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{{Infobox Italian comune
| name = Venice
| official_name = ''Comune di Venezia''
| native_name = ''Venezia''
| image_skyline = Collage Venezia.jpg
| image_alt =
| image_caption = A collage of Venice: at the top left is the [[Piazza San Marco]], followed by a view of the city, then the [[Grand Canal (Venice)|Grand Canal]], and (smaller) the interior of [[La Fenice]] and, finally, the Island of San Giorgio Maggiore
| image_shield = Coat of Arms of the Republic of Venice.svg
| shield_alt =
| shield_size =
| image_map =
| map_alt =
| map_caption =
| pushpin_label_position =
| pushpin_map_alt =
| latd = 45 |latm = 26 |lats = 15 |latNS = N
| longd = 12 |longm = 20 |longs = 9 |longEW = E
| coordinates_type = region:IT-VX_type:city(270000)
| coordinates_display = title
| coordinates_footnotes =
| region = [[Veneto]]
| province = [[province of Venice|Venice]] (VE)
| frazioni = Chirignago, Favaro Veneto, [[Mestre]], [[Marghera]], [[Murano]], [[Burano]], [[Giudecca]], [[Lido di Venezia|Lido]], Zelarino
| mayor_party = [[Democratic Party (Italy)|PD]]
| mayor = [[Giorgio Orsoni]]
| area_footnotes =
| area_total_km2 = 414.57
| population_footnotes =
| population_total = 270660
| population_as_of = 2009-04-30
| pop_density_footnotes =
| population_demonym = Venetians
| elevation_footnotes =
| elevation_m = 1
| twin1 =
| twin1_country =
| saint = [[Mark the Evangelist|St. Mark the Evangelist]]
| day = 25 April
| postal_code = 30100
| area_code = 041
| website = {{Official website|http://www.comune.venezia.it/}}
| footnotes =
}}
{{Infobox World Heritage Site
|Name = Venice and its Lagoon
|Image = [[File:Rialto Bridge Grand Canal.jpg|225px|Venice in spring, with the Rialto Bridge in the background.]]
|State Party = Italy
|Type = Cultural
|Criteria = i, ii, iii, iv, v, vi
|ID = 394
|Region = [[List of World Heritage Sites in Europe|Europe and North America]]
|Year = 1987
|Session = 11th
|Link = http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/394
}}

[[File:VenedigVomSchiff2002Video.ogg|right|thumb|Venice seen from ship]]
[[File:Photography of Venice at dusk.jpg|thumb|Photography of Venice at dusk]]
[[File:Canaletto Grand Canal from Palazzo Flangini - JPGM.jpg|thumb|''[[The Grand Canal in Venice from Palazzo Flangini to Campo San Marcuola]]'', Canaletto, about 1738. [[Getty Museum|The J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles]]]]
'''Venice''' ({{IPAc-en|lang|ˈ|v|ɛ|n|ɪ|s}}; {{lang-it|Venezia}} {{IPA-it|veˈnɛttsia||It-Venezia.ogg}}<ref>[http://www.dizionario.rai.it/poplemma.aspx?lid=2153&r=8060 Il Nuovo DOP]</ref> alternative obsolete form: ''Vinegia''; [[Venetian language|Venetian]]: ''Venexia'' {{IPA|[veˈnɛsja]}}; {{lang-lat|Venetia}}) is a city in northeastern [[Italy]] sited on a group of 118 small islands separated by canals and linked by bridges.<ref name=UNESCO/> It is located in the marshy [[Venetian Lagoon]] which stretches along the shoreline, between the mouths of the [[Po River|Po]] and the [[Piave River|Piave]] Rivers. Venice is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its [[architecture]] and its artworks.<ref name=UNESCO/> The city in its entirety is listed as a [[World Heritage Site]], along with its lagoon.<ref name=UNESCO>UNESCO: [http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/394 Venice and its Lagoon], accessed:17 April 2012</ref>

Venice is the capital of the [[Veneto]] [[Italian regions|region]]. In 2009, there were 270,098 people residing in Venice's comune (the population estimate of 272,000 inhabitants includes the population of the whole [[Comune]] of Venezia; around 60,000<ref>Mara Rumiz, Venice Demographics Official [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/8360253.stm Mock funeral for Venice's 'death']</ref> in the historic city of Venice (''Centro storico''); 176,000 in ''Terraferma'' (the ''Mainland''), mostly in the large ''[[frazione|frazioni]]'' of [[Mestre]] and [[Marghera]]; 31,000 live on other islands in the lagoon). Together with [[Padua, Italy|Padua]] and [[Treviso, Italy|Treviso]], the city is included in the Padua-Treviso-Venice Metropolitan Area (PATREVE), with a total population of 1,600,000. PATREVE is only a statistical metropolitan area without any degree of autonomy.

The name is derived from the ancient [[Adriatic Veneti|Veneti]] people who inhabited the region by the 10th century BC.<ref name="urlOnline Etymology Dictionary">{{cite web |url=http://www.etymonline.com/index.php |title=Online Etymology Dictionary |accessdate=11 June 2010}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|title=Local etymology: a derivative dictionary of geographical names|author=Richard Stephen Charnock|publisher=Houlston and Wright|year=1859|page= 288}}</ref> The city historically was the capital of the [[Republic of Venice]]. Venice has been known as the "La Dominante", "Serenissima", "Queen of the [[Adriatic Sea|Adriatic]]", "City of Water", "City of Masks", "City of Bridges", "The Floating City", and "City of Canals". [[Luigi Barzini, Jr.|Luigi Barzini]] described it in ''[[The New York Times]]'' as "undoubtedly the most beautiful city built by man".<ref>{{cite news|last=Barzini |first=Luigi |url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=950CE5DD1038F933A05756C0A964948260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=2 |title=The Most Beautiful and Wonderful City In The World – The |work=New York Times |date=30 May 1982 |accessdate=28 March 2009}}</ref> Venice has also been described by the ''[[The Times|Times Online]]'' as being one of Europe's most romantic cities.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/travel/holiday_type/breaks/article1936951.ece | work=The Times | location=London | title=Europes most romantic city breaks | date=17 June 2007 | accessdate=27 May 2010 | first1=Stephen | last1=Bleach | first2=Brian | last2=Schofield | first3=Vincent | last3=Crump}}</ref>

The [[Republic of Venice]] was a major maritime power during the [[Middle Ages]] and [[Renaissance]], and a [[staging area]] for the [[Crusades]] and the [[Battle of Lepanto (1571)|Battle of Lepanto]], as well as a very important center of commerce (especially silk, grain, and [[spice trade|spice]]) and art in the 13th century up to the end of the 17th century. This made Venice a wealthy city throughout most of its history.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.vanderbilt.edu/Blair/Courses/MUSL242/f98/venice.htm |title=Venetian Music of the Renaissance |publisher=Vanderbilt.edu |date=11 October 1998 |accessdate=22 April 2010}}{{dead link|url=http://www.vanderbilt.edu/Blair/Courses/MUSL242/f98/venice.htm|date=November 2010}}</ref> It is also known for its several important artistic movements, especially the [[Italian Renaissance|Renaissance period]]. Venice has played an important role in the history of symphonic and operatic music, and it is the birthplace of [[Antonio Vivaldi]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Chambers|first=David|title=Venice: A Documentary History|year=1992|publisher=Oxford|location=England|isbn=0-8020-8424-9|page=78}}</ref>

==History==
{{See also|History of the Republic of Venice}}

===Origins===
Although there are no historical records that deal directly with the founding of Venice,<ref>"Imperciocchè nascendi i principati", begins [[Apostolo Zeno]], ''Compendio della storia Veneta di Apostolo Zeno continuata fino alla caduta della repubblica'' 1847:9.</ref> 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]], [[Altinum|Altino]] and Concordia (modern [[Portogruaro]]) and from the undefended countryside, who were fleeing successive waves of [[Germanic peoples|Germanic]] and [[Huns|Hun]] invasions.<ref>Bosio, ''Le origini di Venezia''</ref> Some late Roman sources 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 di Rialto|San Giacomo]] at the islet of [[Rialto]] (Rivoalto, "High Shore"), which is said to have been at the stroke of noon on 25 March 421.<ref>Zeno, ''Compendio'' 1847:10.</ref><ref name="RingSalkin1996">{{cite book|author1=Trudy Ring|author2=Robert M. Salkin|author3=Sharon La Boda|title=International Dictionary of Historic Places: Southern Europe|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=74JI2UlcU8AC&pg=PA745|accessdate=24 March 2011|date=1 January 1996|publisher=Taylor & Francis|isbn=978-1-884964-02-2|page=745}}</ref>

<!--Beginning in 166-168, 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 was that of the [[Lombards]] in 568, leaving 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.<ref>Traditional date as given in William J. Langer, ed. ''An Encyclopedia of World History''.</ref>

