Venice is a landmark on its own, unique and intriguing since its humble beginnings until the present day. In other words, Venice seduces and captivates with its architecture, culture, and omnipresent ambiance of quaint romance. A swamp might seem like a strange place to build one of the greatest cities in Italian history. However, considering the circumstances that led to its foundation, it was the perfect place to make one’s home. Following the fall of the Roman Empire, Italian mainland suffered from frequent Barbarian rampages. So, the first people to settle in the Venetian lagoon came looking for nothing more than a safe refuge. The settlers craftily improved their swampy circumstances by building a “terra semi-firma.” How? They used wood pylons driven thirty meters (100 feet) into the wet sand.
The more invaders returned, the more people sought sanctuary in the lagoon.
The six kilometers (three miles) of shallow water between Venice and mainland protected the city for over 1400 years. It isolated it not only from the invaders but also often quarrelsome Italian political life. Venice stayed utterly unaffected by imperialist warfare, feudalism, and territorial disputes. Instead, the city turned its attention to the East, the home of vibrant markets such as Alexandria and Constantinople. Gradually, a peaceful lagoon grew into a commercial empire.
Venice’s political, economic, and cultural prosperity peaked in Middle Ages. During this period, Venice became the city of art, culture, and innovation we know today. One of the great markers in its history was the election of the first Doge of Venice, a step that was way ahead of its time. The second pivotal event was bringing relics of Saint Mark from Alexandria and, consequently, the construction of Saint Mark’s Basilica. Today, if you search for what to do in Venice, St Mark's Basilica, along the lovely square in front of it, will be among the top suggestions.
Venice has been called by many names: The Floating city, City of Bridges, and the City of Love… You can make your trip romantic, educational, exploratory or all of the above. It is indeed up to you which alluring aspect of Venice you want to experience because all of them will astound you. Scroll through the page to discover all the fantastic things to do in Venice!
