Venezia and surroundings

Since 1987, Venice has been honoured  with a much deserved place on the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites.

The ancient maritime Republic of Venice, La Serenissima had been for centuries a meeting point  between The East and The West, a bridge between the two worlds geographically separated and with limited commercial and cultural exchanges.

The birth of the Venetian Lagoon can be traced to the 5th Century after Christ, an historic period during which the Barbarian invasions provoked a mass migration of the population towards the main isles.

This migration encouraged growth of population, creating the base for the future birth of  Venetian society and La Serenissima Republic, an empire which reigned unchallenged for a thousand years until the Napoleonic troops brought an end to their glorious hegemony, aiding however the beginning of ITALY as we know it (unified in 1866).

In the last century, with the exponential growth of the touristic market, Venice has become a pivotal holiday destination.

With such a historic, cultural and artistic weatlh, the city of Venice is renowned and appreciated worldwide.

You cannot summarise the many architectural masterpieces that make Venice so unique; think of, for instance to Piazza San Marco, with its bizantine cathedral; the Grand Canale; the Clocktower and the Ducal Palace, the homes of the Dogi, to name a few.

Other reference points can be found in the Fenice Theatre, the Grassi  Palace and the famous Hebrew Ghetto, mentioned by Shakespeare in one of his novels.

To know Venice and its heritage you have to go beyond the fantastic monuments the city has to offer and visit the surrounding islands which branch out the heart of the lagoon.

The most well known islands of the Venetian Lagoon are Murano, Burano, Torcello, each with its own particular characteristics.

Murano is well known in the Wolrd for its precious artisanal glass works, Burano for its hand sewn lace, a tradition since the 17th Century.

Last but not least,  the Isle of Torcello which can also be considered instrumental in the making of Venice, as it was the place where all materials to build the city came from.