Venice - The City of Canals
Northern Italy's provincia (province) of Venezia and regione (region) of Veneto share the same name: Venice, an important seaport city. It was an island city and the capital of a maritime republic. The city has retained a unique place in the Western imagination since the fall of the Venetian republic in 1797 and has been constantly depicted in prose and poetry. A suitable role for a city whose participation in international trade allowed it to maintain its economic and political independence for a thousand years, The City is now acknowledged as a part of the cultural and architectural heritage of all humanity. Seafood is a popular ingredient in Venetian cuisine, but it also includes polenta, rice from the mainland, game, and veggies from the gardens of the lagoon's islands. The City is not known for its distinctive cuisine; rather, it combines local traditions with inspiration from long-ago encounters with other cultures. Visitors who want to experience the city'...