The traditional first [[doge of Venice]], [[Paolo Lucio Anafesto]], was actually [[Paul (exarch)|Exarch Paul]], and his successor, [[Marcello Tegalliano]], 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 was murdered and many officials put to flight in the chaos. At about this time, the people of the lagoon elected their own leader for the first time, although the relationship of this ascent to the uprisings is not clear. [[Orso Ipato|Ursus]] would become the first of 117 "[[Doge of Venice|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 the Isaurian|Leo]]'s successful military expedition to recover Ravenna, sending both men and ships. In recognition, Venice was "granted numerous privileges and concessions" and Ursus, who had personally taken the field, was confirmed by Leo as ''[[dux]]''<ref>[[John Julius Norwich]], ''A History of Venice'' ([[Alfred A. Knopf]]: New York, 1982) p. 13.</ref> and given the added title of ''[[hypatus]]'' (Greek for "[[Consul]]".)<ref>Alethea Wiel, ''A History of Venice,'' (London) 1898, reprinted Barnes & Noble Books (New York) 1995, pp. 26-27.</ref>

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 of Venice|doge]]"), was situated in [[Malamocco]]. Settlement on the islands in the lagoon probably increased in correspondence with the Lombard conquest of other Byzantine territories as refugees sought asylum in the lagoon city. In 775/776, the episcopal seat of Olivolo (Helipolis) was created. During the reign of duke [[Agnello Particiaco]] (811–827), the ducal seat was moved from Malamocco to the highly protected Rialto, the current location of Venice. The monastery of St. Zachary and the first [[Doge's Palace, Venice|ducal palace]] and [[basilica of St. Mark]], as well as a walled defense (civitatis murus) between Olivolo and Rialto, were subsequently built here. Winged lions, which may be seen throughout Venice, are a symbol for St. Mark.

[[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,<ref>Langer.</ref> 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. A few months later, Pepin himself died, apparently as a result of a disease contracted there. In the aftermath, an agreement between [[Charlemagne]] and [[Nikephoros I Logothetes|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 was raised by the acquisition of the claimed relics of [[St. Mark the Evangelist]] from [[Alexandria]], which were placed in the new basilica. The patriarchal seat was also moved to Rialto. As the community continued to develop and as Byzantine power waned, it led to the growth of autonomy and eventual independence.<ref>Thomas F. Madden, Venice: A New History, Penguin, 2013, ISBN 978-0670025428.</ref>

===Expansion===
[[File:P1060341.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Piazza San Marco]] in Venice, with [[St Mark's Campanile]] and Basilica in the background]]
[[File:San Marco horses.jpg|thumb|left|upright|These [[Horses of Saint Mark]] are a replica of the ''Triumphal Quadriga'' captured in Constantinople in 1204 and carried to Venice as a trophy.]]

From the 9th to the 12th century, Venice developed into a [[city state]] (an Italian [[thalassocracy]] or ''[[Repubbliche Marinare|Repubblica Marinara]]'', the other three being [[Genoa]], [[Pisa]], and [[Amalfi]]). Its strategic position at the head of the Adriatic made Venetian naval and commercial power almost invulnerable. With the elimination of pirates along the [[Dalmatia|Dalmatian coast]], the city became a flourishing trade center between Western Europe and the rest of the world (especially the [[Byzantine Empire]] and the [[Islamic world]]).

The [[Republic of Venice]] seized a number of places on the eastern shores of the Adriatic before 1200, mostly for commercial reasons, because [[pirate]]s 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 [[Alps|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,<ref>Richard Cowen, [http://www-geology.ucdavis.edu/~cowen/~gel115/salt.html The importance of salt]</ref> acquired control of most of the islands in the [[Aegean Sea|Aegean]], including [[Cyprus]] and [[Crete]], 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, Italy|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 Bull]]s 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.<ref>Herrin, Byzantium: The Surprising Life of a Medieval Empire, Penguin, Harmondsworth, ISBN 978-0-14-103102-6</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.historyworld.net/wrldhis/PlainTextHistories.asp?ParagraphID=fqa |title=History of Venice |publisher=Historyworld.net |accessdate=28 March 2009}}</ref>

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 [[Horses of Saint Mark|gilt bronze horses]] from the [[Hippodrome of Constantinople]], which were originally placed above the entrance to St Mark's cathedral in Venice, although the originals have been replaced with replicas and are now stored within the basilica. Following 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.<ref>Thomas F. Madden, Enrico Dandolo and the Rise of Venice, Johns Hopkins University Press, ISBN 978-0-80-188539-6</ref>

The seizure of [[Constantinople]] would ultimately prove as decisive a factor in ending the [[Byzantine Empire]] as the loss of the [[Anatolia]]n [[Theme (Byzantine administrative unit)|themes]] after [[Battle of Manzikert|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.

[[File:venice09.jpg|thumb|left|View of [[San Giorgio Maggiore|San Giorgio Maggiore Island]] from [[St. Mark's Campanile]]]]
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. During this time, 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 of Venice|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 "[[doges of Venice|Doge]]", or duke, the ceremonial head of the city, who normally held the title until his death.

The Venetian governmental structure was similar in some ways to the republican system of ancient Rome, with an elected chief executive (the Doge), a senate-like assembly of nobles, and a mass of citizens with limited political power, who originally had the power to grant or withhold their approval of each newly elected Doge. Church and various private properties were tied to military service, although there was no [[knight tenure]] within the city itself. The ''[[Cavalieri di San Marco]]'' was the only order of [[chivalry]] ever instituted in Venice, and no citizen could accept or join a foreign order without the government's consent. Venice remained a republic throughout its independent period, and politics and the military were kept separate, except when on occasion the Doge personally headed the military. War was regarded as a continuation of commerce by other means (hence, the city's early production of large numbers of mercenaries for service elsewhere, and later its reliance on foreign mercenaries when the ruling class was preoccupied with commerce).

[[File:The Grand Canal, Venice c1760 Francesco Guardi.jpg|thumb|[[Francesco Guardi]], ''The Grand Canal'', 1760 ([[Art Institute of Chicago]])]]
The chief executive was the Doge, who theoretically held his elective office for life. In practice, several Doges were forced by pressure from their [[oligarchy|oligarchical]] peers to resign the office and retire into [[monastery|monastic]] seclusion when they were felt to have been discredited by perceived political failure.

Although the people of Venice generally remained orthodox Roman Catholics, the state of Venice was notable for its freedom from religious fanaticism and it enacted not a single execution 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 famous, occasion was in 1606, by order of [[Pope Paul V]].

Venetian ambassadors sent home still-extant secret reports of the politics and rumours of European courts, providing fascinating information to modern historians.

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 the concept of paperback books that could be carried in a saddlebag. His ''Aldine Editions'' included translations of nearly all the known Greek manuscripts of the era.<ref>[[James Burke (scientific historian)|James Burke]], ''Connections'' (Little, Brown and Co., 1978/1995, ISBN 978-0-316-11672-5, p.105</ref>

===Decline===
[[File:Canal Grande Chiesa della Salute e Dogana dal ponte dell Accademia.jpg|thumb|The [[Grand Canal (Venice)|Grand Canal]] in Venice]]
Venice's long decline started in the 15th century, when it first made an unsuccessful attempt to hold [[Thessalonica]] against the Ottomans (1423–1430). It also sent ships to help defend Constantinople against the besieging Turks (1453). After Constantinople fell to [[Sultan Mehmet II]] he declared war on Venice. The war lasted thirty years and cost Venice much of its eastern Mediterranean possessions. Next, Christopher Columbus discovered the New World. Then Portugal found a sea route to India, destroying Venice's land route monopoly. France, England and the Dutch Republic followed them. Venice's oared galleys were at a disadvantage when it came to traversing the great oceans, and therefore Venice was left behind in the race for colonies.

The [[Black Death]] devastated Venice in 1348 and once again between 1575 and 1577.<ref>William J. Bernstein (2009). "''[http://books.google.com/books?id=ePiReZWp0NwC&pg=&dq=&hl=en#v=onepage&q=&f=false A Splendid Exchange: How Trade Shaped the World]''". Grove Press. p.143. ISBN 0-8021-4416-0</ref> In three years the [[plague (disease)|plague]] killed some 50,000 people.<ref>{{cite web|author=State of Texas, Texas Department of State Health Services |url=http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/preparedness/bt_public_history_plague.shtm |title=History of Plague |publisher=Dshs.state.tx.us |accessdate=28 March 2009}}</ref> In 1630, the plague killed a third of Venice's 150,000 citizens.<ref>"''[http://books.google.com/books?id=fQxAkrbksTEC&pg=PA41&dq&hl=en#v=onepage&q=&f=false Medicine and society in early modern Europe]''". Mary Lindemann (1999). [[Cambridge University Press]]. p.41. ISBN 0-521-42354-6</ref> Venice began to lose its position as a center of [[History of international trade|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===
[[File:Venezia-map 1-1220x900.png|thumb|A map of the sestiere of San Marco]]
The Republic lost independence when [[Napoleon Bonaparte]] conquered Venice on 12 May 1797 during the [[First Coalition]]. The French conqueror brought to an end the most fascinating century of its history: during the 18th century, Venice became perhaps the most elegant and refined city in Europe, greatly influencing art, architecture and literature. 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 [[Venetian Ghetto|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. It was taken from Austria by the [[Treaty of Pressburg (1805)|Treaty of Pressburg]] in 1805 and became part of Napoleon's [[Kingdom of Italy (Napoleonic)|Kingdom of Italy]], but was returned to Austria following Napoleon's defeat in 1814, when it became part of the Austrian-held [[Kingdom of Lombardy-Venetia]]. In 1848–1849, a revolt briefly reestablished the [[Repubblica di San Marco|Venetian Republic]] under [[Daniele Manin]]. In 1866, following the [[Third Italian War of Independence]], Venice, along with the rest of the Veneto, became part of the newly created [[unification of Italy|Kingdom of Italy]].

