Venice974 photos

Venice historically was the capital of the Venetian Republic. The city stretches across 117 small islands in the Venetian Lagoon along the Adriatic Sea in north-east Italy. The saltwater lagoon stretches along the shoreline between the mouths of the Po (south) and the River Piave (north). The name is derived from the ancient people of Veneti that inhabited the region as of 10th century BC. The Republic of Venice was a major maritime power during the Middle Ages and Renaissance, and a staging area for the Crusades, as well as a very important centre of commerce (especially silk, grain and spice trade) and art in the 13th century up to the end of the 17th century. This made Venice a wealthy city throughout most of its history. It is also known for its several important artistic movements, especially the Renaissance period. Venice has played an important role in the history of symphonic and operatic music, and it is the birthplace of Antonio Vivaldi.