Venice

The region of Venice was inhabited by the Veneti as far back as the 10th century B.C. The city itself grew as citizens from the mainland fled to the lagoon from invading Germans and Huns. They settled on the small fisherman's islands and slowly started reclaiming the land and fortifying the soil with wooden poles and stone walls. Ultimately, Venice encompassed a group of 118 small islands, interlinked by bridges crossing the canals. The Republic of Venice was one of the worlds strongest maritime powers during the Renaissance. They controlled the Adriatic coast of Italy, Croatia, Slovenia, and Greece. It was also part of the silk road and prospered as a result of international trade. During this time, Venice was also an artistic and cultural center. Later on, it became part of Austria before joining the unification of Italy in 1886.

Walking through Venice feels like walking through a Renaissance painting. Every corner you turn leads you to an even more picturesque view. The best thing to do is to let yourself get lost and aimlessly wander through this open-air museum of palaces and canals. The main sight in Venice is the Piazza San Marco. This square houses the stunning Basilica di San Marco and the Doge’s Palace. Both are beautiful from the inside and outside and offer a wealth of art and history. The Ponte Rialto and Ponte dell’Academia are the two impressive and elegant bridges that cross the big Canal Grande that runs through Venice. The islands of Murano and Burano lie in the Venitian lagoon are famous for their colorful houses and traditional artisanal glass and lacework.

Venice might be the most popular tourist destination in Italy. The massive amount of tourists that visit the city every year are severely damaging the city. 75% of buildings are now rent out as vacation rentals, leading locals to leave the town, shops to close and prices to skyrocket. UNESCO has threatened to revoke the Heritage status if the government doesn’t intervene to protect the authenticity of Venice. At the moment, there are plans to limit the number of tourists allowed to visit each day. Even though Venice is made up of islands, it’s easy to reach. Buses and trains run from the mainland and the airport to the city center. No motorized vehicles are allowed on the streets in Venice, making it one big pedestrian zone. All traffic is diverted to the water, including water taxies and the waterbus called Vaporetto. Keep in mind that these are significantly more expensive than regular public transportation.