Page 91 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Italy

NOR THEAST IT AL Y  89

VENICE

Lying in the extreme northeast of Italy, Venice, gateway to
the Orient, became an independent Byzantine province in
the 10th century. Exclusive trading links with the East and
victory in the Crusade of 1204 brought wealth and power,
which were only gradually eroded by European and Turkish
rivals. Today, Venice’s ties are with the local Veneto region
which stretches from the flat river plains to the Dolomites.
Venice is one of the few cities in the the Kingdom of Italy in 1866, so
world that can be truly described as bringing unity to the country for the
unique. It survives against all the odds, first time in its history. Today, Venice has
built on a series of low mudbanks amid found a new role. Her palazzi have
the tidal waters of the Adriatic, and become museums, shops, hotels and
regularly subject to floods. During the apartments, while her convents have
Middle Ages, under the leadership of been turned into centres for art restoration.
successive doges, Venice expanded its Yet little of the essential fabric of Venice
power and influence throughout the has altered in 200 years. The city’s sounds
Med iterranean to Constantinople are still those of footsteps and the cries of
(mod ern Istanbul). The immense wealth boatmen. The only engines are those of
of the city was celebrated in art and barges delivering supplies or water buses
architecture throughout the town. ferrying passengers between stops.
The riches of St Mark’s alone bear The same well-worn streets are still trodden.
witness to Venice’s position as a world More than 20 million visi tors a year
power from the 12th to 14th centuries. succumb to the magic of this improbable
After slowly losing ground to the new place whose “streets are full of water”
states of Europe, however, it fell to and where the glories of the past are
Napoleon in 1797. Finally, Venice joined evident at every turn.

Tourists relax at cafés along a canal in Burano, Venice
Dusk settles over St Mark’s Basin, Venice

088-089_EW_Italy.indd 89 4/4/17 5:32 PM