Venice Today

My second book in the series, City Profiles, giving an insider's account of Venice as it is today with the aid of over 120 photographs. A detailed introduction is followed by photographs with detailed captions to give an accurate, like being there, description of the magical city everyone must see at least once in a lifetime. A World Heritage Site since 1987, it is a truly unique city that began as a fishing and hunting community in 5th century AD becoming the power base of a wealthy republic boasting over 1,300 years of glorious history that can be traced in its magnificent palazzos lining the Grand Canal, the major waterway traversing the city, still standing as testimonies to Venice's architectural, artistic riches in an inimitable setting. Over 100 islands were connected by bridges to create the historical core of Venice, there are no cars, the only way to get around is on foot, by passenger boat or gondola. If the main highway through the city is the Grand Canal, a network of narrow canals spreading out from the Grand Canal make up its streets. The adjective, picturesque, hardly describes the charming, atmospheric squares, old churches, art galleries, artisans' shops, canal side cafés and restaurants not to mention the luxury hotels like Danieli and Cipriani where the rich and famous sojourn.