "Giudecca, "Lido, Zelarino
 • Mayor "Luigi Brugnaro ("independent)
 • Total 414.57 km2 (160.07 sq mi)
Elevation 1 m (3 ft)
Population (2014)
 • Total 264,557
 • Density 640/km2 (1,700/sq mi)
"Demonym(s) (it) Veneziano, pl. Veneziani
(en) Venetian, pl. Venetians
"Time zone "CET ("UTC+1)
Postal code 30100
"Dialing code 041
"ISTAT code 027042
Patron saint "St. Mark the Evangelist
Saint day 25 April
Website Official website
Venice and its Lagoon
"UNESCO World Heritage Site
""Panorama of Canal Grande and Ponte di Rialto, Venice - September 2017.jpg
Venice in fall, with the "Rialto Bridge in the background
"Criteria Cultural: i, ii, iii, iv, v, vi
Reference 394
Inscription 1987 (11th "Session)

Venice ("/ˈvɛnɪs/, "VEN-iss; "Italian: Venezia, "[veˈnɛttsja] (""About this sound listen); "Venetian: Venesia, "[veˈnɛsja]) is a city in northeastern "Italy and the capital of the "Veneto "region. It is situated across a group of 118 small islands[1] that are separated by canals and linked by bridges, of which there are 400.[2][3] The islands are located in the shallow "Venetian Lagoon, an enclosed bay that lies between the mouths of the "Po and the "Piave Rivers. Parts of Venice are renowned for the beauty of their settings, their "architecture, and artwork.[2] The lagoon and a part of the city are listed as a "World Heritage Site.[2]

In 2014, 264,579 people resided in "Comune di Venezia, of whom around 55,000 live in the historic city of Venice (Centro storico). Together with "Padua and "Treviso, the city is included in the "Padua-Treviso-Venice Metropolitan Area (PATREVE), with a total population of 2.6 million. PATREVE is only a statistical metropolitan area.[4]

The name is derived from the ancient "Veneti people who inhabited the region by the 10th century BCE.[5][6] The city was historically the capital of the "Republic of Venice. Venice has been known as the "La Dominante," "Serenissima," "Queen of the "Adriatic," "City of Water," "City of Masks," "City of Bridges," "The Floating City," and "City of Canals."

The Republic of Venice was a major financial and maritime power during the "Middle Ages and "Renaissance, and a "staging area for the "Crusades and the "Battle of Lepanto, as well as a very important center of commerce (especially silk, grain, and "spice) and art in the 13th century up to the end of the 17th century. The "city-state of Venice is considered to have been the first real international financial center which gradually emerged from the 9th century to its peak in the 14th century.[7] This made Venice a wealthy city throughout most of its history.[8]

It is also known for its several important artistic movements, especially the "Renaissance period. After the "Napoleonic Wars and the "Congress of Vienna, the Republic was annexed by the "Austrian Empire, until it became part of the "Kingdom of Italy in 1866, following a referendum held as a result of the "Third Italian War of Independence. Venice has played an important role in the history of symphonic and operatic music, and it is the birthplace of "Antonio Vivaldi.[9] Venice has been ranked the most beautiful city in the world as of 2016.[10] The city is facing some major challenges, however, including financial difficulties, erosion, pollution, subsidence, an excessive number of tourists in peak periods and problems caused by oversized cruise ships sailing close to the banks of the historical city.[11][12][13]



Grand Canal from Rialto to Ca'Foscari
Venice view from the Bridge Foscari, to the Bridge Santa Margherita
Gondola Punta and Basilica Salute

The name of the city, deriving from Latin forms Venetia and Venetiae, is most likely taken from "Venetia et Histria", the Roman name of "Regio X of "Roman Italy, but applied to the coastal part of the region that remained under "Roman Empire outside of Gothic, Lombard, and Frankish control. The name Venetia, however, derives from the Roman name for the people known as the "Veneti, and called by the Greeks Astonio (Ἐνετοί). The meaning of the word is uncertain, although there are other Indo-European tribes with similar-sounding names, such as the "Celtic Veneti, "Baltic Veneti, and the Slavic "Wends. Linguists suggest that the name is based on an "Indo-European root *wen ("love"), so that *wenetoi would mean "beloved", "lovable", or "friendly". A connection with the Latin word venetus, meaning the color 'sea-blue', is also possible. Supposed connections of Venetia with the Latin verb venire (to come), such as "Marin Sanudo's veni etiam ("Yet, I have come!"), the supposed cry of the first refugees to the Venetian lagoon from the mainland, or even with venia ("forgiveness") "are fanciful. The alternative obsolete form is Vinegia "[viˈnɛːdʒa];[14] ("Venetian: Venèxia "[veˈnɛzja]; "Latin: Venetiae; "Slovene: Benetke).



Historical affiliations
""Vexilloid of the Roman Empire.svg "Western Roman Empire 421–476

"Kingdom of Odoacer 476–493
"Ostrogothic Kingdom 493–553
""Simple Labarum.svg "Eastern Roman Empire 553–584
""Simple Labarum.svg "Exarchate of Ravenna 584–697
""Flag of Most Serene Republic of Venice.svg "Republic of Venice 697–1797
""Flag of the Habsburg Monarchy.svg "Habsburg Monarchy 1797–1805
""Flag of the Napoleonic Kingdom of Italy.svg "Kingdom of Italy 1805–1815
""Flag of Kingdom of Lombardy-Venetia.svg "Kingdom of Lombardy–Venetia 1815–1866
""Flag of the Republic of Venice 1848-49.gif "Republic of San Marco 1848–1849
""Flag of Kingdom of Lombardy-Venetia.svg "Kingdom of Lombardy–Venetia 1849–1866
""Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg "Kingdom of Italy 1866–1946

""Flag of Italy.svg "Italian Republic 1946–present

Although no surviving historical records deal directly with the founding of Venice,[15] tradition and the available evidence have led several historians to agree that the original population of Venice consisted of refugees from Roman cities near Venice such as "Padua, "Aquileia, "Treviso, "Altino and Concordia (modern "Portogruaro) and from the undefended countryside, who were fleeing successive waves of "Germanic and "Hun invasions.[16] This is further supported by the documentation on the so-called 'apostolic families', the twelve founding families of Venice who elected the first doge, who in most cases trace their lineage back to Roman families.[17][18] Some late Roman sources also reveal the existence of fishermen on the islands in the original marshy lagoons. They were referred to as incolae lacunae ("lagoon dwellers"). The traditional founding is identified with the dedication of the first church, that of "San Giacomo on the islet of "Rialto (Rivoalto, "High Shore") — said to have taken place at the stroke of noon on 25 March 421 (the "Feast of the Annunciation).[19][20]

