Venice
Venice is the capital of region Veneto, and has a population of 271,663 (census estimate January 1, 2004). The city is included with Padua (Padova) in the Padua-Venice Metropolitan Area (population 1,600,000). Venice's nicknames include "Queen of the Adriatic", "City of Water", "City of Bridges", and "The City of Light."
The city stretches across numerous small islands in the marshy Venetian Lagoon along the Adriatic Sea in northeast Italy. The saltwater lagoon stretches along the shoreline between the mouths of the Po (south) and the Piave (north) Rivers. The population estimate of 272,000 inhabitants includes the population of the whole Comune of Venezia; around 62,000 in the historic city of Venice (Centro storico); 176,000 in Terraferma (literally firm land, the areas outside the lagoon), mostly in the large frazione of Mestre and Marghera; and 31,000 live on other islands in the lagoon.
The Venetian Republic was a major sea power and a staging area for the Crusades, as well as a very important centre of commerce (especially the spice trade) and art in the Renaissance.
Tourist attractions
Sestieri
The sestieri are the primary traditional divisions of Venice. The city is divided into the six districts of Cannaregio, San Polo, Dorsoduro (including the Giudecca), Santa Croce, San Marco (including San Giorgio Maggiore), and Castello (including San Pietro di Castello and Sant'Elena). At the front of the Gondolas that work in the city there is a large piece of metal intended as a likeness of the Doge's hat. On this sit six notches pointing forwards and one pointing backwards. Each of these represent one of the Sestieri (the one which points backwards represents Giudecca).
Piazzas and campi of Venice
Piazza San Marco
Campo San Polo
Palaces and palazzi
Doge's Palace
Palazzo Grassi
Ca' d'Oro
Ca' Rezzonico
Peggy Guggenheim Collection
Palazzo Contarini del Bovolo
Fondaco dei Turchi
Palazzo Labia
Scuola Grande di San Marco
Palazzo Malipiero
Churches
Basilica di San Marco
Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute
Other churches
Other buildings
Accademia
The Arsenal
La Fenice opera house
La Torre dell'Orologio (St Mark's Clock)
Bridges and canals
Rialto Bridge
The Bridge of Sighs
Accademia Bridge
Scalzi Bridge
Piazzale Roma Footbridge
Surroundings
The Venetian Lagoon
Islands:
Burano
Lido
Murano
San Michele
Sant'Erasmo
San Lazzaro degli Armeni
San Servolo
Torcello
Vignole
Giudecca
Venetian Villas
Main article: Palladian Villas of the Veneto
The villas of the Veneto, rural residences for nobles during the Republic, are one of the most interesting aspects of Venetian countryside.
They are surrounded by elegant gardens, suitable for fashionable parties of high society. Most of these villas were designed by Palladio, and are now a UNESCO World Heritage site.
According to the architects, water around the villas was a very important architectural element because it added more brilliance to the façade.