Venice, Italy
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Venice, Italy
Located in the Northeast of , lies in a unique natural position inside the enclosed . This area lies between the Po and Piave rivers, and periodically rises and falls depending on the tides. The itself has numerous islands, with the of itself stretching across a series of over a hundred islands, linked by ‘s intricate network of bridges, canals and waterways. Known as “La Serenissima” amongst other titles, the of is internationally renown as one of the world’s most beautiful cities, with its unique landscape, rich cultural heritage, and architectural styles setting it apart from any other. Getting around in is easily one of the most memorable things about the , with many of the and waterways being traversed by , or by small boats, without even so much as a road for cars to drive on. With this in mind be sure to bring a comfortable pair of walking shoes on any .
Early History and Ascent
‘s earliest history can be traced back to the Roman era, with the serving as a home for local fishermen. However, following the fall of the Western Roman Empire, successive waves of Germanic, and Hunnic invasion sparked a refugee crisis, with an enormous amount of internal displacement, and migration across the Italian peninsula. Some of these Roman refugees sought refuge in the region, establishing a settlement in the area and coming under the protection of the Eastern Roman (Byzantine) Empire, with their client state ‘The Exarchate of Ravenna’ administering the region. In the following centuries, around the 8th century AD, the fall of the Exarchate at the hands of the Lombard’s left increasingly isolated, now one of the only Byzantine outposts left on the Italian peninsula. ‘s isolation led to it becoming an increasingly autonomous , gaining lucrative trading concessions from the Byzantines whilst also serving as a safe haven for migrants and refugees, all of which swelled the ‘s size and prestige. The early 9th century AD saw the singled out and threatened, with its rising power drawing the attention of the Lombard King Pepin, Charlemagne‘s son, who laid siege to the . Despite the immense power of Charlemagne’s Kingdom, the ‘s geography prevented Pepin’s success, with Pepin himself dying from the lagoon’s fevers shortly afterwards. This victory firmly asserted ‘s role at the nexus of two great powers, with its locus allowing it to flourish as a centre of trade between the east and the west.
Golden Age
‘s position between at both the periphery and intersection of east and west afforded the a unique position. Through the leveraging of its relationships, as well as its own mounting wealth and power, it gained an incredible amount of autonomy from Constantinople, negotiating internationally and administering the much to the designs of ‘s patricians alone. This gradual drift from the Byzantine orbit eventually culminated in the ‘s de facto independence around the late 9th century, whilst still retaining its lucrative trading rights in the east. As ‘s power and influence grew, cities and territories along the Adriatic coast were incorporated under ‘s control, largely as a means to deny pirates space to operate, as well as expanding the reach of ‘s navy. naval dominance in this region is largely what underscored much of its power, being able to protect and facilitate trade between Byzantium, Asia, and Western Europe. As ‘s power grew in relation to the Byzantines, tensions mounted between the two, with the seizure of businesses in Constantinople in the mid 12th century marking the beginning of a period of increasing animosity between the two. These tensions came to a head in the year 1204, when the fourth crusade saw soldiers sacking the of Constantinople, looting much of the ‘s wealth and sacred artefacts, and establishing a catholic led ‘Latin Empire’, that usurped the Emperor in the east for roughly half a century. Following this event ‘s power stretched further into the east, seizing islands in the Aegean, as well as major centres such as Crete and Cyprus.
Around this time, re-organized into its characteristic republican government form, with the mid 12th century marking the transition of its Doge from a monarchical type figure to ‘s chief bureaucrat. The apogee of ‘s power as a commercial and military powerhouse came soon after between the 12th-14th centuries, with its merchant fleet being the largest in Europe, and with the itself being amongst the largest and in Europe, all despite being located on an island archipelago. This period was characterised by ‘s infamous power struggles, with powerful family and political intrigues ruling the day. merchants were also incredibly influential on the development of European trade and commerce throughout this period, with acting as the prime commercial gateway between Western Europe and Asia, and merchants such as Marco Polo proving instrumental for the development of European commence, and cartography. Whilst other merchant states vied with for dominance, most notably the Genoese, ‘s position remained paramount for centuries to come, having a grip on key commodities and luxuries such as salt, and silks from the east.
