Venice in the Modern World

Venice should be a must for everyone because of its preservation of history. Although today palazzos from the 1500s and 1600s line the canals, you can go back even further to understand that early medieval folks literally built the islands from nothing. At first a route of escape from invaders, later a major economic and commercial empire. Venice's history takes us further eastward so you can see traces of influence from Constantinople and the Turks. If you can't feel the history while visiting Venice, it is because a wild horde of tourists are feeding pigeons during a 4 hour visit to the piazza San Marco. Get off the beaten path and walk everywhere, and walk at night too. You can take ferries to various islands, explore the first Jewish "ghetto", and enjoy the glimmer of water just about everywhere. Visit the market. Eating well is more difficult, so be willing to do picnics or do some research. Food will be a bit pricier, but see how it is brought in by watching the produce come in on boats in the morning. Then it makes sense.

Here's an article about the growing need to boost the economy while retaining its historical relevance.

http://www.npr.org/2012/06/18/155131818/locals-fear-venice-becoming-a-big-shopping-center?ft=3&f=1001&sc=nl&cc=nh-20120618