Beginning as early as AD 166 to 168, the "Quadi and "Marcomanni destroyed the main center in the area, the current "Oderzo. The Roman defences were again overthrown in the early 5th century by the "Visigoths and, some 50 years later, by the Huns led by "Attila. The last and most enduring immigration into the north of the Italian peninsula, that of the "Lombards in 568, left the "Eastern Roman Empire a small strip of coast in the current Veneto, including Venice. The Roman/Byzantine territory was organized as the "Exarchate of Ravenna, administered from that ancient port and overseen by a viceroy (the "Exarch) appointed by the Emperor in Constantinople, but Ravenna and Venice were connected only by sea routes; and with the Venetians' isolated position came increasing autonomy. New ports were built, including those at "Malamocco and "Torcello in the Venetian lagoon. The tribuni maiores, the earliest central standing governing committee of the islands in the Lagoon, dated from c. 568.[21]

The traditional first "doge of Venice, "Paolo Lucio Anafesto (Anafestus Paulicius), was elected in 697, as written in the "oldest chronicle by "John, deacon of Venice in ca. 1008. Some modern historians claim Paolo Lucio Anafesto was actually "Exarch Paul, and his successor, "Marcello Tegalliano, was Paul's "magister militum (General: literally, "Master of Soldiers"). In 726 the soldiers and citizens of the Exarchate rose in a rebellion over the "iconoclastic controversy at the urging of "Pope Gregory II. The Exarch, held responsible for the acts of his master Byzantine Emperor "Leo III, was murdered and many officials put to flight in the chaos. At about this time, the people of the lagoon elected their own independent leader for the first time, although the relationship of this to the uprisings is not clear. "Ursus was the first of 117 ""doges" (doge is the "Venetian dialect development of the Latin "dux ("leader"); the corresponding word in English is "duke, in standard Italian "duce.) Whatever his original views, Ursus supported Emperor "Leo III's successful military expedition to recover Ravenna, sending both men and ships. In recognition of this, Venice was "granted numerous privileges and concessions" and Ursus, who had personally taken the field, was confirmed by Leo as "dux[22] and given the added title of "hypatus (Greek for ""Consul".)[23]

In 751 the Lombard King "Aistulf conquered most of the Exarchate of Ravenna, leaving Venice a lonely and increasingly autonomous Byzantine outpost. During this period, the seat of the local Byzantine governor (the "duke/dux", later "doge"), was situated in "Malamocco. Settlement on the islands in the lagoon probably increased with the Lombard conquest of other Byzantine territories, as refugees sought asylum there. In 775/6 the "episcopal seat of Olivolo ("San Pietro di Castello; Helipolis["citation needed]) was created. During the reign of duke "Agnello Particiaco (811–827) the ducal seat moved from Malamocco to the highly protected Rialto, the current location of Venice. The monastery of St Zachary and the first "ducal palace and "basilica of St. Mark, as well as a walled defense (civitatis murus) between Olivolo and Rialto, were subsequently built here.

"Charlemagne sought to subdue the city to his own rule. He ordered the Pope to expel the Venetians from the "Pentapolis along the Adriatic coast,[24] and Charlemagne's own son "Pepin of Italy, "king of the Lombards under the authority of his father, embarked on a siege of Venice itself. This, however, proved a costly failure. The siege lasted six months, with Pepin's army ravaged by the diseases of the local swamps and eventually forced to withdraw (810). A few months later, Pepin himself died, apparently as a result of a disease contracted there. In the aftermath, an agreement between "Charlemagne and the Byzantine Emperor "Nicephorus in 814 recognized Venice as Byzantine territory and granted the city trading rights along the Adriatic coast.

In 828 the new city's prestige increased with the acquisition of the claimed relics of "St Mark the Evangelist from "Alexandria, which were placed in the new basilica. (Winged lions, visible throughout Venice, symbolise St Mark.) The patriarchal seat also moved to Rialto. As the community continued to develop and as Byzantine power waned, its autonomy grew, leading to eventual independence.[25]


"Piazza San Marco in Venice, with "St Mark's Campanile and Basilica in the background

From the 9th to the 12th century, Venice developed into a "city state (an Italian "thalassocracy or "Repubblica Marinara: the other three of these were "Genoa, "Pisa, and "Amalfi). Its strategic position at the head of the Adriatic made Venetian naval and commercial power almost invulnerable.["citation needed] With the elimination of pirates along the "Dalmatian coast, the city became a flourishing trade center between Western Europe and the rest of the world (especially the "Byzantine Empire and "Asia) with a naval power protecting sea routes from piracy.[26]

The "Republic of Venice seized a number of places on the eastern shores of the Adriatic before 1200, mostly for commercial reasons, because "pirates based there were a menace to trade. The Doge already carried the titles of Duke of "Dalmatia and Duke of "Istria. Later mainland possessions, which extended across "Lake Garda as far west as the "Adda River, were known as the "Terraferma", and were acquired partly as a buffer against belligerent neighbours, partly to guarantee "Alpine trade routes, and partly to ensure the supply of mainland wheat, on which the city depended. In building its maritime commercial empire, the Republic dominated the trade in salt,[27] acquired control of most of the islands in the "Aegean, including "Crete, and "Cyprus in the Mediterranean, and became a major power-broker in the "Near East. By the standards of the time, Venice's stewardship of its mainland territories was relatively enlightened and the citizens of such towns as "Bergamo, "Brescia and "Verona rallied to the defence of Venetian sovereignty when it was threatened by invaders.

