Venice

As the shipping industry and navigation were developing, Venice became the main transportation node. The silk, spices, coffee, and rice came to Europe through Venice. Many of those things had more value than gold. In the Middle Age, the city was actively developing and replenished the treasury for the account of crusades. Local authorities annexed the continental regions known as the Terraferma to enhance their might. 

The decay of the city on water began in the XV century. Humanity was on the verge of great geographical discoveries. The might and power of Venice were lost and the majority of the continental territories passed to Austria. 

Venice had been independent for thousands of years. However, it lost its status in 1797 before Napoleon. It survived many decays! It got its second wind after the opening of the Suez Canal. Tourists from various countries came to the city to departure to the East. Before they leave, they would admire the magnificent architecture in the city. Later, this popularity among tourists gave a stimulus to found the Venice Film Festival in 1932 and the Carnival of Venice that is held annually in February. These events still draw thousands of guests to the city on water.

Nowadays, Venice is facing another problem. On the one hand, tourists are the only source of income. On the other hand, the number of visitors is mind-blowing. Local citizens turned into the staff of attendants. Adding the fact that the city is gradually sinking, we get the logical dissatisfaction of local citizens. Today, Venice allows only a limited number of tourists, has two types of prices (for locals and travelers), and plenty of prohibitions (for example, selfie sticks are forbidden). But even these facts don’t scare the adventure seekers and fans of the beautiful. They rush to see the gorgeous Ca' d'Oro, Doge's Palace, the romantic Bridge of Sighs and the oldest Rialto Bridge, the district of Murano, and other iconic places.

• Take a picture with doves at Piazza San Marco. The main city square in Venice is decorated with architectural dominant. These are the Doge’s Palace and St Mark's Campanile of St. Mark’s Basilica. The doves are walking busily among the crowds of tourists. They have already become an essential part of this place. By the way, it’s strictly forbidden to feed the doves. The police watch this carefully and can easily set a fine.
• Wander and get lost! The Venetian streets remind movies’ decorations: endless bridges across the canals, ancient palazzos, cozy yards. Rely on your destiny, not the guidebook.
• Have a glass of wine in a local bar. They won’t offer you a table for two and a gorgeous menu. However, they will treat you to some real Italian wine. Sit on the stone stairs overlooking the canals and enjoy every sip. These moments make our trips unforgettable.
• Admire Venice at night. When you get on the streets after midnight, you appear in an absolutely different city. There is no noise or cars - only silence, splashes of water, and the couples in love.
• Find the antique shop. Forget about the trivial souvenirs like magnets and masks that were made in China. Do you want to bring the spirit of the city back home? Visit a shop with antiques.
• Ascend the highest observation deck in the city. St Mark's Campanile is not the only place with a panoramic view of Venice. Fondaco dei Tedeschi, Scala Contarini del Bovolo, Campanile della Chiesa di San Giorgio Maggiore – each of them offers mesmerizing views on canals and main architectural ensembles.
• Take a ride in a gondola along the Grand Canal. It’s a real slip-up to be in the city on water and not to use the water vehicle. Ask the gondolier to sing a real Italian hit and feel like you are the happiest person on this planet. If the price for riding in a gondola (80-100 euros) is too high for your budget, use public transport, the Vaporetto. These are small speedboats at a fair cost of 7-10 euros. Buy a ticket for a circular route. This will give you a chance to see the majority of iconic attractions from the water.
• Treat your inner gourmet. Besides pizza, Italy is also famous for its pasta and spaghetti. Try another traditional dish, polenta. It is made of corn meal and is typically served on festive dinners. And don’t forget about Cicchetti, baicoli biscuits, tortino with prunes, and, of course, tiramisu (Venice is the motherland of this popular dessert). A Bellini cocktail is a must! It’s made of peach puree and white wine. Ice cream or gelato is another must-try. There over 500 kinds of it. This delicate and delicious dessert is made only of natural ingredients.