Venice is such an interesting and historic city. It is built on a series of mud islands in the Adriatic Sea. Instead of streets, the city has canals, and instead of cars, taxis and buses, it has boats of all sizes including the world-famous gondolas. The city is on the northeastern coast of the country of Italy with about 100 islands making up the city. At one time in the history of the county, Venice was a great city state in the Mediterranean Sea ruled by the Doges. One can visit the Doges Palace and see the beautiful Palaces of the rulers of the past.
There is a very large square in Venice called The Piazza of Saint Mark. Many buildings ring the square.The Cathedral of St. Mark is on the eastern side of the square. It is an excellent example of Byzantine architecture.
The Cathedral of St. Mark(San Marcos) is named for St. Mark, the Patron Saint of the City of Venice. The Cathedral used to be the private chapel of the Doge, the ruler of Venice. The building is in the form of a cross, 250 feet long and 220 feet wide at its widest point. A dome rises over the center of the church and there are smaller domes over other sections of the Cathedral. St. Mark's Cathedral was built, beginning in 1050 A. D.
Supposedly the Bridge of Sighs was named such because accused criminals were tried in the building on the left, and if found guilty of the crime were immediately taken across the Bridge to the prison on the right. They would look out the windows of the Bridge and sigh, thinking perhaps that they were seeing the outside world for the last time.
Links to Venice
A Visitor's Guide-line to Venice, Italy
Saint Mark's Cathedral, Venice
