Venice is a city of many modern identities — a history-lover’s dream; arguably the most romantic city in the world; and a monument to the destructive power of rising sea levels. It’s not former Yugoslavia, although the Venetians did occupy large swathes of the Croatian coast. But one rainy day there proved that the history of Venice will only live on in museums, not on the island itself. I wanted to see it again before it becomes uninhabitable. I visited as a child, so I only had a fragmented mosaic of memories. Seeing it in person as an adult felt like visiting a land I had only seen in dreams. The detailed craftsmanship of the buildings sparked flashes of recognition. It felt like something I had created in my mind, drawn from the depths of my memory and materialized in the real world.
Of course, this city is anything but imaginary. The Venetians were one of the most powerful civilizations of their era, with an empire lasting over a thousand years, from 697 to 1797 AD. They originally gained footholds along the Adriatic coast as successful salt traders, later flourishing as wealthy maritime merchants with territory from northern Italy to Cyprus. Their irreplaceable cultural influence on art and architecture cemented them as one of the most influential civilizations in Europe and perhaps the world.
This artistic legacy feels like a living presence in the city. Wandering through the tangle of cobblestone alleys is like soaking in a thousand years of arts patronage. The uniquely Venetian style dominates every piazza. Each doorway is adorned with carved stones, every bridge thoughtfully constructed by master craftsmen to pay homage to the empire. Not one part of this lagoon is visually untouched by the republic’s cultural heritage.
Perhaps the most awe-inspiring example of Venetian artistic excellence is the Basilica di San Marco, the imposing cathedral dominating Piazza San Marco. Calling it a church feels reductive. It’s a monument to a thousand years of artistic excellence and religious devotion. I bet the Venetians never dreamed that it could be seen from the sky, but I could clearly identify it in the skyline as my plane descended into Marco Polo airport on the mainland.
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