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Structure
Interesting Questions, Facts and Information
- There are a total of 10 general entries.
Special Topics
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 Interesting Questions, Facts, and Information
 Venice
| What best explains the fact that from an architectural point of view, Venice today still has most of the buildings it had in about 1680? | Venice
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Venice suffered a sharp economic decline after about 1680. Sharp economic decline is probably the most common reason for the good preservation of towns and cities. After about 1600 there was a decisive shift in key trade routes in Europe from the eastern Mediterranean and Central Europe to the Atlantic and the western sea-board. This shift accelerated in the course of the 17th century.
Since the 1960s Venice again became very prosperous.
| What is the main source of income for Venice? | Venice
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Tourism. Tourism of various kinds has been very important for a long time. Venice was one of the key places on the traditional 'Grand Tour', and even before that a visit to Venice was considered important for those aspiring to be 'Renaissance men or women'. In the 1990s the number of tourists reached levels where they constituted an environmental problem. Some of the paths were made one-way only, for example, as the sheer number of tourists led to severe congestion in some parts of the city in the summer. Glassware, handmade to a very quality indeed, has been an important industry for many centuries, too. Venice has also been home to many painters, both native and from other parts of Italy and the world.
| Bridges are essential for movement within the city. There's the controversial Ponte della Costituzione, opened in 2008. Of the others, two are particularly well known. One is the 'Bridge of Sighs' ('Il Ponte dei Sospiri'), which has been copied elsewhere. What is the other well known bridge? It is sumptuous and crosses the main canal about half way along its length. It is called the Ponte ______ | Venice
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Rialto . This bridge across the Canal Grande has small shops and boutiques on it.
| What is the name of the widest (and most celebrated) Venetian canal that winds its way through the whole length of the city? | Venice
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Canal Grande. This canal is about two miles long and has an average width of about 75 feet. The richest and most influential Venetians built their palaces and mansions along this canal. It has only three bridges, one of them being the Ponte Rialto. (In Venice, 'rio' refers to a small canal).
The Adriatic. Economically, Venice faced eastwards, as it were - to the eastern Mediterranean and beyond.
| After which saint is the Basilica (Cathedral) and the large square in front of it called? | Venice
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St Mark. The Basilica and St Mark's Square are at the very heart of the city. Like St Mark, Venice has traditionally been associated with lions. The square has been altered many times but still has a harmonious appearance and has been given all kinds of descriptions, such as 'the finest open air drawing-room in Europe'.
| What is the Italian name for Venice? | Venice
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Venezia. It's always useful to know the names of places in the local language (or languages).
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