During the [[World War II|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 there in March 1945. The targets were destroyed with virtually no architectural damage done the city itself.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/1508776/Group-Captain-George-Westlake.html | work=The Daily Telegraph | location=London | title=Group Captain George Westlake | date=26 January 2006 | accessdate=13 June 2013}}</ref> However the industrial areas in Mestre and Marghera and the railway lines to Padua, Trieste and Trento were [[Oil Campaign chronology of World War II|repeatedly bombed]].<ref>{{cite web|author=Patrick G. Skelly, Pocasset MA |url=http://www.milhist.net/usaaf/mto.html |title=US Army Air Force Operations Mediterranean Theater |publisher=Milhist.net |date=6 May 2005 |accessdate=27 July 2010}}</ref> On 29 April 1945, New Zealand troops under [[Bernard Freyberg|Freyberg]] reached Venice and relieved the city and the mainland, which were already in [[Italian resistance movement|partisan]] hands.<ref>{{cite web|author=Patrick G. Skelly, Pocasset MA |url=http://www.milhist.net/history/onemoreriver.html |title=New Zealand troops relieve Venice |publisher=Milhist.net |date=21 July 1945 |accessdate=28 March 2009}}</ref>

===Subsidence===
{{Further|Acqua alta}}
[[File:Venezia acqua alta notte 2005 modificata.jpg|thumb|[[Acqua alta]] or high water in Venice.]]
[[File:Venice.longshot.981pix (1).jpg|thumb|Venice and surroundings in false colour, from [[Terra (satellite)|Terra]]. The picture is oriented with North at the top.]]

====Foundations====
The buildings of Venice are constructed on closely spaced wooden [[Deep foundation|piles]]. Most of these piles are still intact after centuries of submersion. The foundations rest on the piles, and buildings of brick or [[Rock (geology)|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 [[Decomposition|decay]] as rapidly as on the surface.

Most of these piles were made from trunks of [[alder]] trees,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.treesforlife.org.uk/forest/mythfolk/alder.html|title=Mythology and Folklore of the Alder|last=Kendall|first=Paul|date=25 August 2010|publisher=Trees for life|accessdate=6 August 2011}}</ref> a wood noted for its water resistance.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cvni.org/treenursery/trees/alder|title=Alder - Alnus glutinosa|publisher=Conservation Volunteers Northern Ireland|accessdate=6 August 2011}}</ref> 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|date=August 2011}} Leonid Grigoriev has stated that Russian [[larch]] was imported to build some of Venice's foundations.<ref>[http://en.civilg8.ru/priority/energy/2054.php Interview with Leonid Grigoriev]</ref> Larch is also used in the production of [[Turpentine#Industrial and other end uses|Venice turpentine]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.darwinprice.com/venturp.htm|title=Venice turpentine|publisher=darwinprice.com|accessdate=6 August 2011}}</ref>

====History====
The city is often threatened by flood [[tide]]s pushing in from the [[Adriatic Sea|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. This created an ever-deeper lagoon environment.

In 1604, to defray the cost of flood relief, Venice introduced what could be considered the first example of a '[[stamp tax]]'. When the revenue fell short of expectations in 1608, Venice introduced paper with the superscription 'AQ' and imprinted instructions, which was to be used for 'letters to officials'. At first, this was to be a temporary tax, but it remained in effect until the fall of the Republic in 1797. Shortly after the introduction of the tax, Spain produced similar paper for general taxation purposes, and the practice spread to other countries.

During the 20th century, when many [[artesian aquifer|artesian wells]] were sunk into the periphery of the lagoon to draw water for local industry, Venice began to [[subsidence|subside]]. It was realised 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.

Some recent studies have suggested that the city is no longer sinking,<ref>{{cite journal |coauthors = |title = Technology: Venetians put barrage to the test against the Adriatic |issue = 1660 |publisher=[[New Scientist]] magazine |date = 15 April 1989 |url = http://media.newscientist.com/article/mg12216602.900-technology-venetians-put-barrage-to-the-test-against-theadriatic-.html |archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20071011072114/http://media.newscientist.com/article/mg12216602.900-technology-venetians-put-barrage-to-the-test-against-theadriatic-.html |archivedate = 11 October 2007 |id = |accessdate =10 October 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title = Venice's 1,500-year battle with the waves |publisher=BBC News |date = 17 July 2003 |url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/3069305.stm |accessdate =10 October 2007}}</ref> but this is not yet certain; therefore, a state of alert has not been revoked. In May 2003, the 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 [[pontoon (boat)|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. This engineering work is due to be completed by 2014.<ref>{{cite news |title = 'Moses project' to secure future of Venice |publisher= Telegraph News |date = 11 January 2012 |url = http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/italy/3629387/Moses-project-to-secure-future-of-Venice.html|accessdate =11 January 2012}}</ref>

==Geography==
[[File:Sestieri di Venezia.svg|thumb|left|Sestieri of Venice:<br/><span style="background:purple;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span>&nbsp;Cannaregio<br/> <span style="background:blue;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span>&nbsp;Castello<br/>
<span style="background:yellow;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span>&nbsp;Dorsoduro<br/>
<span style="background:teal;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span>&nbsp;San Marco<br/>
<span style="background:lime;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span>&nbsp;San Polo<br/>
<span style="background:red;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span>&nbsp;Santa Croce]]

The historical city is divided into six areas or "[[sestiere]]" (while the whole ''comune'' (''municipality'') is divided into 6 boroughs of which one is composed of all 6 ''sestiere''). These are [[Cannaregio]], [[San Polo]], [[Dorsoduro]] (including the [[Giudecca]] and [[Isola Sacca Fisola]]), [[Sestiere of Santa Croce|Santa Croce]], [[San Marco (sestiere of Venice)|San Marco]] (including [[San Giorgio Maggiore]]) and [[Castello, Venice|Castello]] (including [[San Pietro di Castello (island)|San Pietro di Castello]] and [[Sant'Elena]]). Each sestiere was administered by a [[wikt:procurator|procurator]] and his staff. Nowadays each ''sestiere'' is a statistic and historical area without any degree of autonomy.

These districts consist of parishes – initially seventy in 1033, but reduced under [[Napoleon]] and now numbering just thirty-eight. These parishes predate the sestieri, which were created in about 1170.

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

Each sestiere has its own [[house numbering]] system. Each house has a unique number in the district, from one to several thousand, generally numbered from one corner of the area to another, but not usually in a readily understandable manner.

===Climate===
According to the [[Köppen climate classification]], Venice has a [[Humid subtropical climate]] (''Cfa''), with cool winters and very warm summers. The 24-hour average in January is {{convert|2.5|C|F|1}}, and for July this figure is {{convert|22.7|C|F|1}}. Precipitation is spread relatively evenly throughout the year, and averages {{convert|801|mm|in}}.
{{Weather box
|location = Venice (1961–1990)
|metric first = y
|single line = y
|Jan high C = 5.8
|Feb high C = 8.2
|Mar high C = 12.0
|Apr high C = 16.3
|May high C = 21.2
|Jun high C = 24.8
|Jul high C = 27.5
|Aug high C = 27.0
|Sep high C = 23.6
|Oct high C = 18.1
|Nov high C = 11.5
|Dec high C = 6.7
|year high C = 16.9
|Jan low C = −0.9
|Feb low C = 0.7
|Mar low C = 3.8
|Apr low C = 7.9
|May low C = 12.3
|Jun low C = 15.9
|Jul low C = 17.8
|Aug low C = 17.3
|Sep low C = 14.2
|Oct low C = 9.4
|Nov low C = 4.2
|Dec low C = 0.0
|year low C = 8.6
|Jan precipitation mm = 58.1
|Feb precipitation mm = 54.2
|Mar precipitation mm = 57.1
|Apr precipitation mm = 64.3
|May precipitation mm = 68.7
|Jun precipitation mm = 76.4
|Jul precipitation mm = 63.1
|Aug precipitation mm = 83.1
|Sep precipitation mm = 66.0
|Oct precipitation mm = 69.0
|Nov precipitation mm = 87.3
|Dec precipitation mm = 53.7
|year precipitation mm = 801.0
|Jan humidity = 81
|Feb humidity = 77
|Mar humidity = 75
|Apr humidity = 75
|May humidity = 73
|Jun humidity = 74
|Jul humidity = 71
|Aug humidity = 72
|Sep humidity = 75
|Oct humidity = 77
|Nov humidity = 79
|Dec humidity = 81
|year humidity = 75.8
|Jan precipitation days = 6.7
|Feb precipitation days = 6.2
|Mar precipitation days = 6.6
|Apr precipitation days = 8.2
|May precipitation days = 8.3
|Jun precipitation days = 8.9
|Jul precipitation days = 5.7
|Aug precipitation days = 1.7
|Sep precipitation days = 5.4
|Oct precipitation days = 6.0
|Nov precipitation days = 7.7
|Dec precipitation days = 6.4
|Jan sun = 80.6
|Feb sun = 107.4
|Mar sun = 142.6
|Apr sun = 174.0
|May sun = 229.4
|Jun sun = 243.0
|Jul sun = 288.3
|Aug sun = 257.3
|Sep sun = 198.0
|Oct sun = 151.9
|Nov sun = 87.0
|Dec sun = 77.5
|year sun = 2037.0
|source 1 = MeteoAM<ref name=MAM>
{{cite web
|url= http://clima.meteoam.it/viewClino.php?type=File&station=105&name_station=Venezia%20Tessera
|title= Tabella CLINO
|publisher=MeteoAM
|accessdate =22 June 2013
}}</ref>
}}