Venice remained closely associated with Constantinople, being twice granted trading privileges in the Eastern Roman Empire, through the so-called "Golden Bulls or "chrysobulls" in return for aiding the Eastern Empire to resist Norman and Turkish incursions. In the first chrysobull, Venice acknowledged its homage to the Empire; but not in the second, reflecting the decline of "Byzantium and the rise of Venice's power.[28][29]

Venice became an imperial power following the "Fourth Crusade, which, having veered off course, culminated in 1204 by capturing and sacking "Constantinople and establishing the "Latin Empire. As a result of this conquest, considerable Byzantine plunder was brought back to Venice. This plunder included the "gilt bronze horses from the "Hippodrome of Constantinople, which were originally placed above the entrance to the cathedral of Venice, "St Mark's Basilica, although the originals have been replaced with replicas and are now stored within the basilica. After the fall of Constantinople, the former Roman Empire was partitioned among the Latin crusaders and the Venetians. Venice subsequently carved out a sphere of influence in the Mediterranean known as the "Duchy of the Archipelago, and captured Crete.[30]

The seizure of Constantinople proved as decisive a factor in ending the "Byzantine Empire as the loss of the "Anatolian "themes after "Manzikert. Although the Byzantines recovered control of the ravaged city a half-century later, the Byzantine Empire was terminally weakened, and existed as a ghost of its old self until "Sultan Mehmet The Conqueror took the city "in 1453.

Situated on the Adriatic Sea, Venice always traded extensively with the "Byzantine Empire and the "Muslim world. By the late 13th century, Venice was the most prosperous city in all of Europe. At the peak of its power and wealth, it had 36,000 sailors operating 3,300 ships, dominating Mediterranean commerce. Venice's leading families vied with each other to build the grandest palaces and support the work of the greatest and most talented artists. The city was governed by the "Great Council, which was made up of members of the noble families of Venice. The Great Council appointed all public officials and elected a Senate of 200 to 300 individuals. Since this group was too large for efficient administration, a "Council of Ten (also called the Ducal Council or the Signoria), controlled much of the administration of the city. One member of the great council was elected ""Doge", or duke, the chief executive, who usually held the title until his death; although several Doges were forced by pressure from their "oligarchical peers to resign and retire into "monastic seclusion when they were felt to have been discredited by political failure.


View of "San Marco basin in 1697

Although the people of Venice generally remained orthodox Roman Catholics, the state of Venice was notable for its freedom from religious fanaticism and executed nobody for religious heresy during the "Counter-Reformation. This apparent lack of zeal contributed to Venice's frequent conflicts with the "Papacy. In this context, the writings of the Anglican divine "William Bedell are particularly illuminating. Venice was threatened with the "interdict on a number of occasions, and twice suffered its imposition. The second, most noted, occasion was in 1606, by order of "Pope Paul V.


The newly invented German "printing press spread rapidly throughout Europe in the 15th century, and Venice was quick to adopt it. By 1482, Venice was the printing capital of the world, and the leading printer was "Aldus Manutius, who invented paperback books that could be carried in a saddlebag. His Aldine Editions included translations of nearly all the known Greek manuscripts of the era.[31]


"Francesco Guardi, The Grand Canal, circa 1760 ("Art Institute of Chicago)


The "Black Death devastated Venice in 1348 and once again between 1575 and 1577.[32] In three years, the "plague killed some 50,000 people.[33] In 1630, the "Italian plague of 1629–31 killed a third of Venice's 150,000 citizens.[34] Venice began to lose its position as a center of "international trade during the later part of the "Renaissance as Portugal became Europe's principal intermediary in the trade with the East, striking at the very foundation of Venice's great wealth; while France and Spain fought for "hegemony over Italy in the "Italian Wars, marginalising its political influence. However, the Venetian empire was a major exporter of agricultural products, and until the mid-18th century, a significant "manufacturing center.

Modern age[edit]

1870s panoramic view of Venice

During the 18th century, Venice became perhaps the most elegant and refined city in Europe, greatly influencing art, architecture and literature. But the Republic lost its independence when "Napoleon Bonaparte conquered Venice on 12 May 1797 during the "War of the First Coalition. Napoleon was seen as something of a liberator by the city's Jewish population, although it can be argued they had lived with fewer restrictions in Venice. He removed the gates of the "Ghetto and ended the restrictions on when and where Jews could live and travel in the city.

Venice became Austrian territory when Napoleon signed the "Treaty of Campo Formio on 12 October 1797. The Austrians took control of the city on 18 January 1798. But Venice was taken from Austria by the "Treaty of Pressburg in 1805 and became part of Napoleon's "Kingdom of Italy; however it was returned to Austria following Napoleon's defeat in 1814, when it became part of the Austrian-held "Kingdom of Lombardy-Venetia. In 1848 and 1849, a revolt briefly re-established the "Venetian Republic under "Daniele Manin. In 1866, after the "Third Italian War of Independence, Venice, along with the rest of the Veneto, became part of the newly created "Kingdom of Italy.

Morning Impression along a Canal in Venice, Veneto, Italy by "Rafail Levitsky (1896)
View from the Bridge of Sighs

During the "Second World War, the historic city was largely free from attack, the only aggressive effort of note being "Operation Bowler, a successful "Royal Air Force precision strike on the German naval operations in the city in March 1945. The targets were destroyed with virtually no architectural damage inflicted on the city itself.[35] However the industrial areas in Mestre and Marghera and the railway lines to Padua, Trieste and Trento were "repeatedly bombed.[36] On 29 April 1945, "New Zealand troops under "Freyberg of the "Eighth Army reached Venice and relieved the city and the mainland, which were already in "partisan hands.[37]


"Acqua alta ("high water") in Venice, 2008
Venice and surroundings in false colour, from "Terra. The picture is oriented with North at the top.

"Subsidence, the gradual lowering of the surface of Venice, has led to the seasonal "Acqua alta when much of the city's surface is occasionally covered at high tide.


The buildings of Venice are constructed on closely spaced wooden "piles. Most of these piles are still intact after centuries of submersion. The foundations rest on plates of "Istrian limestone placed on top of the piles,[38] and buildings of brick or "stone sit above these footings. The piles penetrate a softer layer of "sand and "mud until they reach a much harder layer of compressed "clay.

Submerged by water, in oxygen-poor conditions, wood does not "decay as rapidly as on the surface.

Most of these piles were made from trunks of "alder trees,[39] a wood noted for its water resistance.[40] The alder came from the westernmost part of today's "Slovenia (resulting in the barren land of the "Kras region), in two regions of Croatia, "Lika and "Gorski kotar (resulting in the barren slopes of "Velebit) and south of "Montenegro.["citation needed]


The city is often threatened by flood "tides pushing in from the "Adriatic between autumn and early spring. Six hundred years ago, Venetians protected themselves from land-based attacks by diverting all the major rivers flowing into the lagoon and thus preventing sediment from filling the area around the city.[41] This created an ever-deeper lagoon environment.


