VENICE
(VENEZIA)
The city of Venice
is famous and unique for its structure alone, which extends
over approximately 120 islands separated by numerous canals
all connected to each other by over 400 bridges. Consequently,
urban travel is almost exclusively carried out on water (motorboats,
public water boats, gondolas and private boats). In the historical
centre, heavily depopulated (less than 70000 remaining residents)
tertiary activities prevail: administrative functions and
industry connected with the powerful tourist business. The
artisan industry (glass and souvenir etc.) is also mainly
linked to the tourist influx (approx. 3 million people yearly),
giving rise to many cultural activities, amongst which the
Biennale d’Arte, also connected to the International
Festival of Contemporary Music and that of prosa, the Mostra
del Cinema, (the first showing of new films), the Premio Letterario
Campiello, (Literary award), the musical seasons of the wonderful
Fenice theatre, which re-opened in November 2004, having been
restored and renovated after it was destroyed in the disastrous
fire of ’96.
The lagoon area was already inhabited from the migration of
Entroterra (569-637) due to the descent of the Longobards
on the Padanan plains.
Inserted in the Exarcate (Proto-Romanesque period) of Ravenna,
allowing the city to be governed through the patriarch of
Aquileia, Venice became autonomous, establishing ruling by
the Doges (the first Doge was Paoluccio Anafesto, 692). After
the fall of Ravenna (751) and the attempted annexation by
Carlo Magno (810), the nuclear town (Venetia) was constituted,
beginning its mercantile expansion in the Adriatic, in competition
with the Dalmati and Muslims. Under the rule of Doge Orseolo
II (991-1008), Venice established its dominion, then good
relations with the German and Byzantium empires. Due to this,
the city assumed a prestigious, political and economic position,
allowing it to overcome the battle between the Papacy and
advancing empire of the Normans in the lower Adriatic (11-12th
Century).
Under Pietro Polani (1130-48), the Consiglio of the Dieci
Savi (Council of the 10 Sages) was established, with executive
duties limited to the power of the doge, therefore seeing
the beginning of the Veneciarum council, from the line of
rich and powerful mercantile families. The conquest of Zara
and the foundation of the latino d’oriente empire (4a
Crusade, 1204), allowed the first Venetian ownership in the
Mediterranean which lead to an encounter with the Republic
of Genova (Genoa). The city however, kept its own maritime
and commercial dominions solid, guaranteed by the inheritance
of the legislative assembly and the creation of new branches
(Consiglio dei Dieci, 1310), deputized to repress any opposition
of the mercantile oligarchy which dominated the city.
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