==Government==
{{See also|List of Mayors of Venice}}
<gallery>
File:MunicipalitaVCE.png|The 6 boroughs of the whole ''comune'' of Venice
File:Map of comune of Venice (province of Venice, region Veneto, Italy).svg|The whole ''comune'' (red) in the [[province of Venice]]
File:Ca'Loredan Venice.jpg|''Ca' Loredan'', Venice's City Hall
</gallery>

The legislative body of the [[Italian communes|municipality]] is the City Council (''Consiglio Comunale''), which is composed by 45 councillors elected every five years with a proportional system, contextually to the mayoral elections. The executive body is the City Committee (''Giunta Comunale''), composed by 12 [[Assessor (Italy)|assessors]], that is nominated and presieded over by a directly elected [[Mayors of Milan|Mayor]]. The current mayor of Venice is [[Giorgio Orsoni]], a left-wing lawyer leading a progressive alliance composed by the [[Democratic Party (Italy)|Democrats]], [[Left Ecology Freedom]], the [[Federation of the Greens|Greens]] and [[Federation of the Left]].

The municipality of Venice is subdivided into six administrative Boroughs (''Municipalità''). Each Borough is governed by a Council (''Consiglio'') and a President, elected contextually 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 an autonomous founding in order to finance local activities. The Boroughs are:

''Lagoon area:''
*Venezia (''historic city'')-[[Murano]]–[[Burano]] (also known as ''Venezia insulare''); population: 69,136;
*[[Lido di Venezia|Lido]]–[[Pellestrina]] (also knows as ''Venezia litorale''); population: 21,664.

''Mainland (terraferma)'', annexed with a Royal Decree, in 1926, to the commune of Venezia:
*[[Favaro Veneto]]; population: 23,615;
*[[Mestre]]-Carpenedo (also known as ''Mestre centro''); population: 88,952;
*Chirignago-Zelarino; population: 38;179;
*[[Marghera]]; population: 28;466.

Of six Boroughs, five are governed by [[Democratic Party (Italy)|Democratic Party]] and one by the opposition.

==Economy==
[[Economic history of Venice|Venice's economy]] has changed throughout history. In the [[Middle Ages]] and the [[Renaissance]], Venice was a major centre 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.<ref name="aboutvenice.org">{{cite web|url=http://www.aboutvenice.org/economy-of-venice.html |title=The economy of Venice, Italy |publisher=Aboutvenice.org |accessdate=22 April 2010}}</ref> From the 11th century until the 15th century, [[pilgrimage]]s 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.<ref>Pilgerreisen von Venedig nach Jerusalem im späten Mittelalter- Die Verträge mit dem Schiffspatron, Seite 2, Fabian H. Flöper, GRIN Verlag, 2011. ISBN 978-3-656-04783-4</ref><ref>Venice, page 71, Beryl D. De Sélincourt, May (Sturge) Gretton, Chatto & Windus, London 1907., reprinted BiblioBazaar 2010, ISBN 978-1-177-40448-8</ref> 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 beautiful spaces for art).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/625298/Venice/24381/Economy |title=Venice (Italy) :: Economy – Britannica Online Encyclopedia |publisher=Britannica.com |accessdate=22 April 2010}}</ref> Today, Venice's economy is mainly based on tourism, shipbuilding (mainly done in the neighbouring cities of [[Mestre]] and [[Porto Marghera]]), services, trade and industrial exports.<ref name="aboutvenice.org"/> [[Murano glass]] production in [[Murano]] and lace production in [[Burano]] are also highly important to the economy.<ref name="aboutvenice.org"/>

===Tourism===
[[File:Venice IMG 3731.JPG|thumb|Piazza San Marco. Doge's Palace]]
Venice is one of the most important tourist destinations in the world for its celebrated art and architecture.<ref name="britannica.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/625298/Venice/24381/Economy# |title=Venice (Italy) :: Economy – Britannica Online Encyclopedia |publisher=Britannica.com |accessdate=22 April 2010}}</ref> The city has an average of 50,000 tourists a day (2007 estimate).<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/travel/destinations/italy/article1615074.ece | work=The Times | location=London | title=Venice in peril as the tourists flood in and locals get out | first=Richard | last=Owen | date=5 April 2007 | accessdate=27 May 2010}}</ref> In 2006, it was the world's 28th most internationally visited city, with 2.927&nbsp;million international arrivals that year.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.euromonitor.com/Top_150_City_Destinations_London_Leads_the_Way |title=Top 150 City Destinations London Leads the Way |publisher=Euromonitor.com |date=11 October 2007 |accessdate=22 April 2010}}</ref> It is regarded as one of the world's most beautiful cities.

[[File:Venise et le Lido, travel poster for ENIT, ca. 1920.jpg|left|thumb|upright|Travel poster from c. 1920 for Venice]]
[[File:Venice Gondola Grand Canal.jpg|thumb|upright|A gondola and a gondolier in the Grand 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.<ref name="britannica.com"/> 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<ref name="britannica.com"/>

Today, there are numerous attractions in Venice, such as [[St Mark's Basilica]], the [[Grand Canal (Venice)|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.<ref name="britannica.com"/>

However, Venice's popularity as a major worldwide tourist destination has caused several problems, including the fact that the city can be very overcrowded at some points of the year. It is regarded by some as a tourist trap, and by others as a "living museum".<ref name="britannica.com"/> 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]].

==Transport==

===In the historical city===
[[File:Venice as seen from the air with bridge to mainland.jpg|thumb|Aerial view of Venice including the ''[[Ponte della Libertà]]'' bridge to the mainland]]
Venice is built on an [[archipelago]] of 117 islands formed by 177 canals in a shallow lagoon, connected by 409 bridges.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.studyabroad.com/pages/sitecontent/venice.aspx |title=Venice Study Abroad |accessdate=6 October 2010}}</ref> 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 [[Auto-free zones|car-free area]]. Venice is unique in Europe, in having remained a sizable functioning city in the 21st century entirely without motorcars or trucks.

The classical Venetian boat is the [[gondola]], (plural: gondole) although it is now mostly used for tourists, or for weddings, funerals, or other ceremonies, or as 'traghetti' (sing.: traghetto) to cross the Canale Grande in the absence of a nearby bridge. 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 'ferro,' or 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]]).{{Citation needed|date=December 2009}}

====Waterways====
[[File:Venice floating city satellite view 2008.jpg|thumb|left|Satellite view with clearly visible water buses and taxis, acquired by [[Ikonos-2]], 2008]]
[[File:Giudecca IMG 3817.jpg|thumb|[[Giudecca]] canal. View from [[St Mark's Campanile]]]]
Venezia is a city of small islands, enhanced during the Middle Ages by the dredging of soils to raise the marshy ground above the tides. The resulting canals encouraged the flourishing of a nautical culture which proved central to the economy of the city. Today those canals still provide the means for transport of goods and people within the city.

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]].
{{Clear}}

===Public transport===
[[Azienda del Consorzio Trasporti Veneziano]] (ACTV) is a public company responsible for public transportation in Venice.

====Lagoon area====
The main public transportation means are motorised [[waterbus]]es (''[[vaporetto|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 [[ferry|ferries]] crossing the Grand Canal at certain points without bridges.

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

====Lido and Pellestrina islands====
[[Lido di Venezia|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 others islands (Venice, [[Murano]], [[Burano]]) and with the peninsula of [[Cavallino-Treporti]].

====Mainland====
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 one [[Trams in Mestre|tramway line]]. Several bus routes link mainland with ''[[piazzale Roma]]'', the main bus station in Venice, via [[Ponte della Libertà]], a road bridge connecting the historical center of the city of Venice, that is a group of islands, to the mainland.

<gallery>
File:Vaporetto 01.jpg|Vaporetto in Venice
File:Chiesa di Sant'Andrea Apostolo ou della Zirada - People Mover of Venice.jpg|People Mover in Venice
File:IRISBUS ACTV.JPG|Bus in Mestre
File:Tramvia.sandonà.JPG|[[Trams in Mestre|Tram in Mestre]]
</gallery>

===Trains===
Venice is serviced by regional and national trains, which can connect the city to Rome in 3.5 hours and to Milan in 2.5 hours. Treviso is thirty-five minutes away.<ref>''[[Thomas Cook European Timetable]]s''</ref> Florence and Padua are two of the stops between Rome and Venice. There are two main stations:

*The [[Venezia Santa Lucia railway station|St. Lucia station]] is a few steps away from a vaporetti stop in the historical city next to ''piazzale Roma''; it is a terminal station; the station is the terminus and starting point of the Venice Simplon Orient Express from or to London Victoria and Paris;
*The [[Venezia Mestre railway station|Mestre station]] is in the mainland and it forms the border between the boroughs of Mestre and Marghera.

