There is a brilliant story history to be told of venice from the seventeenth to the twentieth centuries in an accessible form. Madden has the talents he is a good medievalist, and no one can deny that he can certainly turn a phrase to have pulled this off. Venice is a city that steals the hearts of readers and authors alike, as evidenced by some of literatures best books set in venice, italy. This unique city with its magical, spectacular scenery is not just beautiful. The unique, romantic city of venice makes a fascinating setting for novels, historical fiction, and mystery books. At once the most comprehensive and the most engaging history of venice available in english, this book will be treasured by all those who share the authors fascination with the most beautiful and magical of cities.
Here are my recommendations for books that take place in venice, all of which i have read and enjoyed. This readable introduction to the ecology of venices lagoon asks if venice can survive in the 21st century. Venices books, like her art and architecture, have long been considered one of. The history of venice like the city itself is unique. Venice is a unique city in the world, for its culture and history. Well, venice, city of fortune ranks among the best history books i have ever read. The first human settlements on the venice lagoon islands date back to the 5th and 6th centuries, when the inhabitants from the mainland came to this semiswamp area to escape the barbaric invasions that followed the fall of the roman empire. One of americas greatest historians tackles the provocative history of venice in the 15th and 16th centuries. The canals of venice are among the worlds most romantic places, but before the atmospheric waterways we know and love today came into existence before the grandeur of the citys opulent palazzos and piazzas there was only a marshy, muddy lagoon with little going for it beyond a smattering of 124 small islands. The history of the republic of venice traditionally begins with the foundation of the city at noon on friday 25 march ad 421, by authorities from padua, to establish a tradingpost in that region of northern italy. Venice is bordered by santa monica to the north, the pacific ocean to the west, marina del rey to the south and culver city to the east have fun exploring our site. It has developed a romantic reputation built upon by countless movies.
All was running smoothly until two disastrous winter storms in february and march of 1905 demolished his newly built pier. It is built, largely, on marshland a lagoon which is just 8 per cent land, and one that contains some of the. The entire built environment of venicefrom the humblest coffee shop to the basilica of san marcostands on a foundation of wooden. Venice is built on 118 small islands that are separated by 150 canals. For a time, venice dominated the eastern shore of the adriatic sea and set up vast trade networks throughout the known world. A 17 th century book which explains in detail the construction procedure in. Renowned historian, and author of a short history of byzantium, john julius norwichs classic history of venice a history of venice tells the story of this most remarkable of cities from its founding in the fifth century, through its unrivalled status for over a thousand years as one of the worlds busiest and most powerful city states, until its fall at the hands of napoleon in 1797. Venice came together around the time of the fall of the western roman empire, as refugees from various italian cities found themselves fleeing an onslaught of german and hun invaders. A new history and millions of other books are available for instant access. It features timelines, historic articles and photographs, interactive maps that when clicked on show historic views, and a list of movies filmed on venices streets, amusement piers and canals. As comprehensive as it is engaging, john julius norwichs a history of venice is a complete history of the most beautiful and magical of cities. Without too much technology but with a lot of craftsmanship.
Between the islands run about 150 canals, mostly very narrow, crossed by some 400 bridges. In addition venice hosts a spectacular spring carnival with masked balls, a summer biennale, a film festival that is older than the one in cannes, france, and a regatta centered on the lido. Venice truly is one of the worlds most unique cities. Its legacy remains in the striking architecture of the floating city. Although the city is impressive even if you havent done any background reading, visitors will be filled with questions such as how does it work. Despite venice being frequently voted the worlds most beautiful city, on paper it appears to be a logistical and constructional nightmare. These factors, with the canals and the great wealth of the city, made for unique building styles. Inhabitants from the neighbouring mainland seeking refuge from the savage barbarians who conquered italy after the fall of the roman empire, the history of venice began with the venetian lagoon offering a refuge for these people.
List of books and articles about venetian history online research. The populations coming from mainland venice settled in the lagoon, fighting as hard as they could to survive. Its a new history, more compact than the magisterial history of venice by john julius norwich, but goes further by telling the history of venice from the fall of the republic in 1798 to bonaparte, and brings it up to the present day. A 17 th century book which explains in detail the construction procedure in venice demonstrates the amount of wood required just for the stakes. A new history makes me inclined to pass a similar judgment.
The population of venice itself keeps on shrinking at an alarming rate and is now under 55000 locals. It was a republic that lasted over years, had the most civilized and liberal constitution in the world during its whole existence, up until the creation of the united states of america. This necessary volume traces the rise of venice from its fifthcentury origins through 1797 when napoleon put an end to the thousandyearold republic. What is it about this ancient canalway city that piques the imagination. We start with a coffee table book with stunning photos and author quotes. In these historical fiction books that take place in venice, youll learn about venices history from convents to courtesans and the citys historic workshops and traditional arts these are my favorite novels about venice as an amazon associate i earn from qualifying book purchases, which helps defer the cost of. If you have any suggestions for good books, feel free to share them with the venice insider community in the comments fields below. List of books and articles about venetian history online.
