LYCOS RETRIEVER 
Venice
built 643 days ago
Venice is a dream shimmering on the waters, a city of painted palaces and serene churches. Except that in this case, the dream came true. This unique urban masterpiece has canals instead of streets, boats instead of buses, and ornate bridges instead of subways. A trip to Venice offers an unforgettable glimpse of life’s defining moments played out on watery avenues: weddings, funerals, carnivals and regattas. Yet, in these opulent surroundings the daily grind continues: commuters pack on to the rush hour vaporetti (waterbuses), dustmen collect rubbish in their refuse boats and fishermen deliver their catch to the market.
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Though Venice was famous for its navy, its army was equally effective. In the 13th century, most Italian city states already were hiring mercenaries, but Venetian troops were still recruited from the lagoon, plus feudal levies from Dalmatia and Istria. In times of emergency, all males between seventeen and sixty years were registered and their weapons were surveyed, with those called to actually fight being organized into companies of twelve. The register of 1338 estimated that 30,000 Venetian men were capable of bearing arms; many of these were skilled crossbowmen. As in other Italian cities, aristocrats and other wealthy men were cavalrymen while the city's conscripts fought as infantry.
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While her political status steadily declined, Venice became—and has remained—a preeminent tourist destination. The city's architecture (1988.162), which is inflected by its geographic position and by the particular conditions of a maritime environment, and the wealth and richness of its painting, sculpture (36.163), and decoration (06.1335.1a-d) attracted ever larger numbers of visitors. Special fairs were held to interest buyers in the books, glass, lace, and all manner of other locally manufactured and imported goods that were offered for sale. Many foreigners stopped in Venice on their so-called Grand Tour (international travel intended to enhance the education of prominent young adult males [2002.22]), particularly for the Carnival season and for the great Ascension Day festival. In addition to the fine arts, music, and theater, gambling (1997.117.5), and other less salubrious entertainments were readily available.
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The Port of Venice has a unique automotive vehicle inventory problem. Since no vehicles are allowed in the city itself, many Venice-based businesses utilize the Port's parking facilities for visitors, as it is the closest a vehicle can get to the city. The Port requires visitors and businesses to register for parking online, and closely monitors the vehicles that remain at their lot. By utilizing the AeroScout Visibility System, they can now assign an AeroScout tag to each vehicle, and track that vehicle's accurate location on the lot at all times.
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During the 20th century, when many artesian wells were sunk into the periphery of the lagoon to draw water for local industry, Venice began to subside. It was realized that extraction of the aquifer was the cause. This sinking process has slowed markedly since artesian wells were banned in the 1960s. However, the city is still threatened by more frequent low-level floods (so-called Acqua alta, "high water") that creep to a height of several centimeters over its quays, regularly following certain tides. In many old houses the former staircases used by people to unload goods are now flooded, rendering the former ground floor uninhabitable. Thus, many Venetians resorted to moving up to the upper floors and continuing with their lives.
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During the Schism of the West, Venice always adhered to the Roman obedience. In 1457, upon the death of Domenico Michel, Patriarch of Grado, Nicholas V suppressed the patriarchate and the Bishopric of Csastello, incorporating them both in the new Patriarchate of Venice (Bull, "Regis aeterni")... Venice succeeded to the whole metropolitan jurisdiction of Grado, including the sees of Dalmatia. The election of the patriarch belonged to the Senate, and this practice sometimes led to differences between the republic and the Holy See. In like manner parishoners elected their parish priests, by the right of patronage. Girolamo Quirini, O.P. (1519-54), had many disputes with the clergy, with the Government, and with the Holy See; to avoid these disputes, the Senate decreed that in future no one but a senator should be eligible.
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