Both stations are managed by Grandi Stazioni, and are linked with each other by the Ponte della Libertà (English: Liberty Bridge) between the mainland and the island.

Others small stations in the municipality are: Venezia Porto Marghera, Venezia Carpenedo, Venezia Mestre Ospedale, Venezia Mestre Porta Ovest.

[[File:Morning Impression along a Canal in Venice.JPG|thumb|right|Morning Impression along a Canal in Venice, Veneto, Italy. by [[Rafail Sergeevich Levitsky]].(1896) The Di Rocco Wieler Private Collection, Toronto, Canada]]

===Airports===
Venice is served by the [[Marco Polo International Airport]], or ''Aeroporto di Venezia [[Marco Polo]]'', named in honor of its famous citizen. The airport is on the mainland and was rebuilt away from the coast. From the Venice airport, it's possible to reach by public transport:
* Venice [[Piazzale Roma]] by ATVO (provincial company) buses<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.atvo.it/index.php?lang=it&area=23&menuid=35 |title=ATVO |publisher=Atvo.it |date= |accessdate=26 August 2012}}</ref> and by ACTV (city company) buses (route 5 ''aerobus'');<ref name="actv.it">{{cite web|url=http://www.actv.it/muoversiinterraferma/lineeurbane |title=Linee Urbane |publisher=www.actv.it |date= |accessdate=26 August 2012}}</ref>
* Venice, Lido and Murano by Alilaguna (private company) boats;
* Mestre, the mainland and Venice Mestre railways station (convenient for connections to [[Milan]], [[Padova]], [[Trieste]], [[Verona]] and the rest of Italy) by ACTV lines (route 15 and 45)<ref name="actv.it"/> and by ATVO lines;
* regional destination (Treviso, Padua, beach, ...) by ATVO buses and by Busitalia Sita Nord<ref>http://www.fsbusitalia.it/cms-instance/documenti/fsbusitalia/Montegrotto-AeropMarcoPolo.pdf</ref> buses (national company).

Some airlines market [[Treviso Airport]] in [[Treviso]], {{convert|30|km|0|abbr=off}} from Venice, as a Venice gateway. Some simply advertise flights to "Venice", while naming the actual airport only in small print.<ref>[http://wizzair.com/default.asp?slid=clear&language=EN Home Page]", ''[[Wizz Air]]''</ref> To reach Venice from Treviso airport people can catch a public bus from the company ATVO.

Venezia Lido,<ref>http://www.enav.it/enavWebPortalStatic/AIP/AD/AD2/ADSPV1-1.pdf</ref> a public airport suitable for smaller aircraft, is found on the NE end of [[Lido di Venezia]]. It has a 1000-metre grass runway.

==Education==
Venice is a major international centre for higher education. The city hosts [[Ca' Foscari University of Venice]] founded in 1868, [[University Iuav of Venice|Iuav University of Venice]] founded in 1926 and [[Venice International University]] an international research center founded in 1995 located on the island of [[San Servolo]].

==Demographics==
In 2009, there were 270,098 people residing in Venice's comune (the population estimate of 272,000 inhabitants includes the population of the whole Comune of Venezia; around 60,000 in the historic city of Venice (Centro storico); 176,000 in Terraferma (the Mainland); and 31,000 live on other islands in the lagoon), of whom 47.4% were male and 52.6% were female. Minors (children ages 18 and younger) totalled 14.36 percent of the population compared to pensioners who number 25.7 percent. This compares with the Italian average of 18.06 percent (minors) and 19.94 percent (pensioners). The average age of Venice residents is 46 compared to the Italian average of 42. In the five years between 2002 and 2007, the population of Venice declined by 0.2 percent, while Italy as a whole grew by 3.85 percent.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://demo.istat.it/bil2007/index.html |title=Statistiche demografiche ISTAT |publisher=Demo.istat.it |accessdate=28 March 2009}}</ref> But the population in the historic old city declines at a significantly faster rate: from about 120,000 in 1980 to about 60,000 in 2009.<ref>Cathy Newman, "''Vanishing Venice''", National Geographic, August 2009</ref>

As of 2009, 91% of the population was Italian. The largest immigrant group comes from other European nations ([[Romanians]], the largest group: 3%, South Asia: 1.3%, and East Asia: 0.9%). Venice is predominantly Roman Catholic, but because of the long standing relationship with Constantinople, there is also a perceptible Orthodox presence, and as a result of immigration it now has some Muslim, [[Hindu]] and [[Buddhist]] inhabitants.

There is also a historic [[Jewish Community of Venice|Jewish Community]] in Venice. The [[Venetian Ghetto]] was the area in which Jews were compelled to live under the Venetian Republic. It is from its name, in the [[Venetian language]], that the word "[[ghetto]]", used in many languages, is derived. [[William Shakespeare]]'s play ''[[The Merchant of Venice]]'', probably written in the late 16th century, features [[Shylock (Shakespeare)|Shylock]], a Venetian Jew and his family. Venice also has an [[eruv]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ghetto.it/ghetto/en/foto.asp?padre=3&figlio=1 |title=Venetian Ghetto – Eruv in Venice |accessdate=2 August 2010}}</ref> built for and still used by the Jewish community.

==Culture==
[[File:Venezia-DSCF9752.JPG|thumb|Typical masks worn during the [[Carnival of Venice]].]]

===Cinema and Venice in popular culture and media===
{{See also|Venice in media}}
Venice has been the setting or chosen location of numerous films, novels, poems and other cultural references. The city was a particularly popular setting for novels, essays, and other works of fictional or non-fictional literature. Examples of these include [[Shakespeare]]'s ''[[Merchant of Venice]]'' and ''[[Othello]]'', [[Ben Jonson]]'s ''[[Volpone]]'', [[Voltaire]]'s ''[[Candide]]'', [[Casanova]]'s autobiographical ''History of My Life'', [[Anne Rice]]'s ''[[Cry to Heaven]]'', and [[Philippe Sollers]]' ''[[Watteau in Venice]]''. [[Thomas Mann]]'s 1912 novella, ''[[Death in Venice]]'', has served as the basis for an opera (Benjamin Britten's ''[[Death in Venice (opera)|Death in Venice]]''), a film ([[Luchino Visconti|Visconti's]] ''[[Death in Venice (film)|Death in Venice]]'') and a cocktail ([http://www.thevenicelido.com/2011/08/death-in-venice-cocktail.html ''Death in Venice'']). The city has also been a setting for numerous other films, including three entries in the [[James Bond]] series: ''[[From Russia with Love (film)|From Russia with Love]]'', ''[[Moonraker (film)|Moonraker]]'' and ''[[Casino Royale (2006 film)|Casino Royale]]'', and many others such as: 2010's ''[[The Tourist (2010 film)|The Tourist]]'', ''[[Summertime (1955 film)|Summertime]]'' starring [[Katharine Hepburn]], ''[[Fellini's Casanova]]'', [[Nicolas Roeg]]'s ''[[Don't Look Now]]'', ''[[The Wings of the Dove]]'', ''[[Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade]]'', ''[[A Little Romance]]'', ''[[Lara Croft: Tomb Raider]]'', and ''[[The Talented Mr. Ripley (film)|The Talented Mr. Ripley]]''. The city has also been the setting for music videos such as [[Siouxsie and the Banshees]]' ''[[Dear Prudence#Cover versions|Dear Prudence]]'' and [[Madonna (entertainer)|Madonna]]'s ''[[Like a Virgin (song)|Like a Virgin]]'', as well as in the video games ''[[Tomb Raider II]]'' and ''[[Assassin's Creed II]]''.

===Architecture===
{{See also|Venetian Gothic architecture|10th International Architecture Exhibition|11th International Architecture Exhibition|8th International Architecture Exhibition|9th International Architecture Exhibition}}
[[File:Ca' Rezzonico (Venice).jpg|thumb|The [[Baroque]] [[Ca' Rezzonico]]]]
[[File:Danieli-dandolo 2012-05-27 corr2.jpg|thumb|left|[[Palazzo Dandolo|Dandolo Palace, Hotel Danieli]]]]
[[File:Teatro-la-fenice-sala.jpg|thumb|[[La Fenice]] operahouse in the city]]
Venice has a rich and [[diverse]] [[architectural style]], the most famous of which is the [[Gothic architecture|Gothic]] style. [[Venetian Gothic architecture]] is a term given to a Venetian building style combining use of the Gothic lancet arch with [[Byzantine]], [[Ottoman architecture|Ottoman]] and a lot of [[Phoenician architecture]] influences. The style originated in 14th-century Venice, where the confluence of [[Byzantine]] style from [[Constantinople]] met Arab influence from [[Moorish Spain]]. Chief examples of the style are the [[Doge's Palace, Venice|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]].

