Venice

What images come to mind when you think of a trip to Venice? No doubt you imagine yourself taking a romantic gondola ride along narrow canals and under delicate bridges. Perhaps you picture the beautiful old buildings and famous works of art that have made the city one of Europe's leading tourist spots.

Venice was built on more than 100 islands and has about 150 canals. The best-known of these, the Grand Canal, functions as the "main street" in the part of the city most popular with visitors. The canal winds through each of the six districts that comprise this historic city center before reaching Venice Lagoon.

One of these districts, San Marco, is home to many of Venice's main attractions, including St. Mark's Basilica. This spectacular church has five main arches and some extraordinary onion shaped domes. It is decorated with priceless treasures, many of which were stolen from other countries when medieval Venice was a leading sea power.

Venice becomes even more enchanting during the carnival. The carnival is an annual celebration before Lent, a 40-day period of fasting that precedes Easter. The dates of the carnival vary year depending on the date of Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent.

Venice's architecture includes representations of Italian, Arabic, Byzantine, and Renaissance styles. There are some 450 palaces and homes of major historic importance in Venice. Notable among its 400 bridges is the Bridge of Sighs and among its churches is St. Mark's Basilica.

Most of the city's workers find employment in tourism and related industries, though the city also plays a key market role within the vibrant economic system of the Veneto region.