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An Introduction, and some facts

The city that emerged from the sea like the goddess of love

Gondolas in Bacino Orseolo

If the Earthly Paradise where Adam dwelt with Eve were like Venice, Eve would have had a difficult time tempting him away from it with a mere fig.Aretino

As God made the Garden of Eden, so the Venetians made Venice. They even made the land it stands on. They were sea folk, traders and swindlers, pirates and plunderers, with an eye for the main chance. But they also made Venice—with grit, intelligence, and centuries of risk, trial and error. They made it the richest city in the world, and pretty much burned their bridges at both ends when the jig was up.

Unlike most peoples, in history, the Venetians knew exactly what they were about. A lot of people say Venice stinks, it’s too hot in summer, it’s too full of tourists, a rip off. People have been saying more or less the same things for 500 years, but they keep right on coming.

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History and Anecdotes

Text © Dana Facaros & Michael Pauls

Image by Nicola