"Keeweechic's Venice (Venezia)" a Venice Travel Page by keeweechic

VENICE "City of Islands"
Venice is made up of over a hundred many small islands covering 485 kilometres and is the capital of the region of Veneto. Originally a swamp area the first residents arrived from Altino & Aquileia to the islands as far back as the 5th and 6th centuries. They used rafts and poles which were linked to each other with wooden walkways, on these houses and building were built. Today the islands are connected by some 400 bridges and a lot of the more prominent buildings and monuments have not changed since the 16th century.

Venice’s romantic charm draws tourists from all parts of the world in droves. Aside from being very beautiful, the city has so much to offer in the form of arts and culture and with the beautiful glass they produce. The central point of the city is of course the Piazza of San Marcco and the fabulous basilica with some 4000 square metres of golden mosaics. While you can walk the canals, of course one of the most romantic ways to get around the waterways is by a gondola or vaporetto to the other islands.

For many years the city has been under threat of sinking when they found that many of the artesian wells which were sunk into the outside edge of the lagoon during the 20th century to draw water for local business was causing a withdrawal of the aquifer. While they believe this might not be the case now, there is always the threat of rising sea levels and often flooding during autumn and early spring.

Venice is a wonderfully romantic place. In the evening (summer of course) you can wander through the little canals with the lights reflecting off the water and hear the lapping of passing boats.