Venice!

Two years ago when we arrived in Cambridge, I thought I had seen the most beautiful old city and that nothing could surprise me ever again – boy, I was wrong!  Venice is stunning visually and historically as well as defying the practical rules that we take for granted when a city is founded. 

We are staying at the Stucky Hotel, a Hilton hotel that used to be a 24-hour pasta factory owned by Mr. Stucky until Mussolini nationalized it.  After the war, the factory deteriorated and was run down and unused until the 1990's when Hilton brought it back to its glory and recognized the former owner:   

 

 

Fed by the Adriatic Sea, Venice comprises approximately 118 islands, joined together by approximately 80 bridges. Venice's buildings are built on top of 10 million logs that were driven down into the mud in the same way that ranchers drive fence posts today.  There is no driving in Venice – transportation is accomplished by walking on the bridges or boating in the canals separating the islands and lagoons. 

Venice was originally Roman and called “Venetia et Histria” in the 4^th Century but constant barbarian invasions and the decline of the Roman Empire forced the inhabitants  to move themselves into the lagoon isles under the protection of Byzantium rule.  Venice’s  history includes regular pirates invasions, expanded and clever trade that led to wealth and more invasions by others such as the Normans and Turks, as well as political warfare with Genoa and Pisa. 

The architecture of Venice's churches and residences  was heavily influenced by its invaders and later by its traders.  For example, you can see Turkish and Baroque styles competing in one subject. 

 

 

The biggest draw in Venice is the Basilica of St. Mark and St. Mark's Square, which  are two sights to behold:

 

 

 

 

Below are photos we took on our first afternoon and evening in Venice:

 

 

There are more photos of Venice coming up in my next posting and will cover our trips to the Murano glass factory and the village  of Burano.