‘s Decline
‘s slow decline follows the progression of key historical turning points that dismantled the foundation of ‘s trade monopoly between east and west. The first of these came in the early 15th century, with Ottoman troops seizing ‘s Greek holdings in Thessalonica, following which they eventually captured the strategically vital Constantinople in 1453, effectively cutting off from its trade routes coming through the Bosporus and Black Sea, and putting a final end the the last vestiges of the Roman Empire. These events, coupled with the capture of the Christian cities in the levant, left ‘s access to eastern trade routes severely diminished. ‘s ill fortunes were further compounded with the discovery of the New World following Columbus’ 1492 voyage, which saw the beginning of the Columbian exchange, and brought vast wealth to western Europe, mostly through the gateways of Spain and Portugal. The final significant event in ‘s decline was Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama‘s 1499 discovery of an alternative route to India, around the Cape of Good Hope. This route circumnavigated the Mediterranean entirely, and negated the need for western European powers to rely on traditional trade routes and intermediaries.
In response to the loss of its traditional revenue streams, instead directed its resources regionally, expanding provincially to some of the rich areas of mainland . Unfortunately for , the intricate alliances and delicate balance of power amongst the Italian states proved too volatile, ultimately provoking a coalition response in the War of the League of Cambrai, which marked the beginning of series of wars that would crush ambitions. Following ‘s decline as a merchant republic, the experienced European history much like many other Italian cities, now subject to the power and influence of their much larger neighbours. The republic remained independent, though much weakened, until the late 18th century when it was incorporated in to Habsburg Austria, here it largely remained until the final formation of the Kingdom of in 1866.
Travelling to
is one of the most distinctive and unique cities in the world, with much of the listed as a UNESCO world heritage site. Unlike a to many other cities, a will most likely be a , though you may find yourself water-bound on a through some of the . No cars are allowed in the , though some parking can be found before entering, so be ready for a good on any to . This having been said, a is also a great way to , crossing under ‘s bridges and archways, while taking in its historic cityscape from this unique vantage point. Aside from the omnipresent beauty of the ‘s waterways and canals, there are a number of landmarks and historic buildings one should visit on their . The (or ), is a good place to begin, easily being one of the most recognizable places in the , and having been the social, religious, and political centre of for centuries. Flanked on each of its faces with some of ‘s most famous buildings, the is the heart, and historical centre of the . On the eastern face of the sits , originally constructed in in the 9th century AD, the was made to house the body of , famously stolen from Alexandria by merchants, who hid the body in a barrel of pork fat. body, along with some of his relics went on to become some of ‘s most famous iconography, with the winged lion in particular becoming synonymous with the Republic of . Today’s dates back to the late 11th century, and features a distinctive Italo-Byzantine architectural style that was popular during ‘s proto-renaissance, as well as an iconic bell tower, used to sight ships, and act as a guide for those coming into harbour.
Also adjacent to the is the (or the Doge’s ), traditionally this served as the apartments for ‘s Doge, as well as functioning as the primary administrative centre of the . Built in the late 12th century, it is characterised by its stunning façade and gothic architecture, and has been an influential building in informing architectural style across the western world. Today the operates as an art museum, with pieces from ‘s storied past, as well as from across Europe. The final notable building of the is the Biblioteca Marciana (or Library of Saint Mark). Built to house manuscripts and classical texts, the building serves as one of Europe’s earliest public libraries, having been constructed in the late 15th century, and features a stunning façade that characterises Renaissance architecture. Some other sights and activities to check out on your to include the famous Arsenal, the of della Salute, as well as the Rialto markets, all of which can are simply a away. Much like some of ‘s other great cities like , or , the sheer depth of history in is staggering, with the long and storied history making for an unforgettable experience. Each of ‘s uncountable landmarks and buildings are steeped in the rich heritage of countless centuries. To this end, one of the best ways to experience what has to offer is through a small group . Odyssey specialises in this kind of , offering an engaging and intimate to that highlights what the has to offer.
