San Marco - Venice
Venice lagoon to the
Adriatic Sea in the north of
Italy is home to one of the most romantic and beautiful
cities in the
world. Its name comes from the
Veneto tribe that inhabited the region during the Roman Empire.
In medieval
Venice was an independent city-state, a major maritime power and center of commerce and the arts. Among the basic commodities which are traded here at that time were silk, grain and spices. This made the
city one of the richest time.
No conclusive data, but suggest that
Venice was founded by residents of some Roman towns in the area while fleeing attacks by the Huns and Germanic tribes. Over time and through the development of trade
Venice gained control over much of the islands
Aegean, including on the islands of Cyprus and Crete. The
city had strong links with Constantinople, the capital of Eastern Roman Empire and the
Venetian merchants were allowed to trade in the eastern parts of the empire. In return,
Venice had to indicate military aid against the attacks of the Normans and Turks.
Its greatest expansion and conversion into one of the leading forces at that time
Venice is experiencing after the Fourth Crusade in 1204. At that time the lands of the Byzantine Empire emerged in Latin and many valuables were looted and transferred from Constantinople to
Venice. Among them are gilded bronze horses from the Hippodrome, which were originally placed at the entrance of the cathedral "
San Marco". Later were replaced by copies and the originals are kept until today in the cathedral itself. By the end of 13th century
Venice became the most prosperous European
city.
The decline of
Venice in the 15th century began after a failed attempt to sustain invasion of Thessaloniki in the Turks led by Mehmed II the Conqueror. During the siege of Constantinople,
Venice sends ships to defend the city. After his conquest Mehmed II declared war on
Venice, which lasted thirty years and costing the
city much of its Mediterranean possessions. Christopher Columbus discovered the New World, and Portuguese navigators discovered the route to India by sea.
Venetian ships were unable to compete with ships of other European powers for long trips and crossing oceans and backward in
Venice competition for the conquest of new colonies.
In the late 18th century
Venice was conquered by Napoleon Bonaparte. A period of Austrian rule, while in 1866 after the Third
Italian War of Independence
Venice became part of the newly created Kingdom of
Italy.
Today,
Venice is one of the most visited tourist destinations in
Italy. Moreover, the city is a center of art and culture. Hometown is one of the greatest composers - Antonio Vivaldi.
Every year here the
Venice Carnival, during which you can see people dressed in gorgeous costumes and the typical
Venetian masks on their faces.
Widely known and
Venetian glass processing technique which is developed from the early 13th century masters who arrived in
Venice after the fall of Constantinople during the Fourth Crusade.
Among the many sights in the city
Basilica "
San Marco" Grand Canal -
Venice's main channel in which many sail boats and gondolas and located in the heart of the town square "
San Marco", where the palace of the dojo - a medieval princes
Venice.