Venice is a fascinating city with an equally fascinating history. An interesting, but now rather rare book is sylivia sprigges little book the lagoon of venice. A brief history of the venice canals, by the numbers. According to tradition venice was founded in 421 ad. His interactive educational site online since 1996 covers the history of venice beach, california. Browse the amazon editors picks for the best books of 2019, featuring our favorite reads in more than a dozen categories. History of venice lonely planet travel information. It tells the story of venice, from the year the founding of the city until 1500 when venice lost most. My 10 favourite novels in venice the venice insider. Im not an expert on venice, but i very much enjoyed reading city of fortune. The construction of venice, the floating city ancient origins. An exlibrary book and may have standard library stamps andor stickers. He is the author of the history in an afternoon textbook series. The 11 best books and novels set in venice italy of 2020.
It is home to over 400 bridges and in this city, the only way to travel is either on foot or by boat. The construction of venice, the floating city ancient. Venices unique and captivating charm has probably more than any modern city spawned a remarkable number of classic travel books, novels and historical texts. To sustain this fact, we just have to consider that for some of the bigger buildings in the city, the rialto bridge, basilica della salute and others, the documentation is rather complete. The science of saving venice caroline fletcher and jane da mosto, 2004. Long ago the buildings were built by using long wooden piles about 60 long driven deep into the ground. On the other hand, the city was largely safe from riot, civil feuds, and invasion much earlier than most european cities. Venice had about 16 million visitors last year, and 7 million of them were under 35 years old. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. At that time a celtic people called the veneti lived along the coast of what is now northeast italy. How to go shopping on vacation without getting ripped off. Venice is built on unstable mudbanks, and had a very crowded city centre by the middle ages. In the midst of her affair with mellors, constance chatterley swans off to venice to have some kind of. Norwichs a history of venice a guidebook i would give it one star for effort.
A history of venice, from the citys origins as a lagoon refuge to its apex as. Through its history, venice housed the worlds leading merchants, thrived as a maritime powerhouse, and developed into an independent republic not unlike the present united states. Discover librarianselected research resources on venetian history from the. Sarah dunants epic novel of sixteenthcentury renaissance italy is a story about the sins of pleasure and the pleasures of sin, an intoxicating mix of fact and fiction, and a dazzling portait of one of the worlds greatest cities at its most potent moment in history. How do buildings in venice manage to stand despite being. The breathtaking historical novel about love, beauty, the politics of sex and the power of loyalty set in venice. For travelers who have visited venice and for those who have yet to go, venice remains a beautiful mystery. It is the capital of the veneto region, which is in the northeast of the country. Venice simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
In the early 21st century venice had a population of more than 275,000. Want to know about abbot kinney and venice history. It features timelines, historic articles and photographs, interactive maps that when clicked on show historic views, and a list of movies filmed on. Venice draws millions of visitors each year, and these lectures shed light on why the city is such a continual source of fascination. Venice is a city in italy, best known today for the many waterways which crisscross through it.
The books of venice il libro veneziano contains a series of essays in english and italian exploring venetian book history from the quattrocento through current production, books printed in the shadow of aldus manutius. Venice is the symbol of wise government and freedom. Nh venezia rio novo pays tribute to the link between the. Built on maritime trade a free flow of goods and capital unique in the. Besides, the book is heavyeven in paperbackand not designed to carry along in your suitcase.
The hotel will exhibit 17 photos which candiani and bianconero venezia, a laboratory specialised in developing and printing black and white photos, have selected from the cameraphoto archive to represent venices cinematographic history through its past, present and future. Places and history starts with an introduction to the city, then dishes up 1,500 years of events in a chapter that is both wellwritten and beautifully illustrated with paintings and antique photographs. How to and how not to get married in sixteenthcentury venice selections. According to this book, when the santa maria della salute church was built, 1,106,657 wooden stakes, each measuring 4 metres, were driven underwater. Few cities can claim such a priceless art and history heritage as venice. Free kindle book and epub digitized and proofread by project gutenberg. History of venice, experience the modern and ancient historic past events, people and governments of venice lonely planet. Venice was founded around 452 by people of the roman city of aquileia, who had fled it when it was destroyed by atilla the hun. However, the church believed to be saint giacomo di rialto dates back. Uniquely among italys chief cities, venice came into being after the fall of the roman empire in the west. You can for instance find the top 10 books that were published in 2016 and that are set in venice behind this link. By the years end, construction of the ship cafe and auditorium, located on the abbot kinney pier, the venice canals, and the st. The floating city of venice, one of the most extraordinary cities in the world was built on 118 islands in the middle of the venetian lagoon at the head of the adriatic sea in northern italy.
Robert wilde is a historian who writes about european history. The city on water understanding how venice was built. The population of the comune di venezia, which is venice, its lagoon and its mainland is 271,367. A history of venice, from the citys origins as a lagoon refuge to its apex as a. How was the muchloved italian city constructed on top of marshland. The phenomenon in venice is like what is happening in new orleans the land is simply sinking as the italian mainland is splitting apart from croatia and slovania.