===Music and the performing arts===
{{Main|Music of Venice}}
{{See also|Venetian polychoral style|Music of Veneto|Venetian School (music)}}
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."<ref>Touring Club p. 79</ref>

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 (music)|Venetian school]]) and the development of the [[Venetian polychoral style]] under composers such as [[Adrian Willaert]], who worked at [[San Marco di Venezia|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 famous for the splendor of its music, as exemplified in the "colossal style" of [[Andrea Gabrieli|Andrea]] and [[Giovanni Gabrieli]], which used multiple choruses and instrumental groups. Venice was also the home of many famous composers during the [[baroque music|baroque period]], such as [[Antonio Vivaldi]], [[Ippolito Ciera]], [[Giovanni Picchi]], and [[Girolamo Dalla Casa]], to name but a few.

===Interior design===
It can be argued that Venice produced the best and most refined Rococo designs. At the time, Venice was in a state of 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.<ref name="Miller 2005 p.82">Miller (2005) p.82</ref> Venetian Rococo was well known for being rich and luxurious, with usually very extravagant designs. Unique Venetian furniture, such as the ''divani da portego'', or long Rococo couches and ''pozzetti'', objects meant to be placed against the wall. Venetian bedrooms were usually sumptuous and grand, with rich damask, velvet, and silk drapery and curtains, a beautifully carved Rococo beds with statues of putti, flowers and angels.<ref name="Miller 2005 p.82"/> Venice was especially famous 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 famous being ''lacca povera'' (poor lacuqer), in which allegories and images of social life were painted. Lacquerwork and [[Chinoiserie]] were particularly common in bureau cabinets.<ref>Miller (2005) p.83</ref>

===Fashion and shopping===
[[File:Rialto IMG 3996.JPG|thumb|upright|Luxury shops and boutiques along the [[Rialto Bridge]].]]
In the 14th century, many young Venetian men began wearing tight-fitting multicoloured hose, the designs on which indicated the Compagnie della Calza ("Trouser Club") to which they belonged. The Venetian Senate passed [[sumptuary law]]s, but these merely resulted in changes in fashion in order to circumvent the law. Dull garments were worn over colourful ones, which then were cut to show the hidden colours resulting in the wide spread of men's "slashed" fashions in the 15th century.

Today, Venice is also a major fashion and shopping centre in Italy, not as important as [[Milan]], [[Florence]], or Rome, but par to [[Turin]], [[Vicenza]], [[Naples]], and [[Genoa]]. [[Roberta di Camerino]] is the only major Italian fashion brand to be based in Venice.<ref name=josh>{{Cite news |last = Patner |first = Josh |title = From Bags to Riches|newspaper=The New York Times|date = 26 February 2006 |url = http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/26/style/tmagazine/t_w_p166_talk_patner_.html |accessdate =14 May 2010 }}</ref> Founded in 1945, it is renowned for its innovative handbags featuring hardware by Venetian artisans and often covered in locally woven velvet, and has been credited with creating the concept of the easily recognisable [[It bag|status bag]].<ref name=josh/> Many of the fashion boutiques and jewelry shops in the city are located in the [[Rialto Bridge]] and the [[Piazza San Marco]]. At the current time, there are [[Louis Vuitton]] and [[Ermenegildo Zegna]] flagship stores operating in the city.

===Cuisine===
{{Main|Venetian cuisine|Venetian wine}}
[[File:Pietro Longhi 025.jpg|thumb|upright|Hot chocolate was a fashionable drink in Venice during the 1770s and 1780s.]]
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 combines local traditions with influences that are distant from millennial business contacts. These include ''sarde in saor'', sardines marinated in order to preserve them for long voyages; ''risi e bisi'', rice, peas and ham; ''fegato alla veneziana'', Venetian-style liver; risotto with cuttlefish, blackened from the ink; ''cicchetti'', refined and delicious tidbits (akin to ''tapas''); ''antipasti'', appetizers; and ''[[prosecco]]'', an effervescent, mildly sweet wine.

In addition, Venice is famous for ''bisàto'' (marinated eel), for the golden, oval-shaped cookies called [[baicoli]], and for different types of sweets such as: ''pan del pescatore'' (bread of the fisherman); cookies with almonds and pistachio nuts; cookies with fried Venetian cream or the ''bussolai'' ([[butter biscuit]]s and [[shortbread]] made in the shape of an "S" or ring) from the island of Burano; the ''crostoli'' also known as the chatter, lies, or ''galani''; the ''fregolotta'' (a crumbly cake with almonds); milk pudding called ''rosada''; and cookies of yellow semolina called ''zaléti''.

===Literature===
{{Main|Venetian literature}}
[[File:Casanova ritratto.jpg|thumb|upright|Portrait of Giacomo Casanova]]

Venice has long been a source of inspiration for authors, poets and playwrights as well as being at the forefront of the technical developing of printing and publishing.

Two of the most famous 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]], titled ''[[The Travels of Marco Polo|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 famous 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]]''. [[Angelo Beolco|Ruzante]] (1502–1542) and [[Carlo Goldoni]] (1707–1793) used the Venetian dialect extensively in their comedies.

[[File:Aldus-Horace2.jpeg|thumb|left|book printed by Aldus Manutius]]
Venice has also inspired writers from abroad. Shakespeare set [[Othello]] and [[The Merchant of Venice]] in the city. [[Thomas Mann]] wrote the novel ''[[Death in Venice]]'', published in 1912. Venice 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 [[Isola di San Michele|San Michele]]. The French writer [[Philippe Sollers]] spent most of his life in Venice and published '' A Dictionary For Lovers Of Venice'' in 2004. [[Ugo Foscolo]] (1778–1827) born in [[Zakynthos|Zante]], an island that at the time belonged to the Republic of Venice, was also a famous poet and [[revolutionary]] who wanted to see a free republic established in Venice following the fall to [[Napoleon]]. The city features prominently in Henry James' [[The Aspern Papers]] and [[The Wings of the Dove]] and is also visited in Evelyn Waugh's [[Brideshead Revisited]] and Marcel Proust's [[In Search of Lost Time]]. The probably most famous children's book set in Venice is "The Thief Lord", written by the German Author Cornelia Funke.

Venice is also linked to the technological aspects of writing. The city was the location for one of Italy's earliest printing presses, established by [[Aldus Manutius]] (1449–1515).{{Citation needed|date=February 2010}} 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|date=February 2010}}

===Art and printing===
{{Main|List of painters and architects of Venice}}
{{See also|Venetian School (art)}}
[[File:Brooklyn Museum - From the Gondola - John Singer Sargent.jpg|thumb|left|Brooklyn Museum - From the Gondola - John Singer Sargent]]
[[File:Canaletto (II) 002.jpg|thumb|An 18th-century view of Venice by Venetian artist [[Canaletto]].]]
Venice, especially during the [[Middle Ages]], [[Renaissance]] and [[Baroque]], was a major centre of art and developed a unique style known as the [[Venetian School (art)|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 Republics|Maritime Republic]], which controlled a vast sea and trade empire.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://arthistory.about.com/cs/arthistory10one/a/ven_ren.htm |title=The Renaissance in Venice – Art History Basics on the Venetian School – ca 1450–1600 |publisher=Arthistory.about.com |date=29 October 2009 |accessdate=22 April 2010}}</ref>

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 [[Paolo Veronese|Veronese]]. In the early 16th century, also, there was rivalry between whether Venetian painting should use ''disegno'' or ''colorito''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.webexhibits.org/feast/context/venetianart.html |title=Venetian art around 1500 |publisher=Webexhibits.org |accessdate=22 April 2010}}</ref>

[[Canvas]]es (the common painting surface) originated in Venice during the early Renaissance. These early canvases were generally rough.

In the 18th century, Venetian painting had a revival because of [[Giovanni Battista Tiepolo|Tiepolo]]'s decorative painting and [[Canaletto]]'s and [[Guardi]]'s panoramic views.

===Glass===
{{Main|Venetian glass|Murano glass}}
[[File:Glassvenetian.jpg|thumb|upright|A [[Venetian glass]] [[goblet]]]]

Venice is famous 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]].

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 by 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.

[[File:Palazzo compagni, salone, lampadario di murano 01.JPG|left|upright|thumb|An ornate [[Murano glass]] [[chandelier]].]]

Despite efforts to keep Venetian glassmaking techniques within Venice, they became known elsewhere, and Venetian-style glassware was produced in other Italian cities and other countries of Europe.

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 & C. - Compagnia Venezia Murano|Pauly]], Millevetri, Seguso.<ref>Carl I. Gable,
''Murano Magic: Complete Guide to Venetian Glass, its History and Artists'' (Schiffer, 2004). ISBN 978-0-7643-1946-4.</ref> Barovier & Toso is considered one of the 100 [[List of oldest companies|oldest companies]] in the world, formed in 1295.

One of the most renowned types of [[Venetian glass]]es are made in [[Murano]], known as [[Murano glass]], which has been a famous product of the Venetian island of Murano for centuries. Located off the shore of Venice, Italy, Murano was a commercial port as far back as the 7th century. By the 10th century it had become a well-known city of trade. Today Murano remains a destination for tourists and art and jewellery lovers alike.

