7 things to know about Venice

Many of you will know that I have been preparing all summer for my glorious excursion to Venice, Italy, as an intern for the American Pavilion. Preparations have included reading every novel I can get my hands on which is set in Venice (mostly mysteries and a few romances, with a few childhood favourites thrown in). I have also been asking around to various relatives and family friends for advice on festival going. And a few things have come up in regards to my internship and Venice which I would like to clear up.

a) I'm going to Venice, not Vienna. I have added a map for clarification. Vienna is, I'm sure a lovely place, and is the capital of Austria. I'm am headed to Italy, a mere 436 km to the SW of Vienna.

b) I have no idea what I will be doing when I get to Venice. Katryna (a fellow Queen's filmie) did the same program as me, but in Cannes, did PR which involved making sure the right people went to the right parties. Maybe I'll get to do that too? Updates on that when I get them.

Ok, so now down to business. 7 things to know about Venice, since I will be leaving in 7 days to go there.

1) Venice is an island. Well, several islands. Including the Lido di Venezia (the Beach of Venice) which is where the festival actually takes place.

2) Venice is a mercantile city. It has existed for thousands of years and has made lots of money from foreigners. During the Crusades, the Venetians built ships and sailed the French and German crusaders over to Constantinople and when the kings couldn't afford to pay up, the Venetians got land instead, land that made them rich for several hundred years after they gave it back to the Byznatines.

3) Venice is female and goes by several names including Venezia (Italian), Venezsia (Venetian), and La Serenissima.

4) Venice's heyday was in the late 13th century, when they traded heavily the Byzantines and Europe.

5) Venice is shrinking. The city is disappearing into the sea as water erodes the sides of the canals (did I mention the canals yet?) and the population is getting smaller too, only ~ 62 000 people live in Venice-proper.

6) Venice's head of state is traditionally a Doge, or Duke. The full title (in English) was Duke of the Most Serene Republic of Venice.

7) Venice once belonged to Austria, which might explain the confusion. Napoleon Bonaparte signed a treaty in 1797 giving Venice to Austria, but only until 1805, when he then gave it to the Republic of Italy, but when Napolean was defeated in 1814 (Waterloo anyone?) the Austrians took it back. Venice wasn't part of Italy again until 1866!

That's all for today.