No other city has been written about that many times, no other city has fewer ground beneath its feet. Still, Venice excites romantic people and culture vultures alike - because the city is unbelievably charming and has such a unique atmosphere.
In an awestruck fashion, its inhabitants used to call Venice "La Serenissima" - the most illustrious. In 1932, when the great car and railways bridge between the mainland and the lagoon city was built, Venice entered a new age: it became more easily accessible, and the people did come. Today, about ten million tourists per year visit the fascinating city with its 150 canals, 400 bridges and a maze of 3,000 alleyways. It is not easy to find your way in Venice - a perfect analogy to love: only what is difficult to conquer is actually interesting.
Venice's true charm, however, lies in its inhabitants: at the fish market, vendors sing opera arias while filleting their goods, a craftswoman artfully decorates a pompous Venetian mask, a vegetable vendor skillfully navigates his full-packed gondola through the canals.
The whole city becomes colorful and spectacular when the citizens celebrate their Carnival. For centuries, they have dressed up in colorful costumes with the typical Venetian masks. The mask has a long tradition: for ten days a year, everyone can put it on and succumb to the illusion of being someone else.
