Hunters and fishermen were living on the mudflats of the Lagoon 2000 years ago, but Venice really grew as a place of refuge. The ravaging of Attila the Hun drove many to seek shelter here in the fifth century, and a century later the march of the Lombards into northern Italy saw more settle here. The Venetian city-state, founded in the year of 697, was organized as a republic led by an elected official whose title was Doge (Duke). Venice's sphere of influence grew steadily, its economic and military dominance of the Mediterranean territories was firm throughout the Middle Ages. At one point in time, the territory that was under its rule included northern Italy, Istra and Dalmatia provinces (both of them being regions in the modern day Croatia), and faraway islands such as Cyprus and Crete. San Marco became the patron saint and by the end of the tenth century Venice was a powerful and rich trading nation. It profited from the Crusades, from the sacking of Constantinople and from the splitting of the spoils as the riches of the Roman Empire were finally divided up. It ruled its territories with a ruthless efficiency, always seeking to maximize the plunder of natural resources.

The might of the Venetian military fleet was legendary while the cunning diplomacy tactics that Venice frequently employed probably inspired Machiavelli to some extent when he wrote The Prince. Doge Dandolo's political maneuvers in the year 1202 (during the Fourth Crusade) are particularly noteworthy. His ability to use the stranded Crusader army that Venice was contracted to transport to Egypt to quell the rebellion of city Zara (Zadar) in Dalmatia and obtain other important concessions was a pure stroke of political genius. However, Venice derived most of its strength from its huge merchant fleet. Its ships traveled to the farthest ports of the Mediterranean, and beyond. Expeditions to locate new markets and trade routes were undertaken on regular basis. 

In the early sixteenth century Venice found itself at war with Spain, the Pope and practically every European power. Victorious yet bankrupt, Venice's importance started to diminish slowly and surely after the discovery of America as most of the important trade routes shifted to the west. Because of geographical proximity, Spain and England were able to profit from new trade routes much easier than Venice. The deterioration of Venice's economic health soon followed. Venice's existence as an independent city-state was effectively ended when the French army under Napoleon's command conquered it in 1797.

The decadent Venetian aristocracy after failing on their diplomatic attempts, abdicated power in a controversial Maggior Consiglio meeting (in which the minimum required number of voters was not present).

After nine months Bonaparte gives the Venetian territories to the Austrians with the treaty of Campoformido, and it is under the Hapsburgs that historical Venet territories such as Bergamo and Brescia to the West, and Histria to the East fall under separate administrations, and have been apart from Veneto ever since. In 1806 Napoleon returns as emperor and rules for eight harduos years under which the masses are overtaxed and recluted to in the French army. Perhaps, Veneto's artistic and historic patrimony had an even worse fate as priceless masterpieces accumulated in over a millenium of continuous independence are stolen by the French.

With 1815 the Austrians return, but this time to stay for fifty years. In comparison to the Napoleonic years the Haspburgs appear as an improvement under whom the Horses of St. Mark (stolen by Napoleon) are returned to the Basilica. The Austrians intents are to govern this new province of their empire, and as evidence they left to the territory a railway system and the restructuring of Venice's State Archives, a monument of historical documents. Despite the support of mainland nobilities, the Austrian domimance was not welcomed by the masses, as a continuum of revolutionary activities testify. The "carbonari" movements were present since 1818, but it is with the revolution of 1848 that Veneto breaths one more time the air of independence. It is Daniele Manin, a lawyer of Jewish origins to lead the revolt and head the Venet Republic for its one brief year of existence. Manin's historical passions for the Serenissima were not enough to survive the Austrian siege, especially without allies in mainland Veneto. It wasn't until 1866 that the Austrians left but with no revolt nor independence for Veneto.

The Kingdom of Italy joined Prussia in a war against Austria. Although the Italians lost their two battles in Custoza and Lissa (ironically, the Italians had to fight the Venetian navy, which was part of the Austrian forces), Austrian losses to Prussia forced it to an armistice. As part of the peace treaty, Veneto was given to France on October 19th 1866, who was supposed to superseed a popular referendum to determine whether to create an independent republic or join the Italian Kingdom. It didn't. The same day, in a room of the Hotel Europa, in Venice, the French general Leboef conceded Veneto to three notaries who "deposed" it in the hands of the kings's (of Italy) commissary count Genova Thaon di Revel. Later in the year Italy held the referendum which turned "unanimously" in favor of annexation. Soon after came the massive migrations to the Americas. The economic depression that began under Austria turned even worse in the first decades of Italian rule. Entire towns fled the misery, hunger and taxation for a better future, mostly to South America, but also to Mexico, and later to Canada and Australia. It is peculiar to find on the other side of the oceans entire town still well rooted in their Venet roots, with names such as Nova Bassano, Nova Vicenza and Nova Padua.

By the 1800s Venice, though a popular tourist destination, was poor and decaying. Saved by mass tourism – the Lido became a fashionable resort, immortalized in Thomas Mann's Death in Venice.

Today, the city is still a famous tourist resort, dazzling contless tourists from all around the world with its unique architecture and historical treasures. With 118 islands, 150 canals, and 411 bridges, the city is an intricate maze – some of the most unexpected architectural delights are to be found as ypu lose yourself on your walks.