Venezia, La Serenissima, Queen of the Adriatic Sea, city of canals and palaces, was for a thousand years one of the most enduring mercantile sea powers on earth. Flamboyant and radiantly beautiful, Venice owes her grandeur to the sea, a bond celebrated yearly through regattas. Today it is a human tide that washes over her — millions come to capture a glimmer of her charms. In 810 , the Rialto island was the site of the first major constructions in this sea town, which included Saint Mark's Basilica in 828, designed to house the supposed relics of the Saint and those from the Benedictine monasteries of San Servolo, San Zaccaria and San Giorgio.
The Basilica di San Marco is the most famous of the city's churches and one of the best known examples of Byzantine architecture. It lies on St Mark's Square adjacent and connected to the Doge's Palace. Building work on the first chapel to honor the freshly arrived corpse of St Mark, which Venetian merchants stole from Alexandria, Egypt, began in 828. On the loggia above the main door are copies of the delightful prancing horses that were also hijacked from Constantinople (the gilded-bronze originals are on display inside). The Horses of Saint Mark were installed on the basilica in about 1254. They date back to classical antiquity; by some accounts they once adorned the Arch of Trajan. The basilica's 10th-century campanile, a 99m-tall bell tower, collapsed without warning on 14 July 1902, and was rebuilt brick by brick Oddly, it contains just one bell, the marangona, which survived the fall.
Palazzo Ducale, the Doge's Palace, a rare example of civil Venetian Gothic, was home to the doge (duke) and all arms of government, including prisons. Established in the 9th cent., the palace has been linked to the prison by the Bridge of Sighs (built in the 16th cent.). The name "Bridge of Sighs" (Ponte dei Sospiri) was coined by the 19th cent. Romantic poet Lord Byron, who popularized the belief that the bridge's name was inspired by the sighs of condemned prisoners as they were led through it to the executioner. It is believed that the legendary 18th-century philanderer Giacomo Casanova did some time there. Local legends mention that lovers will be assured eternal love if they kiss on a gondola at sunset under the bridge.
The Torre Dell'orologio (Clock Tower), an early-Renaissance gem built by Mauro Codussi, is a fitting timepiece for the Piazza di Sa Marco, and was considered such a work of genius that it is said its designer (from the region of Emilia) was blinded to prevent him from repeating the feat anywhere else!
As the central landmark and gathering place for Venice, Piazza San Marco is extremely popular with not only tourists and photographers, but also with pigeons. The Piazza originated in the 9th century as a small area in front of the original basilica, and was enlarged to its present size and shape in 1177.
The Piazza di San Marco may be more famous, but the Ponte di Rialto (Rialto Bridge) is the true heart of Venice. The current structure, which replaced the old pontoon bridge (b. 1181) and the succeeding one made of timber (1280), was built in just three years, between 1588 and 1591 that had spanned the Grand Canal and remained the only way to cross it on foot until the Accademia Bridge was built in 1854. The Rialto Bridge's 24-foot arch was designed to allow passage of galleys, and the massive structure was built on some 12,000 wooden pilings that still support the bridge more than 400 years later. The architect, Antonio da Ponte ("Anthony of the Bridge," appropriately enough), competed against such eminent designers as Michelangelo and Palladio for the contract.
Other famous landmarks in Venice are churches. The Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute (Basilica of St Mary of Health/Salvation), commonly known simply as the Salute, is famous not only because of its decorative and distinctive profile, but because its location makes it among the most photographed churches in Italy. Another church in Venice is San Giorgio Maggiore, designed by Andrea Palladio, and located on the island of San Giorgio Maggiore. Built in 1566, the church, sometimes designated as a basilica, is a prime example of Palladio's architectural style, and one of the finest churches he designed.
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TRAVEL GUIDE VENICEby mediamaxproductions20,211 views
KIND OF GREY VIDEO
jerseyshoreITALIAN 1 week ago
The game cheated me out of a wedding and honeymoon with Michelle Martinez but let her keep her 4 other husbands- give me my mock wedding and real honeymoon for wedding the game- Bring the cheater- I'll screw him too..
kennethtaber48 10 months ago
Some serious work is needed on your sound, the images are ok but on camera comments defeat the purpose...
keepthemusicplaying0 11 months ago
@TheGatman101 hahahahaha lol, thats what i thought 2 when i visited venice last week!!!
SonicBomber2 1 year ago
@verzosaddm Yes that betrayer dwarf had stolen the horses, but they came back after the Wien Congress in 1815. Probably we have to thank Canova for that.
abclukeabc 1 year ago
just like in assassins creed 2
TheGatman101 2 years ago 2
Very nice work, thanks. I would like to add something that burns me inside. The lions of Arsenale. The stole from Fr.Morozini from Piraeus, Delos and Athens at 1688. These lions are waiting the return to their country and their freedom... M.D.
MrGreco73 2 years ago
The original bronze horses are inside the loggia, so you have to PAY to see them! They are not in danger of being stolen these days, by the French or anyone else!
worcesterwombat 2 years ago
Yes, our well-informed tour guide mentioned about Napoleon stealing the horses, thank you for adding this tidbit of info.
verzosaddm 2 years ago
I must correct you on one comment: there are three bells in the Campanile in St. Mark's Square. I was up there and they all went off - it was deafening!
Also, even though all the boats' wakes spoil the various glorious buildings, so does the oil and, unfortunately, the pigeons really ruin everything. That's why the Venetians hate them.
You never mentioned that Napoleon stole the four horses on the Basilica which is why the originals are kept inside - for safety.
I still loved your video.
balletnut 2 years ago