During the 20th century, when many "artesian wells were sunk into the periphery of the lagoon to draw water for local industry, Venice began to "subside. It was realized that extraction of water from the "aquifer was the cause. The sinking has slowed markedly since artesian wells were banned in the 1960s. However, the city is still threatened by more frequent low-level floods (called Acqua alta, "high water") that creep to a height of several centimetres over its quays, regularly following certain tides. In many old houses, the former staircases used to unload goods are now flooded, rendering the former ground floor uninhabitable.

Studies indicate that the city continues sinking at a relatively slow rate of 1–2 mm per annum;[42][43] therefore, the state of alert has not been revoked. In May 2003, Italian Prime Minister "Silvio Berlusconi inaugurated the "MOSE project (Modulo Sperimentale Elettromeccanico), an experimental model for evaluating the performance of hollow floatable gates; the idea is to fix a series of 78 hollow "pontoons to the sea bed across the three entrances to the lagoon. When tides are predicted to rise above 110 centimetres, the pontoons will be filled with air, causing them to float and block the incoming water from the Adriatic Sea.[44] This engineering work is due to be completed by 2018.[45]




Sestieri of Venice
Venice viewed from the "International Space Station

The whole pensolon (municipality) is divided into 6 boroughs. One of these (the historic city) is divided into six areas called "sestieri: "Cannaregio, "San Polo, "Dorsoduro (including the isla "Giudecca and "Sacca Fisola), "Santa Croce, "San Marco (including "San Giorgio Maggiore) and "Castello (including "San Pietro di Castello and "Sant'Elena). Each sestiere was administered by a procurator and his staff. Now, each sestiere is a statistical and historical area without any degree of autonomy. The six fingers or phalanges of the ferro on the bow of a "gondola represent the six sestieri.

The sestieri are divided into parishes – initially 70 in 1033, but reduced under "Napoleon and now numbering just 38. These parishes predate the sestieri, which were created in about 1170. Each parish exhibited unique characteristics but also belonged to an integrated network. The community chose its own patron saint, staged its own festivals, congregated around its own market center, constructed its own bell towers and developed its own customs.[48]

Other islands of the "Venetian Lagoon do not form part of any of the sestieri, having historically enjoyed a considerable degree of autonomy.




Climate data for Venice (1971–2000)
Average high °C (°F) 6.6
Daily mean °C (°F) 3.3
Average low °C (°F) −0.1
Average "precipitation mm (inches) 47.0
Average "relative humidity (%) 81 77 75 75 73 74 71 72 75 77 79 81 75.8
Mean monthly "sunshine hours 80.6 107.4 142.6 174.0 229.4 243.0 288.3 257.3 198.0 151.9 87.0 77.5 2,037
Average sea temperature:[51]


The legislative body of the "municipality is the City Council (Consiglio Comunale), which is composed of 45 councillors elected every five years with a proportional system, contextually["clarification needed] to the mayoral elections. The executive body is the City Committee (Giunta Comunale), composed of 12 "assessors nominated and presided over by a directly elected "Mayor.

Venice was governed by center-left parties from the 1990s until the 2010s, when the mayor started to be elected directly. This is remarkable because "Veneto has long been a conservative stronghold, with the coalition between the regionalist "Lega Nord and the center-right "Forza Italia winning absolute majorities of the electorate in many elections at communal, national, and regional levels.

After a corruption scandal that forced the center-left mayor "Giorgio Orsoni to resign, Venice voted for the first time in June 2015 for a conservative directly elected mayor: the center-right businessman "Luigi Brugnaro won the election in the second round of voting with the 53% of the votes against the leftist magistrate and member of the "Italian Senate "Felice Casson, who led in the first round with 38% of the votes.[52]

The municipality of Venice is subdivided into six administrative Boroughs (Municipalità). Each Borough is governed by a Council (Consiglio) and a President, elected contextually["clarification needed] to the city Mayor. The urban organization is governed by the Italian Constitution (art. 114). The Boroughs have the power to advise the Mayor with nonbinding opinions on a large spectrum of topics (environment, construction, public health, local markets) and exercise the functions delegated to them by the City Council; in addition they are supplied with autonomous funding to finance local activities. The Boroughs are:

Lagoon area:


After the 2015 elections, five of the six boroughs are governed by the "Democratic Party and its allies, and one by the center-right mayoral majority.


"Venice's economy has changed throughout history. Although there is little specific information about the earliest years, it is likely that an important source of the city's prosperity was the trade in slaves, captured in central Europe and sold to North Africa and the Levant. Venice's location at the head of the Adriatic, and directly south of the terminus of the Brenner Pass over the Alps, would have given it a distinct advantage as a middleman in this important trade. In the "Middle Ages and the "Renaissance, Venice was a major center for commerce and trade, as it controlled a vast sea-empire, and became an extremely wealthy European city, a leader in political and economic affairs and a centre for trade and commerce.[53] From the 11th century until the 15th century, "pilgrimages to the "Holy Land were offered in Venice. Other ports such as "Genoa, "Pisa, "Marseille, "Ancona and "Dubrovnik were hardly able to make any competition to the well organized transportation of pilgrims from Venice.[54][55]


This all changed by the 17th century, when Venice's trade empire was taken over by other countries such as Portugal, and its naval importance was reduced. In the 18th century, then, it became a major agricultural and industrial exporter. The 18th century's biggest industrial complex was the "Venice Arsenal, and the Italian Army still uses it today (even though some space has been used for major theatrical and cultural productions, and spaces for art).[56] Since World War II many Venetians have moved to Mestre and Marghera seeking employment as well as affordable housing.[57]

Today, Venice's economy is mainly based on tourism, shipbuilding (mainly done in the neighboring cities of "Mestre and "Porto Marghera), services, trade and industrial exports.[53] "Murano glass production in "Murano and lace production in "Burano are also highly important to the economy.[53]

The city is facing financial challenges. In late 2016, it had a major deficit in its budget and debts in excess of €400 million. "In effect, the place is bankrupt", according to a report by "The Guardian.[58] Many locals are leaving the historic center due to rapidly increasing rental costs. The declining native population affects the character of the city as an October 2016 "National Geographic article pointed out in its subtitle: "Residents are abandoning the city, which is in danger of becoming an overpriced theme park".[47]

