The romantic city of Venice is located in the Veneto region of Italy — one of the northernmost states in Italy. It is on a group of 118 small islands that are separated by canals and linked by over 400 bridges. The islands are in the shallow Venetian Lagoon, an enclosed bay lying between the mouths of rivers Po and Piave.
Venice has been known as “La Dominante”, “La Serenissima”, “Queen of the Adriatic”, “City of Water”, “City of Masks”, “City of Bridges”, “The Floating City”, and “City of Canals”. The lagoon and a part of the city are listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Parts of Venice are renowned for the beauty of their settings, their architecture and artwork.
The biggest attraction in the gorgeous city of Venice is the architecture – which is enhanced by the ancient canals that surround it. One of the most famous areas of the city is the world-renowned Grand Canal thoroughfare, which was a major centre of the Renaissance.
Piazza San Marco & St. Mark’s Basilica
Piazza San Marco is the central square in Venice This is where you’ll find the famous St. Mark’s Basilica, a range of Byzantine mosaics and the Campanile bell. It is one of the most beautiful squares in the world and it is considered the city’s main symbol and tourist attraction. St. Mark’s Basilica is the mightiest of Venetian monuments and the one that really shows the greatness of Venice.
Doge’s Palace
As well as Piazza San Marco and St. Mark’s Basilica, the city is home to the Gothic masterpiece Doge’s Palace. The Palace is the most representative symbol of Venice’s culture, which, together with the Basilica of San Marco at the back and the Piazzetta in the forefront, forms of the most famous sceneries in the world. This pink and white marble building has to be seen in the flesh to be fully appreciated. Not only is it a breathtaking example of Italian architecture, it is also the centre of Venice Carnival celebrations every year.
Rialto Bridge
The most beautiful and famous bridge in all of Venice, that crosses the Grand Canal. This ornate structure hangs over the Grand Canal with masterful confidence. Connecting San Polo to the sestieri of San Marco, the bridge has been rebuilt many times over the years.
Venetian Gondola
The best known form of transport through the canals of Venice is the gondola. Today there are only several hundred of these unique, keelless boats left, but their elegant, sleek shape and gleaming black paintwork have made them a symbol of Venice.
Venice Carnival
Thousands of tourists come to Venice to see and take part in its magnificent Carnival. Those mysterious, disturbing Venetian masks, eyeing you from the city’s alleyways are part of what we imagine the Venetian world would have been like 300 years ago. They are an irresistible attraction for what is undoubtedly one of the world’s most unique experiences: the re-living of 18th century Venice.
PHOTOGRAPHY by JANA LETONJA