The history of Venice

Venice was founded on the 25th of March 413 when the Venetians set a stone on the Rialto. Venice was a very different place during these times compared with what we see today and comprised of small refugee villages in the Delta area.

Canals were first introduced as a means for vessels to pass through and were constructed by de-silting the various waterways in the area. Over the years the canals have been developed in line with the expansion of the city of Venice. The formation of a government first occurred in 697 when the first Doge was elected. The city grew in stature in 828 when the Venetians smuggled religious artifacts and the bones of St. Mark from Egypt to the area. This move brought about an increase in the stature of the city in religious terms as well as increased power.

The Venetians increased trade to the area in the following years as a link between the East and West increased in line with an expansion of the Venetian fleet.

In 1848 a rebellion led by Danielle Manin attempted to restore independance but was halted by the Austrians. Austria went on to lose control of Venice in 1866 but despite this the city did not recover its independance and was ceded to the brand new Kingdom of Italy. A short revival of the Ventian economy in the late 19th century did not help the area as it continued to decline.

Many original Venetian families can no longer afford to live in the city due to the rising prices and have made their way to the mainland. Venice today is an extremely popular destination for tourists with its economy relying heavily on it with a rich and varied history waiting to be discovered.

Your view

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