Regional info

Italy

Venice is situated on a number of islands in the Venetian lagoon.  The lagoon is protected from the Adriatic Sea by several islands and peninsula but the beautiful the city still suffers from floods every winter. Venice is connected to the mainland by a dam that cars and trains can use.  It leads from the harbour city of Mestre to the island. Venice used to be an independent state for centuries and was the most prosperous city throughout Europe in Mediaeval times and culturally influential in the 18th century. The Doges were the appointed leaders and, under their power, popular artists, poets and architects made Venice famous worldwide. Napoleon was the only one to conquer the city, and now Venice is 'only' the capital of the Italian Veneto region. Cultural reforms that have influenced Venice can be seen along the whole Adriatic north-west coast.  Such as the Lido isles, known for the film festival, the romantic bay of Burano with its coloured houses, Murano, home to famous glass artists, and Torcello with its 14th century palaces.  In addition, there are smaller cities such as Chioggia at the south edge of the lagoon.  The whole of the Venetian lagoon is on the world heritage list.