===Festivals===
{{See also|Carnival of Venice|Venice Film Festival}}
[[File:Carnevale di Venezia 20100212.jpg|thumb|Masks at Carnival of Venice]]
The [[Carnival of Venice]] is held annually in the city, starting around two weeks before [[Ash Wednesday]] and ends on [[Shrove Tuesday]]. The carnival is closely associated with [[Venetian mask]]s.

The [[Venice Biennale]] is one of the most important events in the arts calendar. During 1893 headed by the mayor of Venice, Riccardo Selvatico, the Venetian City Council passed a resolution on 19 April to set up an Esposizione biennale artistica nazionale (biennial exhibition of Italian art), to be inaugurated on 22 April 1895.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.labiennale.org/en/biennale/history/origin/en/7823.html |title=The Venice Biennale: History of the Venice Biennale |publisher=Labiennale.org |accessdate=28 March 2009}}</ref> Following the outbreak of hostilities during the Second World War, the activities of the Biennale were interrupted in September 1942, but resumed in 1948.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.labiennale.org/en/biennale/history/origin/en/7823.3.html |title=The Venice Biennale: History From the beginnings until the Second World War (1893–1945) |publisher=Labiennale.org |accessdate=28 March 2009}}</ref>

The [[Festa del Redentore]] is held in mid July. It began as a feast to give thanks for the end of the terrible plague of 1576. A bridge of barges is built connecting Giudecca to the rest of Venice, and fireworks play an important role.

The [[Venice Film Festival]] {{in it|Mostra Internazionale d'Arte Cinematografica di Venezia}} is the oldest film festival in the world. 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 di Venezia|Lido]], Venice, Italy. 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.

===Foreign words of Venetian origin===
Words with a Venetian etymology include [[:wikt:arsenal|arsenal]], [[:wikt:Ciao|ciao]], [[:wikt:Ghetto|ghetto]], [[:wikt:Gondola|gondola]], [[:wikt:Imbroglio|imbroglio]], [[:wikt:Lagoon|lagoon]], [[:wikt:Lazaret|lazaret]], [[:wikt:Lido|lido]], [[:wikt:Montenegro|Montenegro]], [[:wikt:Quarantine|quarantine]], [[:wikt:Regatta|regatta]].
The name of [[:wikt:Venezuela|Venezuela]] is a Spanish diminutive of Venice. Many other places around the world are named after Venice, e.g. [[Venice, Los Angeles|Venice Beach]].

==Notable people==
''For people from Venice, see [[:Category:People from Venice (city)|People from Venice]].''
Others closely associated with the city include:
* [[Enrico Dandolo]] (''c''. 1107, 1205), [[Doge of Venice]] from 1192 to his death. He played a direct role in the [[Sack of Constantinople]] during the [[Fourth Crusade]].
* [[Marco Polo]] (15 September 1254 – 8 January 1324), trader and [[exploration|explorer]], one of the first Westerners to travel the [[Silk Road]] to China. While a prisoner in Genoa, he dictated in the tale of his travels known as ''Il Milione'' (''[[The Travels of Marco Polo]]'').
* [[Giovanni Bellini]] (c. 1430–1516), a Renaissance painter, probably the best known of the Bellini family of painters.
* [[Aldus Manutius]] (1449–1515), one of the most important printers in history.
* [[Pietro Bembo]] (20 May 1470 – 18 January 1547), [[Catholic Cardinal|cardinal]] and scholar.
* [[Lorenzo Lotto]] (c.1480 – Loreto, 1556), painter, draughtsman, and illustrator, traditionally placed in the [[Venetian School (art)|Venetian school]].
* [[Sebastian Cabot (explorer)|Sebastian Cabot]] (c. 1484–1557, or soon after), [[List of explorers|explorer]].
* [[Pellegrino Ernetti]], Catholic priest and exorcist
* [[Titian]] (''c''. 1488–90 – 27 August 1576), leader of the 16th-century Venetian school of the [[Italian Renaissance]] (he was born in [[Cadore|Pieve di Cadore]]).
* [[Sebastiano Venier]], (c. 1496 – 3 March 1578), [[Doge of Venice]] from 11 June 1577 to 1578.
* [[Andrea Gabrieli]] (c.1510–1586), Italian composer and organist at St Mark's Basilica
* [[Tintoretto]] (1518 – 31 May 1594), probably the last great painter of Italian Renaissance.
* [[Veronica Franco]] (1546–1591), poet and courtesan during the Renaissance
* [[Giovanni Gabrieli]] (between 1554 and 1557–1612), composer and organist at St Mark's Basilica
* [[Claudio Monteverdi]] (1567–1643), composer and director of music at [[San Marco]]
* [[Leon Modena]] (1571–1648) preacher, author, poet, active in the Venetian ghetto and beyond
* [[Marco Antonio Bragadin]] (d.1571), general, flayed alive by the [[Ottoman Empire|Turks]] after a fierce resistance during the siege of [[Famagusta]]
* [[Baldassare Longhena]] (1598 – 18 February 1682), one of the greatest exponents of Baroque architecture.
* [[Francesco Cavalli]] (14 February 1602 – 14 January 1676), a [[baroque music|baroque]] composer
* [[Pietro Cesare Alberti]] (1608–1655), considered the first Italian-American, arriving in New Amsterdam in 1635.
* [[Elena Lucrezia Cornaro Piscopia]] (5 June 1646 – 26 July 1684), the first woman in the world to receive a doctorate degree.
* [[Tomaso Albinoni]] (8 June 1671 – 17 January 1751), a [[baroque music|baroque]] composer
* [[Rosalba Carriera]] (7 October 1675 – 15 April 1757), known for her pastel works.
* [[Antonio Vivaldi]] (4 March 1678, 28 July (or 27), 1741, [[Vienna]]), famous composer and violinist of the Baroque Era
* [[Pietro Guarneri]] (14 April 1695 – 7 April 1762) left Cremona in 1718, settled in Venice. "Peter of Venice" from the family of great luthiers.
* [[Giovanni Battista Tiepolo]] (5 March 1696 – 27 March 1770), the last "Grand Manner" fresco painter from the Venetian Republic.
* [[Canaletto]] (28 October 1697 – 19 April 1768), famous for his landscapes or ''[[veduta|vedute]]'' of Venice, but not only.
* [[Carlo Goldoni]] (25 February 1707 – 6 February 1793). Along with [[Pirandello]], Goldoni is probably the most famous name in Italian theatre, in his country and abroad.
* [[Carlo Gozzi]] (13 December 1720 – 4 April 1806), an excellent dramatist of 18th century.
* [[Giacomo Casanova]] (1725–1798 in [[Duchcov|Dux]], [[Bohemia]], (now [[Duchcov]], Czech Republic)), a famous Venetian adventurer, writer and [[womanizing|womanizer]].
* [[Lorenzo Da Ponte]] (1749–1838), opera librettist and poet. He wrote the librettos for 28 operas by 11 composers, including [[Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart]].
* [[Frederick Rolfe]] (22 July 1860 – 25 October 1913), English author of the Venetian novel ''The Desire and Pursuit of the Whole''.
* [[Virgilio Ranzato]] (7 May 1883 – 20 April 1937), Composer.
* [[Carlo Scarpa]] (2 June 1906 – 1978, [[Sendai, Miyagi|Sendai, Japan]]), an architect with a profound understanding of materials.
* [[Emilio Vedova]] (9 August 1919 – 25 October 2006), one of the most important modern painters of Italy
* [[Bruno Maderna]] (21 April 1920 – 13 November 1973), an Italian-German orchestra director and 20th-century music composer.
* [[Luigi Nono (composer)|Luigi Nono]] (29 January 1924 – 8 May 1990), a leading composer of instrumental and electronic music.
* [[Romano Scarpa]] (27 September 1927, Venice – 23 April 2005, Málaga), was one of the most famous Italian creators of Disney comics.
* [[Ludovico de Luigi]] (November 1933), Venetian Surrealistic artist.
* [[Giuseppe Sinopoli]] (2 November 1946 – 20 April 2001), conductor and composer.
* [[Francesco Borgato]] (5 September 1990, Venice), is an Italian recording artist and dancer.

