All Venice [antikvár]

Neptune Offers Venice the Gifts of the Sea, by C.P. Tiepolo (Doges' Palace); on the following two pages: aerial views of St Marli's Square. VENICE «OUEEN OF THE ADRIATIC» First of all. why Venice? Let us go back to the time when non-Italic Indo-Europeans settled in the Venetian plains. They probably came from lllyria in the second millenium B.C. and over-ran the Euganean hills, founded Vicenza, Treviso, Padua, Este, Belluno and other centers. In the first century B.C., these towns were Romanized and it was at this point that the local population was given the name of Venetians. The word Venetians, if truly of Indo-European origin, could mean «noblemen»; if, on the other hand it is pre-lndo-European. its meaning would be «foreigners» or «newcomers». It is to be presumed, therefore that «newcomers» or «novi venti» led to Veneti (Venetians) and thence to Venezia (Venice). Venice took many centuries to develop. The nucleus of the original settlement was in the area of today's RIalto district. A network of canals was planned and the earth the builders dug up, was used to strengthen the islands of the lagoon. The Grand Canal and the innumerable «rii» (lesser canals) of Venice, which by means of 400 bridges, link over 118 islets to each other today came into being over the centuries; tree-trunks were tightly bound together and used to consolidate the muddy little islands, creating the foundations ofthe houses and palaces. From East to West, the town measures 4,260 meters and from North to South it is 2,790 meters wide. It covers an area of 7.062 Sgkm. and its perimeter (including the islands of the «Stazione Marittima» (The Ferry Terminal), San Giorgio, SanfElena and Giudecca is 13,700 meters. When Venice first appears, it looks like a dream-city, a gleaming splendid vision rising from the waters of the lagoon. Its delicate beauty changes with the seasons and unfolds countless treasures: historical places, natural beauties, art, the traditional hospitality and kindness of the people all make it a truly unique place. The famous Grand Canal or «Canalazzo», as it is called by the Venetians. with its marvellous succession of beautiful «palaz-zi» and picturesque houses is the main thoroughfare. Its inverted S winds for 3,800 meters through the town and its width ranges from 30 to 70 meters, and It is roughly 5 meters deep. It flows from North-West to South-East (dividing Venice in two) into the much wider St. Mark's Canal, which reflects the sparkling bulk of the Ducal Palace. The Grand Canal, crossed by three bridges (the Railway bridge, the Rialto and the Academy bridges), together with the 45 «rii» (little canals) that flow into it, link all the «sestieri» (districts) of the town to each other. The typical «rii» or «rielli» are mostly about 4 or 5 meters wide and can only be used by gondolas. The «rii» are nearly always flanked by narrow, twisty pathways or alleys called iicalli». The calli lead into little clearings or squares called «campi» - if fairly large, or «campielli» - if small. The «rii» can also lead into little dead-ends or courtyards, called «corti». Venice is divided into six «sestieri»: San Marco. Castello. Cannaregio, Santa Croce, San Paolo and Dorsoduro (which includes the parish of St. Eufemia on the island of the Giudecca). About 100.000 people live in the «sestieri». Venice is 4 kms away from the mainland and is linked to it by ferry-boats, a double railway bridge (3,601 meters long and built 1841-46 and by a road bridge, built in 1931-32, which is 4,070 meters long and 20 meters wide. The two bridges run parallel to each other for quite a way.