Venices in the Summer Time is Great

Venice and it's Gondolas'Venice: the Floating City, the Saltwater Lagoon, the Gondola Rides through the Maze of Canals . . .Question: When does a boot have arms? Answer: When the "boot" is another name for Italy, which is bordered by the two "arms" of the Mediterranean Sea, the Tyrrhenian Sea on the west, and the Adriatic Sea on the East. The country of Italy is formed in the unique shape of a high heeled boot, with a large floppy cuff at the top. The city of Venice can be found at the top, loopy part of the boot cuff, in the shallows of the Adriatic Gulf, commonly known as the Venetian Lagoon. These factors are important to understand to fully appreciate the city of Venice, the "Floating City," the "City on the Sea," the "City with Streets of Water." Venice wasn't always the "Floating City." Back in the 5th century, after the fall of the Roman Empire, many of Italy's major cities and ports were frequently under attack from invaders looking to take advantage of the chaos. The infamous Attila the Hun decided to advance his armies to claim northern Italy as his own. Fearing the fierce warrior, many peoples from the countryside sought refuge in the saltwaters of the Venetian Lagoon. After Attila withdrew, many returned to their homes. Those who didn't have much to return to chose to remain on the lagoon islands in the small fishing communities that were already there. About 100 years later, another attack prompted a second flight from the mainland. In 568, Alboin, King of the Lombards, extended his empire to northern Italy. Again the countrysiders sought refuge on the islands of the lagoon. However, Alboin didn't withdraw from the area. He built his capital at Pavia, not far from the Venetian coast on the Adriatic. Without hope to return to their homes, the new Venetians began a new life and prayed for survival, literally. Running for their lives, the refugees brought with them only those things and ideas that they still hold dear: their faith, their strong familial ties, and their business savvy. Soon small tight-knit communities sprung up on the islands, each with its own church, business districts, and rows of residences. These are the present day campi. Though it took them about 150 years, these scattered refugees laid the foundation for one of the most beautiful and unique cities in the world. The campi grew and grew, and eventually there were so many to an island that they abutted each other and formed sestieri, or neighborhoods. Throughout each sestiere were many campi, and throughout each campo were many canals that mazed through and around the islands, and often fronted the residential areas. More prosperous residents could ride gondolas through the canals, right up to their front doors. Less fortunate residents, however, couldn't afford such luxuries and had to use back streets and alleyways to traverse the city. As the city grew, it became unified under an elected republican government, headed by a doge, or older nobleman, typically from an affluent family. With unification came organization. Larger canals and bridges between the sestieri were built, and many smaller canals were filled in to create paved streets.Thus, from the fear of scattered refugees who sought protection in the saltwaters of the Adriatic Lagoon, arose this magnificent city - Venice, with its streets of water, its innumerable churches, maze of canals, and, of course, languid, romantic rides on small wooden gondolas. Today the streets of Venice still amaze and confuse. The smaller campi are still visible with their own churches and businesses, and streets that lead to blocked off walls where old canals used to be. But it is a pedestrian city through and through, with severe restrictions on wheeled vehicles. If you come to a dead end, turn around and keep walking. You'll reach your destination eventually. Transportation is typically conducted on foot or via vaporetti (water buses). Gondola rides are still enjoyed as well.
For more information on Venice:
http://www.doge.it/
http://www.initaly.com/regions/veneto/ovensty.htmQuestions for further study:
The Venetian School of painting claims many famous artists. Name several and describe how Venetian painting differed from the more scholarly and idealistic Florentine school.
According to art historians, what movement in art that took place primarily during the later half of the 19th century to the early 20th century was influenced by the Venetian style of painting?
What famous Italian composer (1678 - 1743) and master of violin and viola came from Venice?