==International relations==
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===
{{See also|List of twin towns and sister cities in Italy}}
Venice is [[Twin towns and sister cities|twinned]] with:
{| class="wikitable"
|- valign="top"
|
*{{flagicon|IRN}} [[Shiraz]], Iran
*{{flagicon|PAK}} [[Islamabad]], Pakistan, since 1960
*{{flagicon|IDN}} [[Palembang]], Indonesia.
*{{flagicon|PRC}} [[Suzhou]], China, since 1980
*{{flagicon|THA}} [[Bangkok]],Thailand
||
*{{flagicon|EST}} [[Tallinn]], Estonia
*{{flagicon|COL}} [[Pereira, Colombia|Pereira]], Colombia
*{{flagicon|TUR}} [[Istanbul]], Turkey, since 1993
*{{flagicon|BIH}} [[Sarajevo]], Bosnia and Herzegovina, since 1994
*{{flagicon|ARM}} [[Yerevan]], Armenia, since 2011
*{{flagicon|IDN}} [[Banjarmasin]], Indonesia.
||
*{{flagicon|POR}} [[Aveiro, Portugal|Aveiro]], Portugal, since 1998
*{{flagicon|GER}} [[Nuremberg]], Germany, since 1999
*{{flagicon|ARG}} [[Tigre, Buenos Aires]], Argentina
*{{flagicon|PRC}} [[Qingdao]], China, since 2001
*{{flagicon|RUS}} [[Saint Petersburg]], Russia, 2006-2013<ref name="Venice_Russia">{{cite news|last=Morgan|first=Glennisha|title=Venice To Cut Ties With St. Petersburg Over Anti-Gay Law|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/30/venice-st-petersburg-anti-gaw-propaganda-law_n_2576044.html|accessdate=8 August 2013|newspaper=The Huffington Post|date=30 January 2013|author="Venice_Russia"}}</ref>
||
*{{flagicon|GRE}} [[Thessaloniki]], Greece, since 2003
*{{flagicon|USA}} [[Fort Lauderdale, Florida|Fort Lauderdale]], United States, since 2007
*{{flagicon|UK}} [[Wolverhampton]], United Kingdom
*{{flagicon|CZE}} [[Most]], Czech Republic
*{{flagicon|CRO}} [[Dubrovnik]], Croatia, since 2012
|}
In 2013, Venice ended the sister city relationship with St. Petersburg in opposition to laws Russia had passed against homosexuals and those who support gay rights.<ref name="Venice_Russia"/>

===Cooperation agreements===
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.

==Etymology==
The name is connected with the people known as the [[Adriatic Veneti|Veneti]], perhaps the same as the ''Eneti'' (Ενετοί). The meaning of the word is uncertain. Connections with the Latin verb ''venire'' (to come) or ''venia'' are fanciful. A connection with the Latin word ''venetus'', meaning 'sea-blue', is possible.

==See also==
{{portal|Geography|Europe|European Union|Italy|Venice}}
* [[Outline of Italy]]
* [[List of architecture monuments of Venice]]
* [[List of painters and architects of Venice]]
* [[Venetian Ghetto]]
* [[Jewish Community of Venice]]
* ''[[Su e zo per i ponti]]''
* [[Adriatic Veneti|Veneti]] and [[Venetic language]] (the ancient spoken language of the region)
* [[S.S.C. Venezia]]
* [[Venetian Blinds]]
* [[Venetian language]] (the modern spoken vernacular of the region)
* [[Venezia Mestre Rugby FC]] – rugby team
*[[List of places called Venice of the East]]
*[[Venice of the North]]

==References==

===Notes===
{{Reflist|30em}}

===Bibliography===
;Academic
{{Refbegin|30em}}
*{{Cite book|last=Bosio|first=Luciano|title=Le origini di Venezia|location=Novara|publisher=Istituto Geografico De Agostini}}
*[[Horatio Brown|Brown, Horatio]], ''Venice'', chapter 8 of ''[[Cambridge Modern History]]'' vol. I ''The Renaissance'' (1902)
*Brown, Horatio, ''Calendar of State Papers (Venetian): 1581–1591'', 1895; ''1592–1603'', 1897; ''1603–1607'', 1900; ''1607–1610'', 1904; ''1610–1613'', 1905
*Brown, Horatio, ''Studies in the history of Venice'' (London, 1907)
* Chambers, D.S. (1970). ''The Imperial Age of Venice, 1380–1580.'' London: Thames & Hudson. The best brief introduction in English, still completely reliable.
* Contarini, Gasparo (1599). ''The Commonwealth and Gouernment of Venice.'' Lewes Lewkenor, trsl. London: "Imprinted by I. Windet for E. Mattes." The most important contemporary account of Venice's governance during the time of its blossoming. Also available in various reprint editions.
*Da Canal, Martin, "Les estoires de Venise" (13th-century chronicle), translated by Laura Morreale. Padua, Unipress 2009.
* Drechsler, Wolfgang (2002). "Venice Misappropriated." ''Trames'' 6(2), pp.&nbsp;192–201. A scathing review of Martin & Romano 2000; also a good summary on the most recent economic and political thought on Venice.
* Garrett, Martin, "Venice: a Cultural History" (2006). Revised edition of "Venice: a Cultural and Literary Companion" (2001).
* Grubb, James S. (1986). "When Myths Lose Power: Four Decades of Venetian Historiography." ''Journal of Modern History'' 58, pp.&nbsp;43–94. The classic "muckraking" essay on the myths of Venice.
* Lane, Frederic Chapin. ''Venice: Maritime Republic'' (1973) (ISBN 978-0-8018-1445-7) standard scholarly history; emphasis on economic, political and diplomatic history
* Laven, Mary, "Virgins of Venice: Enclosed Lives and Broken Vows in the Renaissance Convent (2002). The most important study of the life of Renaissance nuns, with much on aristocratic family networks and the life of women more generally.
* Madden, Thomas F. ''Enrico Dandolo and the Rise of Venice'' Johns Hopkins University Press. Probably the best book in English on medieval Venice.
* Martin, John Jeffries and Dennis Romano (eds). ''Venice Reconsidered. The History and Civilization of an Italian City-State, 1297–1797.'' (2002) [[Johns Hopkins University Press]]. The most recent collection on essays, many by prominent scholars, on Venice.
* Muir, Edward (1981). ''Civic Ritual in Renaissance Venice.'' Princeton UP. The classic of Venetian cultural studies, highly sophisticated.
* [[Gerald J. Oppenheimer|Oppenheimer, Gerald J.]] (2010). ''Venetian'' Palazzi ''and'' Case: ''A Guide to the Literature.'' University of Washington, Seattle. Retrieved from http://faculty.washington.edu/gerryo/venice.html 7 February 2010.
* Rösch, Gerhard (2000). ''Venedig. Geschichte einer Seerepublik.'' Stuttgart: Kohlhammer. In German, but the most recent top-level brief history of Venice.
*{{Cite book|last=Miller |first=Judith|title=Furniture: world styles from classical to contemporary|publisher=DK Publishing|year=2005|isbn=978-0-7566-1340-2 }}
{{Refend}}

;Popular
{{Refbegin|30em}}
* [[Ackroyd, Peter]]. ''Venice: Pure City''. London, Chatto & Windus. 2009. ISBN 978-0-7011-8478-0
*[[Horatio Brown|Brown, Horatio]], ''[[Life on the Lagoons]]'', 1884; revised ed. 1894; further eds. 1900, 1904, 1909.
* Cole, Toby. ''Venice: A Portable Reader'', Lawrence Hill, 1979. ISBN 978-0-88208-097-0 (hardcover); ISBN 978-0-88208-107-6 (softcover).
* [[Thomas Madden|Madden, Thomas]], ''Venice: A New History''. New York: Viking, 2012. ISBN 978-0-67002-542-8. A fascinating and approachable history by a distinguished historian.
* [[Jan Morris|Morris, Jan]] (1993), ''Venice''. 3rd revised edition. Faber & Faber, ISBN 978-0-571-16897-2. A subjective and passionate written introduction to the city and some of its history. Not illustrated.
* [[John Ruskin|Ruskin, John (1853)]]. ''[[The Stones of Venice (book)|The Stones of Venice]]''. Abridged edition Links, JG (Ed), Penguin Books, 2001. ISBN 978-0-14-139065-9. Seminal work on architecture and society
* [[Andrea di Robilant|di Robilant, Andrea]] (2004). ''A Venetian Affair''. HarperCollins. ISBN 978-1-84115-542-5 Biography of Venetian nobleman and lover, from correspondence in the 1750s.
* Sethre, Janet. ''The Souls of Venice'' McFarland & Company, Inc., 2003. ISBN 978-0-7864-1573-1 (softcover). This book focuses on people who have been shaped by Venice and who have shaped the city in their turn. Illustrated (photographs by Manuela Fardin).
{{Refend}}

==External links==
{{Sister project links|Venice|voy=Venice}}
* [http://www.venipedia.org Venipedia.org-an English wiki dedicated to Venice]
* [http://www.comune.venezia.it/flex/cm/pages/ServeBLOB.php/L/EN/IDPagina/1 Official Site of the City of Venice]
* [http://www.nordest2019.eu/ Venice European Capital of Culture 2019]
* [http://www.museiciviciveneziani.it/ Fondazione Musei Civici di Venezia] (Italian/English)
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SHvE9apNASo Venice Waterways, Canals and Bridges; Video tour]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQvSNgidFB8 Weekend in Venice video]

{{Province of Venice}}
{{Regional capitals of Italy}}
{{World Heritage Sites in Italy}}
{{Maritime republics}}
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[[Category:Venice| ]]
[[Category:Car-free zones]]
[[Category:Cities and towns in Veneto]]
[[Category:Coastal cities and towns in Italy]]
[[Category:Historic Jewish communities]]
[[Category:Islands of the Venetian Lagoon]]
[[Category:Mediterranean port cities and towns in Italy]]
[[Category:Port cities and towns of the Adriatic Sea]]
[[Category:World Heritage Sites in Italy]]
[[Category:Capitals of former nations]]

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Revision as of 23:57, 14 October 2013

It has lots of water

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