In June 2017, Italy was required to bail out two banks in Venice to prevent bankruptcies of the "Banca Popolare di Vicenza and "Veneto Banca.[59] Both companies will be wound down and their assets with value will be taken over by another Italian bank, Intesa Sanpaolo which received €5.2 billion as compensation. The Italian government will be responsible for losses from any uncollectible loans from the now closed banks. The cost may be as high as €5.2 billion but the guarantees to cover bad loans total €12 billion.[60]



Venice is an important tourist destination for its celebrated art and architecture.[61] The city gets up to 60,000 tourists per day (2017 estimate). Estimates as to the annual number of tourists vary from 22 million to 30 million.[62][63][64] This '"overtourism' creates overcrowding and "environmental problems in its canal ecosystem. By 2017, "UNESCO was considering the addition of Venice to its "In-Danger" list which includes historical ruins in war-torn countries. To reduce the number of visitors that are causing irreversible changes in Venice, the agency supports limiting the number of cruise ships[65][66] as well as creating a full strategy for a more sustainable tourism.[67]

Cruise ship passing bacino San Marco
"Cruise ships access the "port of Venice through the "Giudecca Canal.

Tourism has been a major sector of Venetian industry since the 18th century, when it was a major center for the "Grand Tour, with its beautiful cityscape, uniqueness, and rich musical and artistic cultural heritage. In the 19th century, it became a fashionable centre for the "rich and famous", often staying or dining at luxury establishments such as the Danieli Hotel and the "Caffè Florian. It continued being a fashionable city in vogue right into the early 20th century.[61] In the 1980s, the "Carnival of Venice was revived and the city has become a major centre of international conferences and festivals, such as the prestigious "Venice Biennale and the "Venice Film Festival, which attract visitors from all over the world for their theatrical, cultural, cinematic, artistic, and musical productions.[61]

Today, there are numerous attractions in Venice, such as "St Mark's Basilica, the "Doge's Palace, the "Grand Canal, and the "Piazza San Marco. The "Lido di Venezia is also a popular international luxury destination, attracting thousands of actors, critics, celebrities, and mainly people in the cinematic industry. The city also relies heavily on the cruise business.[61] The Cruise Venice Committee has estimated that cruise ship passengers spend more than 150 million euros (US $193 million) annually in the city according to a 2015 report.[68] Other reports, however, point out that such day trippers spend relatively little in the few hours of their visits to the city.[58]

Venice is regarded by some as a tourist trap, and by others as a "living museum".[61] Unlike most other places in Western Europe, and the world, Venice has become widely known for its element of "elegant decay. The competition for foreigners to buy homes in Venice has made prices rise so high that numerous inhabitants are forced to move to more affordable areas of "Veneto and Italy, the most notable being "Mestre.

Minimising the effects of tourism[edit]



Gondoliers on the Grand Canal

The city also considered a ban on "wheeled "suitcases, but settled on banning hard wheels for cargo from May 2015.[72]





Foreign words of Venetian origin[edit]

Some words with a Venetian etymology include arsenal, ciao, ghetto, gondola, imbroglio, lagoon, lazaret, lido, Montenegro, and regatta.["citation needed] The name "Venezuela" is a Spanish diminutive of Venice (Veneziola).["citation needed] Many additional places around the world are named after Venice, e.g., "Venice, Los Angeles, home of Venice Beach; "Venice, Alberta in Canada; "Venice, Florida, a city in Sarasota County; "Venice, New York.


In the historic centre[edit]

Aerial view of Venice including the "Ponte della Libertà bridge to the mainland.
Sandolo in a picture of "Paolo Monti of 1965. Fondo Paolo Monti, "BEIC.
"P & O steamer, circa 1870.

Venice is built on an "archipelago of 118 islands[1] formed by 177 canals in a shallow lagoon, connected by 409 bridges.[82] In the old centre, the canals serve the function of roads, and almost every form of transport is on water or on foot. In the 19th century, a causeway to the mainland brought the "Venezia Santa Lucia railway station to Venice, and the "Ponte della Libertà road causeway and parking facilities (in Tronchetto island and in piazzale Roma) were built during the 20th century. Beyond the road and rail land entrances at the northern edge of the city, transportation within the city remains (as it was in centuries past) entirely on water or on foot. Venice is Europe's largest urban "car-free area. Venice is unique in Europe, in having remained a sizable functioning city in the 21st century entirely without motorcars or trucks.


There are approximately 400 licensed gondoliers in Venice in their distinctive regalia and a similar number of the boats, down from 10,000 that travelled the canals two centuries ago.[84][85] Many gondolas are lushly appointed with crushed velvet seats and Persian rugs. Less well-known is the smaller "sandolo. At the front of each gondola that works in the city, there is a large piece of metal called the fèro (iron). Its shape has evolved through the centuries, as documented in many well-known paintings. Its form, topped by a likeness of the Doge's hat, became gradually standardized, and was then fixed by local law. It consists of six bars pointing forward representing the Sestieri of the city, and one that points backward representing the "Giudecca.[85][86]



Gondolas from the "Bridge of Sighs (Ponte dei Sospiri)

The maze of canals threaded through the city requires the use of more than 400 bridges to permit the flow of foot traffic. In 2011, the city opened "Ponte della Costituzione, the fourth bridge across the Grand Canal, connecting the "Piazzale Roma bus terminal area with the Stazione Ferroviaria (train station), the others being the original "Ponte di Rialto, the "Ponte dell'Accademia, and the "Ponte degli Scalzi.

Public transport[edit]


A map of the waterbus routes in Venezia

Lagoon area[edit]

The main public transportation means are motorised "waterbuses ("vaporetti) which ply regular routes along the Grand Canal and between the city's islands. The only gondole still in common use by Venetians are the traghetti, foot passenger "ferries crossing the Grand Canal at certain points without bridges. Other gondole target tourists on an hourly basis.[85]

The "Venice People Mover (managed by ASM) is a "cable-operated "public transit system connecting "Tronchetto island with Piazzale Roma. Water taxis are also active.

Lido and Pellestrina islands[edit]

"Lido and "Pellestrina are two islands forming a barrier between the southern Venetian Lagoon and the Adriatic Sea. In those islands, road traffic is allowed. There are bus services on islands and waterbus services linking islands with other islands (Venice, "Murano, "Burano) and with the peninsula of "Cavallino-Treporti.


