venezia

Venezia, floating city of canals and bridges — and tourists, lots and lots of tourists. Crowds and tacky souvenir stalls. And restaurants: ristoranti, trattorie, pizzerie, osterie — and the occasional Irish pub. This storied city that was once the center of an empire that for hundreds of years spanned and controlled the Mediterranean is today a theme park for international tourists who throng to its attractions, fill its restaurants and navigate its maze of calle with the aid of Google Maps. Despite this, it’s hard to remain cynical if one looks a little deeper and considers the cultural imprint of the city: the Biennale and the Carnevale, its film and jazz festivals, its architecture and art galleries, concerts and exhibitions. La Serenissima may not be so serene these days, and her beauty may have faded, but she still has the ability to take one’s breath away.