| Reverse - Text |
Left section:
GRIND
YOUR COFFEE AT HOME
Right section: |
| VENICE, ITALY. |
| The permanent settlement
of this "Queen of the
Adriatic" on its present
site of 72 islands, cannot be
traced with certainty farther
back than the beginning of the
ninth century. It stands on a bay
near the Gulf of Venice. Its
growth from most unfavorable
physical conditions at outset, to
its present height of maritime
ascendency, is striking proof of
the energy and commercial genius
of its people. Its numerous
canals are the thoroughfares of
the city, the streets being too
narrow for anything but
foot-passage, with the exception
of the Merceria, in the centre of
the town. This principal business
street is from 12 to 20 feet wide
and bordered with handsome
stores. The Grand Canal has a
winding course through the city
and is intersected by 146 smaller
canals crossed by 306 bridges,
which being very steep, and
intended only for foot
passengers, are provided with
steps on either side. This canal
is crossed by the famous bridge
built of marble by Antonio da
Ponte in 1591, the Rialto, (Rivo
Alto,) the view from which is
remarkably fine. |
| The
gondolas, the only means of
conveyance from point to point,
are very swift and elegantly
fitted up. The method of rowing,
with one oar at the stern, is the
same as in the fourteenth
century, and probably much
earlier. |
| The
number of pretentious houses is
large, but their style is a
mixture of Eastern, Roman and
Gothic architecture and not
pleasing to a critical eye. |
| Piazza
San Marco, 600 by 300 feet, is
the only open space of any
magnitude, and with the piazzetta
leading to it, forms the state
entrance to Venice from the sea. |
| The
principal manufactures are the
same as in the middle ages, being
articles in gold, silver, glass,
velvet, silk, etc. In commercial
importance, Venice is second only
to Trieste. |
| Population 1880, 129,445. |
|
