Venice is a city in northern Italy, the capital of the region Veneto and is world famous for its canals. It is built on an archipelago of 118 islands formed by approximately 150 canals in a shallow lagoon. The islands are connected by approximately 400 bridges.
Transportation within the city is by foot or on water. It is considered by many to be one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Venice was also a very important centre of commerce especially for silk, grain and spice trade and art in the 13th century up to the end of the 17th century.
The classical Venetian boat is the gondola, although it is now mostly used for tourists, or for weddings and funerals. Most Venetians now travel by motorized water-buses (vaporetti) which ply regular routes along the major canals and between the city’s islands.
