Italy   (World Book)

Veneto (Euro Cart)

Venice is the capital of the Veneto Region of Northeastern Italy.  Referred to as “The Miracle of  the Northeast,” Veneto is one of the wealthiest regions in Italy.  It boasts the fastest growing industrial districts in the country and a high population density.  Veneto lies in the Northern Italian Plain which is fairly flat and protected from the cold by the Alps.

Greater Venice (Turistica)

In 1926 Venice, though originally just a group of islands in the Venetian Lagoon, incorporated the city of Mestre on the mainland and now the entire territory of the city is referred to as Greater Venice.  The area experiences a fairly mild climate with temperatures ranging from 3.8^oC (38^oF) in January to 23^oC (74^oF) in July.

Historic Center of Venice (Unesco)

The physical characteristics of Veneto do not apply to the Historic core of Venice, which floats in the Venetian Lagoon, surrounded by a mix of fresh and salt water.  The island is 3km from the Italian mainland or terraferma to the west, and 3km from the Adriatic Sea to the east. 

In its history, the location of Venice - a bridge between the Eastern and Western worlds and peoples - created the ideal situation for becoming an Imperial Power with a monopoly over trading rights and a bustling port.

Though the location was beneficial, the site has proved less than ideal and is the cause of many of Venice’s urban problems.  The shallow Venetian Lagoon is littered with sand bars and mud flats.  The Historic Core of Venice is actually comprised of  117 of these mudflats or islets, which are dissected by natural canals, the biggest of which is the Canal Grande.  Over centuries the islets have “grown” together through man made alterations including filled in canals and bridges.  The mud flats are made of compressed sand and clay and the alluvial soil supports little native vegetation.