The first time we came to Venice, I was a little disappointed by how small it is.

The island.

I know there's a bigger mainland city, but to be honest, we never went there.

Our first day there, we walked around the island and were back at our hotel in a couple

of hours.

It felt like we'd walked around the neighborhood, not a city.

Is that it, I said?

Is there nothing more to see?

Rose just laughed at me.

Of course there was more to see.

How could there not be?

This is a city founded by refugees, fleeing the Huns and the Visigoths.

The Inkelai lacunai, fishermen and salt workers who lived in the mungsthilagoons built up

in bankments to strengthen the islands.

This fishing village eventually became a center for trade and craft, pouring forth silks,

brocades, jewelry and glasswork.

Great ships were built here and great battles were fought here.

Charlemagne sent his own son to Lacey's to Venice.

He tried for six months to take it, he failed, and he died of it.

The body of Mark the Evangelist was brought here, and he was made the city's patron saint.

In the 16th century, the poet and Cortezan Veronica Franco was tried as a witch.

When a Venice's Cortegiana Onesta, she had won the hearts of the city's men for her quick

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