Venice is unique environmentally, architecturally, and historically city in northern Italy. This city of canals carves its way through several small islands nestled within the marshy lagoons along the Adriatic Sea, and takes its place as the capital of the Veneto region. It remains a major Italian port in the northern Adriatic Sea and is one of the world’s oldest tourist and cultural centres.
The first human settlements on the Venice Lagoon islands date back to the 5th and 6th centuries, when the inhabitants from the mainland came to this semi-swamp area to escape the barbaric invasions that followed the fall of the Roman Empire. After the 4th crusade directed to Constantinople, Venice became the strongest republic in the eastern Mediterranean sea and it succeeded by having a supreme domain in maritime commercial trades.
The city of Venice features a Mediterranean climate and lies on the north-easterly coast of Italy, in the Veneto region. Offering distinct seasonal changes, the weather in Venice is strongly influenced by the nearby Adriatic Sea and its secluded coastal setting, with hot summers and a high level of humidity. Venice experiences very high humidity, with hot weather in July and August, the height of summer. Temperatures in summer usually range between 30°C (86°F) to 33°C (91°F), dropping in winter to between 0°C (32°F) and 3°C (37°F). Due to its location on the Adriatic coast, Venice often experiences thunderstorms and rain showers which, particularly in spring and autumn, tend to cause flooding. It is known as the “Acqua Alta”. The lagoon water level occasionally rises above the level of the plazas and streets, flooding them.
Throughout its history, Venice has been a great naval and commercial force thanks to its strategical position at the head of the Adriatic Sea. The island of Murano is famous for the production its particular and costly glass, mirrors and glass beeds that are exported around the world. Today's economy of Venice it's based mostly on tourism. The main port and related activities have now shifted to the parish of Mendigola in the west. There the main cruise liners dock and the offices of shipping lines occupy former palaces. But the real focus of commercial shipping today is Port Marghera, developed next to the suburb of Mestre on the mainland shore west of Venice. Scattered throughout Venice are small boatyards and other traditional luxury craft workshops producing lace, textiles, and furniture. Other small island settlements such as Burano, Caorle, Malamocco, and Torcello traditionally depended on the local economic activities of the lagoon: fishing and fowling, salt production, and horticulture.
Venice is served by one of Italy's busiest airports, Venice Marco Polo Airport (VCE), handling a large number of international and domestic flights. Venice is a relatively easy city to get around; a system of water ferries operated by the ACTV serve the Grand Canal, the outskirts, and the outer islands. Public transport in Venice consists mainly of water-buses, which are an essential way to travel to some of the main attractions. The gondola is the primary mode of transportation throughout the canals, not to mention the enduring symbol of tourism in Venice.
Elementary education in Italy lasts for five years and leads to the Diploma di Licenza della Scuola Elementare. Secondary education covers eight years, divided into three years' lower secondary, followed by five years' upper secondary education. The upper secondary courses consist of classical, scientific, artistic, technical, vocational and teacher training options. Classical secondary school (Liceo Classico) lasts for five years, with emphasis on the Humanities, but with scientific subjects in the second cycle. Scientific secondary school (Liceo Scientifico) also lasts for five years, but provides more specialized preparation in scientific subjects. Higher education is provided by universities, technical universities, university institutes, as well as by a wide range of academies, higher institutes/schools. Founded on August 6, 1868, The Ca' Foscari University of Venice (Universita Ca' Foscari Venezia) served as the seat of the Royal Higher Commercial College and was the first higher education institute in Italy to offer courses on commerce and economics. The concept of starting a university came about in 1866 after Veneto was united with Italy.
The Grand Canal (Canalazzo), Venice's main waterway, divides the city with sestieri to the west and east of it. It is the core around which much of the activity in Venice is conducted, surrounded by the elegant facades of the palazzi.
The St. Mark's Square (Piazza San Marco), which was called "the drawing room of the world" by Musset, has been the centre of the religious and social life in the Venetian republic for almost one millennium. The square was designed mainly around St. Marks Basilica and Doge's Palace. The Palazzo Ducale (Ducal Palace, also known as Doge's Palace) was the residence of the Doge up to the fall of the Venetian Republic in I797 a public palace and seat of the administration of justice. St. Marks Basilica, which was consecrated in 1094, is the third church to be built on the site since the body of St Mark, the city's patron saint, was reputedly brought here to be buried in AD 828. During the day, St. Mark's Square is filled with people, pigeons and music.
The modern Venetian Carnival runs up until the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday (known as "Mardi Gras", starting two Fridays before the Tuesday. This event has very ancient origins. The history of the Venice Carnival tradition began after 1162. The Republic defeated Ulrico, Patriarch of Aquileia in that year, and began a tradition of slaughtering a bull and 12 pigs in the Piazza San Marco around Shrove Tuesday to commemorate the victory. This celebration gradually grew and 1268 dates the first document mentioning the use of masks. The celebrations began with the so called "Volo dell'Angelo" (Angel's Fly) today known as "Volo della Colombina". In the past, it consisted in a series of acrobatic movements executed by a man who was tied up by a rope; he had to go through the rope from St. Mark's Basilica to the Doge's Palace. The last day of the Carnival it's called Martedi Grasso, and it's still a tradition to burn the symbol of Carnival in St. Mark's Square. That's a metaphor of all evils which in this way are kept away from the Lagoon.
The Venice Film Festival is held from the last week of August to the first week of September. It's the oldest European film festival that started back in 1932. The festival is a part of the Venice Biennale, a major exhibition of contemporary art held every two years.