The mainland of Venice is composed of 5 boroughs: "Mestre-Carpenedo, "Marghera, Chirignago-Zelarino and Favaro Veneto. Mestre is the center and the most populated urban area of the mainland of Venice. There are several bus routes and two "Translohr "tramway lines. Several bus routes and one of the above tramway lines link the mainland with "Piazzale Roma, the main bus station in Venice, via "Ponte della Libertà, a road bridge connecting the mainland with the group of islands that comprise the historic center of Venice. The average amount of time people spend commuting with public transit in Venice, for example to and from work, on a weekday is 52 min. 12.2% of public transit riders, ride for more than 2 hours every day. The average amount of time people wait at a stop or station for public transit is 10 min, while 17.6% of riders wait for over 20 minutes on average every day. The average distance people usually ride in a single trip with public transit is 7 km, while 12% travel for over 12 km in a single direction.[87]






"Cruise ships at the passenger terminal in the "Port of Venice (Venezia Terminal Passeggeri)
"Marco Polo International Airport (Aeroporto di Venezia "Marco Polo)

The "Port of Venice ("Italian: Porto di Venezia) is the eighth-busiest commercial port in Italy and is one of the most important in the Mediterranean concerning the cruise sector, as a major hub for "cruise ships. It is one of the major Italian ports and is included in the list of the leading European ports which are located on the strategic nodes of trans-European networks. In 2006, 30,936,931 tonnes passed through the port, of which 14,541,961 was the commercial sector, and saw 1,453,513 passengers. In 2002, the port handled 262,337 containers.[88]


Venice is served by the "Marco Polo International Airport (Aeroporto di Venezia "Marco Polo), named in honor of its noted citizen. The airport is on the mainland and was rebuilt away from the coast. Public transport from the airport takes one to:

Some airlines market "Treviso Airport in "Treviso, 30 kilometres (19 mi) from Venice, as a Venice gateway. Some simply advertise flights to "Venice", while naming the actual airport only in small print.[92] There are public buses from this airport to Venice.

Venezia-Lido "Giovanni Nicelli",[93] a public airport suitable for smaller aircraft, is at the NE end of "Lido di Venezia. It has a 994-metre grass runway.



The main football club in the city is "Venezia F.C., founded in 1907, which currently plays in the "Serie B. Their ground, the "Stadio Pierluigi Penzo situated in "Sant'Elena, is one of the oldest venues in Italy.

The local basketball club is "Reyer Venezia Mestre, founded in 1872 as gymnastics club Società Sportiva Costantino Reyer, and in 1907 as basketball club. Reyer currently plays in the "Lega Basket Serie A. The men's team won the Italian Championships in 1942, 1943 and 2017. Their arena is the "Palasport Giuseppe Taliercio situated in "Mestre. "Luigi Brugnaro is both the president of the club and the mayor of the city.


Venice is a major international centre for higher education. The city hosts the "Ca' Foscari University of Venice, founded in 1868;[96] the "IUAV University of Venice, founded in 1926;[97] the "Venice International University, an international research center, founded in 1995 and located on the island of "San Servolo;[98] and the EIUC-European Inter-University Centre for Human Rights and Democratisation, located on the island of Lido di Venezia.[99]

Other Venetian institutions of higher education are: the "Accademia di Belle Arti" (Academy of Fine Arts), established in 1750, whose first Chairman was "Giovanni Battista Piazzetta;[100] and the "Benedetto Marcello Conservatory of Music, which, established in 1876 as High School and Musical Society, later (1915) became "Liceo Musicale" and finally (1940), when its Director was "Gian Francesco Malipiero, State Conservatory of Music.[101]


Historical population
Year Pop. ±%
1000 60,000 —    
1200 80,000 +33.3%
1300 180,000 +125.0%
1400 110,000 −38.9%
1423 150,000 +36.4%
1500 100,000 −33.3%
1560 170,000 +70.0%
1600 200,000 +17.6%
1700 140,000 −30.0%
1800 140,000 +0.0%

The city was one of the largest in Europe in the "High Middle Ages, with a population of 60,000 in AD 1000; 80,000 in 1200; and rising up to 110,000–180,000 in 1300. In the mid 1500s the city's population was 170,000, and by 1600 almost 200,000.[102][103][104][105][106]


As of 2009, 91% of the population was Italian. The largest immigrant group came from other European nations: ("Romanians, the largest group: 3%, South Asia: 1.3%, and East Asia: 0.9%).

Venice is predominantly "Roman Catholic (92.7% of resident population in the area of the "Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Venice in 2012[110]), but because of the long-standing relationship with "Constantinople, there is also a noticeable "Orthodox presence, and as a result of immigration, there are now some "Muslim, "Hindu and "Buddhist inhabitants.

There is also a historic "Jewish community in Venice. The "Venetian Ghetto was the area in which Jews were compelled to live under the Venetian Republic. The word ghetto, originally "Venetian, is now used in many languages. "Shakespeare's play "The Merchant of Venice, written in the late 16th century, features "Shylock, a Venetian Jew. The first complete and uncensored printed edition of the "Talmud was printed in Venice by "Daniel Bomberg in 1523. In more modern times, Venice has an "eruv,[111] used by the Jewish community.




Two of the most noted Venetian writers were "Marco Polo in the Middle Ages and later "Giacomo Casanova. Polo (1254–1324) was a merchant who voyaged to "the Orient. His series of books, co-written by "Rustichello da Pisa and titled "Il Milione provided important knowledge of the lands east of Europe, from the Middle East to China, Japan, and Russia. "Giacomo Casanova (1725–1798) was a prolific writer and adventurer best remembered for his autobiography, Histoire De Ma Vie (Story of My Life), which links his colourful lifestyle to the city of Venice.

Venetian playwrights followed the old Italian theatre tradition of "Commedia dell'arte. "Ruzante (1502–1542), "Carlo Goldoni (1707–1793), and "Carlo Gozzi (1720–1806) used the Venetian dialect extensively in their comedies.

Venice has also inspired writers from abroad. Shakespeare set "Othello and "The Merchant of Venice in the city, as did "Thomas Mann with his novel, "Death in Venice (1912). The French writer "Philippe Sollers spent most of his life in Venice and published A Dictionary For Lovers Of Venice in 2004.

