Verano's Recipe of the Day

 

Venice, a northeastern Italian city and seaport, in the Veneto Region, is the capital of the Province of Venice.  The city itself is located on over 100 small islands, connected by several hundred bridges, located in the lagoon formed at the mouths of the Po and Piave Rivers.  The city is best known for its canals and gondoliers.  Venice, located at the northern extremity of the Adriatic Sea, is often referred to as the “Queen of the Adriatic” because of its long standing naval role.  In 1866, after the Seven Weeks' War (and a long and interesting history), Venice became part of the kingdom of Italy.

Venice is connected to Italy's mainland by a railroad and highway.  The city was originally built on the islands for defense purposes.  Today, this design has become one of the most recognized attractions in Italy.  No motor vehicles are permitted on the lanes and streets that enter the old portion of the city, and only pedestrians are allowed to cross the bridges.  However, motor launches generally carry freight and passenger traffic in Venice.

Recently, Venice has faced pollution and flooding damage.  Because of this, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), has dedicated itself to the renovation and preservation of Venice.  Steps have been taken to preserve the city and make it as beautiful as ever.

Tourist Attractions:

The Grand Canal (divides the city into two nearly equal portions, from northwest to southeast).  The Grand Canal is lined with old palaces of the Venetian aristocracy 

The Giudecca Canal (separating Giudecca Island, on the south, from the city).

Buildings and decorations, from Byzantine to Renaissance styles

Works of the Venetian school of painting and art (throughout Venetian palaces, public buildings, and churches)

Saint Mark's Square - Saint Mark's Cathedral.  Construction began in 828, with reconstruction in 976 after a fire.  Work was also done between 1047 and 1071.  The Cathedral is built in the Byzantine architectural tradition.  The bell tower of Saint Mark is also a notable tourist attraction.

Saint Mark's Square - The Doges' Palace (Palazzo Ducale).  Construction began in 814 in the Italian Gothic architectural tradition, with some early Renaissance influence.  The structure was destroyed (by fire) and rebuilt four times.  Nearby are the two granite columns, one bearing the winged lion of Saint Mark and the other Saint Theodore of Studium on a crocodile.  The columns were built in 1180.

Saint Mark's Square - The Procuratie Vecchie (1496) and The Procuratie Nuove (1584).  Construction of both is in the Italian Renaissance tradition.

The Bridge of Sighs - Spans the distance between the Doges' Palace and the public prisons.  It acted as the route by which prisoners were taken to and from trial.

The Rialto (1588) - Spans the Grand Canal and is lined with shops.

The Church of San Giovanni in Bragora (15th-century) - Constructed in the Italian Gothic tradition.  It contains a beautiful domed and columned edifice.  Near this location is the equestrian statue of the Venetian general Bartolomeo Colleoni.  Built in the 15th century, the statue was designed by the Florentine artist Andrea del Verrocchio.

The Arsenal - former center of shipbuilding and public gardens.

The Lido - an island reef outside the lagoon which is famous as a bathing beach and recreational resort.

Great museums - The Ca' d'Oro (located in a Gothic palace on the Grand Canal)

The Libreria Vecchia (Old Library) - Contains approximately 13,000 manuscripts and 800,000 books

The University of Venice - Founded in 1868.

Population:

309,422 (1991 estimate)

Commerce and Industry:

Tourism

Architecture, canals, art and cultural attractions

Film festivals, etc. throughout the year

Glassware, mirrors, and glass beads (Murano)

Venetian lace (Burano)

Shipbuilding facilities and many industrial plants, including steelworks, foundries, and chemical factories )Mestre and Marghera)

Sea port (Port of Marghera) reached by a channel that is an extension of the Giudecca Canal.

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Tour of Northern Italian Dining