 |
| Today, this is the view from my window. View from inside the Doge's Palace in Venice. |
Let me first begin this post by affirming that the world is a really beautiful place. And, having traveled to Europe before and now having stayed here for a month, I've seen a lot of truly, truly beautiful sights: unforgettable orange and red sunrises laced with purple and pink; the most intricately decorated, beautiful cathedrals; sweeping mountain vistas lovingly guarding the incredible city of Florence...the list goes on. But none of these things, even all combined, can even hold a candle to Venice, which has got to be the most beautiful city in the world.I'm including some pictures, but keep in mind that pictures can't even begin to do it justice.
I don't know what it is that is so enchanting about the city of Venice- and it's a feeling that really can't be captured, neither in pictures nor in words.
Maybe the wonder of Venice is partially in the history, or the way that this history can be read throughout the city, in the art and the architecture. The city of Venice was a powerhouse at one time, perhaps the greatest (and richest) trading city in the Western world in the late 1200s. The interesting thing about Venice is that for so many years, because of trade, it sat as economic center of the East and West, but this intersection extends far beyond economics and also is apparent in the aesthetics of Venice.
The simplest example, to be seen all over Venice, is in the arches. Around Europe, you will see Gothic pointed arches at certain points in the city. However, the Florentines, for example, usually prefer rounded arches because they remind them of ancient Rome. The Gothic arch (notice how the top is slightly pointed, not totally round), particularly in Venice, can actually be traced back to Islamic architecture in the Middle East and some of the buildings in Venice would have been less foreign to the great number of Islamic merchants who would have been in the city at any one time. As I walk through the streets, I imagine what it must have been like when Venice was a huge trading center: people in every type of clothing, speaking every different language, running everywhere, loading and unloading ships, making business deals on the side streets in the restaurant and cafes!!! What a sight! Of course, the pace is a bit slower now and the many different kinds of people are all tourists headed by tour guides and flanked by large cameras, but the rich diversity in the architecture still reflects the diversity that would have thrived in this city centuries ago.
Also interesting to note, while the Romans and Florentines prefer to see themselves as descendants of the great power and majesty of the Roman Republic or Empire (Florence was originally a Roman colony), the Venetians trace their heritage back to the Byzantines (the later, Eastern half of the Roman Empire, see my post about Ravenna or skim a Wikipedia article if the term "Byzantine" doesn't mean much to you). Remember the rich, golden, beautiful mosaics from Ravenna? The Venetians did the interior of their cathedral this way, and totally in gold!! The Renaissance Florentines would have though this building to be old-fashioned, though I doubt even their critical eyes could deny the grandeur of it. The Venetians, on the other hand, were very proud of their connections to Byzantium and were glad to display it for all to see. Imagine stopping to say your prayers or go to mass in a church like this 500 years ago...it's truly awe-inspiring!!
From the 1400s on, Venice began to decline in importance. Coming out of the Dark Ages, the rest of Europe was ready to participate significantly in trade and business again and pressures were also rising from the East. However, for Venice, even decline was elegant, as it became something of a Las Vegas for Europe's wealthiest elite (Have you heard of the grand stories of Carnevale?). The Venetians cashed in on their centuries of wealth and it was truly a city of luxury. I picture 18th century men and women, traipsing around in their luxurious clothes during Carnevale, all wearing elaborate masks, so that they can, just for a few nights, be someone completely different.
Venice today is so crowded with tourists that it's ridiculous. It's an act, to dodge the huge tour groups through the narrow streets and avoid the street vendors trying to sell you "Venetian" goods that were more likely made in China (a modern intersection of East and West, indeed!). However, taking a second look and blocking all this out, this city has not lost that timeless Venetian charm. I don't think it ever will.
Maybe the wonder of Venice is partially in the history, or the way that this history can be read throughout the city, in the art and the architecture. The city of Venice was a powerhouse at one time, perhaps the greatest (and richest) trading city in the Western world in the late 1200s. The interesting thing about Venice is that for so many years, because of trade, it sat as economic center of the East and West, but this intersection extends far beyond economics and also is apparent in the aesthetics of Venice.
 |
| The Doge's Palace |
 |
| The interior of St. Mark's Basilica (this is not actually my picture because you're not allowed to take photos insdie) |
From the 1400s on, Venice began to decline in importance. Coming out of the Dark Ages, the rest of Europe was ready to participate significantly in trade and business again and pressures were also rising from the East. However, for Venice, even decline was elegant, as it became something of a Las Vegas for Europe's wealthiest elite (Have you heard of the grand stories of Carnevale?). The Venetians cashed in on their centuries of wealth and it was truly a city of luxury. I picture 18th century men and women, traipsing around in their luxurious clothes during Carnevale, all wearing elaborate masks, so that they can, just for a few nights, be someone completely different.
Venice today is so crowded with tourists that it's ridiculous. It's an act, to dodge the huge tour groups through the narrow streets and avoid the street vendors trying to sell you "Venetian" goods that were more likely made in China (a modern intersection of East and West, indeed!). However, taking a second look and blocking all this out, this city has not lost that timeless Venetian charm. I don't think it ever will.
