New Practical Guide of Venice [antikvár]

VENICE QUEEN OF THE ADRIATICFirst of all, why Venice? Let us go back to the time when nonTtalic Indo-Europeans settled in the Venetian plains. They very probably came from niyria in the second millenium B.C. and over-ran the Euganean hills, founded Vicenza, Treviso, Padua, Este, Belluno and other centres. 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-Indo-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, constituting the foundations of the houses and palaces. From East to West, the town measures 4,260 metres and from North to South it is 2,790 metres wide. It covers an area of 7,062 Kmsq. and its perimeter (including the islands of the Stazione Marittima (The Ferry Terminal), the island of St. George, of St. Helen and the island of Giudecca is 13,700 metres. When Venice first appears, it looks like a dream - city, springing like a gleaming splendid vision 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 palazzi and picturesque houses is the main throughfare. Its inverted S winds for 3,800 metres through the town and at some points it is 30 and at others 70 metres wide; it is from 5 to 5 and a half metres 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 metres wide and can only be used by gondolas. The rii are nearly always flanked by narrow, twisty pathways or alleys called calli. 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: St. Mark, Castello, Cannaregio, Santa Croce, St. Paul, and Dorsoduro (which includes the parish of St. Eufemia on the island of the Giudecca). There are about 100.000 people living 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 metres long and built 1841-46 and by a road bridge, built in 1931-32, which is 4,070 metres long and 20 metres wide. The two bridges run together for quite a long way.