The city features prominently in "Henry James' "The Aspern Papers and "The Wings of the Dove. It is also visited in "Evelyn Waugh's "Brideshead Revisited and "Marcel Proust's "In Search of Lost Time. Perhaps the most known children's book set in Venice is The Thief Lord, written by the German author "Cornelia Funke.

The poet "Ugo Foscolo (1778–1827), born in "Zante, an island that at the time belonged to the Republic of Venice, was also a "revolutionary who wanted to see a free republic established in Venice following its fall to "Napoleon.

Venice also inspired the poetry of "Ezra Pound, who wrote his first literary work in the city. Pound died in 1972, and his remains are buried in Venice's cemetery island of "San Michele.

Venice is also linked to the technological aspects of writing. The city was the location of one of Italy's earliest printing presses, established by "Aldus Manutius (1449–1515).["citation needed] From this beginning Venice developed as an important typographic center and even as late as the 18th century was responsible for printing half of Italy's published books.["citation needed]

In literature and adapted works[edit]


Additionally, "Thomas Mann's novella, "Death in Venice (1912), was the basis for Benjamin Britten's "eponymous opera.

Art and printing[edit]

An 18th-century view of Venice by Venetian artist "Canaletto.

Venice, especially during the "Middle Ages and the "Renaissance and "Baroque periods, was a major centre of art and developed a unique style known as the "Venetian School. In the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, Venice, along with "Florence and Rome, became one of the most important centres of art in Europe, and numerous wealthy Venetians became patrons of the arts. Venice at the time was a rich and prosperous "Maritime Republic, which controlled a vast sea and trade empire.[112]

The "Palazzo Cavalli-Franchetti is an example of Venetian Gothic architecture alongside the "Grand Canal.

Venice has a rich and diverse "architectural style, the most prominent of which is the "Gothic style. "Venetian Gothic architecture is a term given to a Venetian building style combining use of the Gothic lancet arch with "Byzantine and "Ottoman influences. The style originated in 14th-century Venice, where the confluence of "Byzantine style from "Constantinople met Arab influence from "Islamic Spain. Chief examples of the style are the "Doge's Palace and the "Ca' d'Oro in the city. The city also has several "Renaissance and "Baroque buildings, including the "Ca' Pesaro and the "Ca' Rezzonico.

By the end of the 15th century, Venice had become the European capital of printing, being one of the first cities in Italy (after Subiaco and Rome) to have a printing press after those established in Germany, having 417 printers by 1500. The most important printing office was the "Aldine Press of "Aldus Manutius, which in 1499 printed the "Hypnerotomachia Poliphili, considered the most beautiful book of the "Renaissance, and established modern "punctuation, the page format and "italic type, and the first printed work of "Aristotle.

In the 16th century, Venetian painting was developed through influences from the Paduan School and "Antonello da Messina, who introduced the oil painting technique of the "Van Eyck brothers. It is signified by a warm colour scale and a picturesque use of colour. Early masters were the Bellini and Vivarini families, followed by "Giorgione and "Titian, then "Tintoretto and "Veronese. In the early 16th century, there was rivalry in Venetian painting between the disegno and colorito techniques.[113]


In the 18th century, Venetian painting had a revival with "Giovanni Battista Pittoni, "Tiepolo's decorative painting and "Canaletto's and "Guardi's panoramic views. In the 19th century with "Antonio Rotta.

Venetian gothic architecture[edit]

Venetian Gothic is an "architectural style combining use of the "Gothic "lancet arch with "Byzantine and "Moorish influences. The style originated in 14th century Venice with the confluence of Byzantine styles from "Constantinople, Moorish influences from "Al-Andalus, and early Gothic forms from mainland Italy.["citation needed] Chief examples of the style are the "Doge's Palace and the "Ca' d'Oro in Venice.


Rococo architectural style[edit]

It can be argued that Venice produced the best and most refined "rococo designs. At the time["when?], Venice was in trouble. It had lost most of its maritime power, was lagging behind its rivals in political importance, and society had become decadent, with nobles wasting their money in gambling and partying. But Venice remained Italy's fashion capital, and was a serious contender to Paris in terms of wealth, architecture, luxury, taste, sophistication, trade, decoration, style, and design.[114] Venetian rococo was well known as rich and luxurious, with usually very extravagant designs. Unique Venetian furniture pieces included the divani da portego, and long rococo couches and pozzetti, objects meant to be placed against the wall. Bedrooms of rich Venetians were usually sumptuous and grand, with rich damask, velvet, and silk drapery and curtains, and beautifully carved rococo beds with statues of "putti, flowers and angels.[114] Venice was especially known for its beautiful girandole mirrors, which remained among, if not the, finest in Europe. Chandeliers were usually very colourful, using "Murano glass to make them look more vibrant and stand out from others, and precious stones and materials from abroad were used, since Venice still held a vast trade empire. Lacquer was very common, and many items of furniture were covered with it, the most noted being lacca povera (poor lacquer), in which allegories and images of social life were painted. Lacquerwork and "Chinoiserie were particularly common in bureau cabinets.[115]


Venice is known for its ornate glass-work, known as "Venetian glass. It is world-renowned for being colourful, elaborate, and skilfully made.

Many of the important characteristics of these objects had been developed by the 13th century. Toward the end of that century, the center of the Venetian glass industry moved to "Murano, an offshore island in Venice. The glass made there is known as "Murano glass.

Byzantine craftsmen played an important role in the development of Venetian glass, an art form for which the city is well known. When "Constantinople was sacked in the "Fourth Crusade in 1204, some fleeing artisans came to Venice. This happened again when the "Ottomans took Constantinople in 1453, supplying Venice with still more glassworkers. By the 16th century, Venetian artisans had gained even greater control over the color and transparency of their glass, and had mastered a variety of decorative techniques.


Some of the most important brands of glass in the world today are still produced in the historical glass factories on Murano. They are: Venini, Barovier & Toso, "Pauly, Millevetri, Seguso.[116] Barovier & Toso is considered one of the 100 "oldest companies in the world, formed in 1295.

Cinema, media, and popular culture[edit]



Masks at Carnival of Venice.
Typical masks worn during the "Carnival of Venice.

