Filip Molcan

Venice is a city in northern Italy, the capital of the region Veneto, with a population of almost 300,000. The city historically was the capital of an independent nation. Venice has been known as the “La Dominante”, “Serenissima”, “Queen of the Adriatic”, “City of Water”, “City of Bridges” and “City of Canals”. Luigi Barzini, writing in The New York Times, described it as “undoubtedly the most beautiful city built by man”. Venice has also been described by the Times Online as being one of Europe’s most romantic cities. I was in Venice two times and I must see that it is correct.

Check out my complete gallery Life: Italy from Venice

The city stretches across 117 small islands in the marshy Venetian Lagoon. The saltwater lagoon stretches along the shoreline between the mouths of the Po and the Piave Rivers. Venice is great for stree-photography. Nice streets, romantic places, historical monuments, crowded with people…

With the world’s most artistic masterpieces per square kilometre, you’d think the city would take it easy, maybe rest on its laurels. But Venice refuses to retire from the inspiration business. In narrow calli (alleyways), you’ll glimpse artisans hammering out shoes crested like lagoon birds, cooks whipping up four-star dishes on single-burner hotplates, and musicians lugging 18th-century cellos to riveting baroque concerts played with punk-rock bravado.