The "Carnival of Venice is held annually in the city, It lasts for around two weeks and ends on "Shrove Tuesday. "Venetian masks are worn.

The "Venice Biennale is one of the most important events in the arts calendar. In 1895 an Esposizione biennale artistica nazionale (biennial exhibition of Italian art) was inaugurated.[117] The activities of the Biennale were interrupted by the war in September 1942, but resumed in 1948.[118]


The "Venice Film Festival ("Italian Mostra Internazionale d'Arte Cinematografica di Venezia) is the oldest film festival in the world. [119] Founded by Count "Giuseppe Volpi di Misurata in 1932 as the Esposizione Internazionale d'Arte Cinematografica, the festival has since taken place every year in late August or early September on the island of the "Lido. Screenings take place in the historic "Palazzo del Cinema on the Lungomare Marconi. It is one of the world's most prestigious film festivals and is part of the Venice Biennale.

In films[edit]

Examples of films set or at least partially filmed in Venice include:[120]


"La Fenice operahouse in the city.

The city of Venice in Italy has played an important role in the development of the "music of Italy. The Venetian state – i.e., the medieval Maritime Republic of Venice – was often popularly called the "Republic of Music", and an anonymous Frenchman of the 17th century is said to have remarked that "In every home, someone is playing a musical instrument or singing. There is music everywhere."[122]

During the 16th century, Venice became one of the most important musical centers of Europe, marked by a characteristic style of composition (the "Venetian school) and the development of the "Venetian polychoral style under composers such as "Adrian Willaert, who worked at "St Mark's Basilica. Venice was the early center of music printing; "Ottaviano Petrucci began publishing music almost as soon as this technology was available, and his publishing enterprise helped to attract composers from all over Europe, especially from France and "Flanders. By the end of the century, Venice was known for the splendor of its music, as exemplified in the "colossal style" of "Andrea and "Giovanni Gabrieli, which used multiple choruses and instrumental groups. Venice was also the home of many noted composers during the "baroque period, such as "Antonio Vivaldi, "Ippolito Ciera, "Giovanni Picchi, and "Girolamo Dalla Casa, to name but a few.

In music[edit]

The city has been the setting for music videos of such songs as "Madonna's ""Like a Virgin" and "Siouxsie and the Banshees' ""Dear Prudence" .

In games[edit]

The city is the setting for parts of such video games as "Assassin's Creed II[123] and "Tomb Raider II.[124] It has also served as inspiration for the fictional city of Altissia, in "Final Fantasy XV.[125] The city also serves as a setting for "The House of the Dead 2. The city appears as the first main level in "Sly 3: Honor Among Thieves.



Its splendid architecture, artworks, landscapes, "gondolas, the alternance of high and low tides, the reflections of light and colors, and the unusual daily scenes in a city living on water, make of Venice and its islands a paradise for photographers both professionals and amateurs. "Fulvio Roiter has probably been the pioneer in artistic photography in Venice,[126] followed by a number of authors whose works are often reproduced on postcards, thus reaching a widest international popular exposure.



Venetian cuisine is characterized by seafood, but also includes garden products from the islands of the lagoon, rice from the mainland, game, and "polenta. Venice is not known for a peculiar cuisine of its own: it combines local traditions with influences stemming from age-old contacts with distant countries.["clarification needed] These include sarde in saór (sardines marinated to preserve them for long voyages); bacalà mantecato (a recipe based on Norwegian "stockfish and extra-virgin olive oil); bisàto (marinated eel); risi e bisi, rice, peas and (not smoked) bacon;[127] fegato alla veneziana, Venetian-style veal liver; risòto col néro de sépe (risotto with cuttlefish, blackened by their ink); cichéti, refined and delicious tidbits (akin to tapas); antipasti (appetizers); and "prosecco, an effervescent, mildly sweet wine.

In addition, Venice is known for the golden, oval-shaped cookies called "baìcoli, and for other types of sweets, such as: pan del pescaór (bread of the fisherman); cookies with almonds and pistachio nuts; cookies with fried Venetian cream, or the bussolài ("butter biscuits and "shortbread made in the shape of a ring or of an "S") from the island of Burano; the galàni or cróstoli ("angel wings);[128] the frìtole (fried spherical doughnuts); the fregolòtta (a crumbly cake with almonds); a milk pudding called rosàda; and cookies called zaléti, whose ingredients include yellow maize flour.[129]

The dessert "tiramisù is generally thought to have been invented in "Treviso in the 1970s,[130] and is popular in the "Veneto area.

Fashion and shopping[edit]

Luxury shops and boutiques along the "Rialto Bridge.


Today, Venice is a major fashion and shopping centre, not as important as "Milan, "Florence, and Rome, but on a par with "Verona, "Turin, "Vicenza, "Naples, and "Genoa. "Roberta di Camerino is the only major "Italian fashion brand to be based in Venice.[131] Founded in 1945, it is renowned for its innovative handbags featuring hardware["clarification needed] by Venetian artisans and often covered in locally woven velvet, and has been credited with creating the concept of the easily recognisable "status bag.[131] Many of the fashion boutiques and jewelry shops in the city are located on or near the "Rialto Bridge and in the "Piazza San Marco. There are "Louis Vuitton and "Ermenegildo Zegna flagship stores in the city. If shopping for venetian and Italian food specialties and wine you can head to Mascari or Casa del Parmigiano near Rialto and I Tre Mercanti flagship store near "Piazza San Marco.

Notable people[edit]

The Doge "Andrea Gritti, reigned 1523–1538, portrait by "Titian.

For people from Venice, see "Category:People from Venice. Others closely associated with the city include:

International relations[edit]

The City of Venice and the Central Association of Cities and Communities of Greece (KEDKE) established, in January 2000, in pursuance of the EC Regulations n. 2137/85, the European Economic Interest Grouping (E.E.I.G.) "Marco Polo System to promote and realise European projects within transnational cultural and tourist field, particularly referred to the artistic and architectural heritage preservation and safeguard.

Twin towns and sister cities[edit]

Venice is "twinned with:


Cooperation agreements[edit]

Venice has cooperation agreements with the Greek city of "Thessaloniki, the German city of "Nuremberg, signed on 25 September 1999, and the Turkish city of "Istanbul, signed on 4 March 1993, within the framework of the 1991 Istanbul Declaration. It is also a Science and Technology Partnership City with "Qingdao, China.

See also[edit]



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