A floating city in a land of confusion

It has been known along centuries as Queen of the Adriatic, City of

Water or City of Masks and writers, travellers and romantic souls far and wide
have fallen for its undoubted beauty and bewitching scenery. A major maritime
power during the Middle Ages and Renaissance and stage for the Crusades on one
hand, but the cradle of multiple artistic movements and flourishing center of
commerce on the other, Venice remains a masterpiece of the past enchanting the
eyes of the hasty modern man.
For those who seek to reconnect with the past, Venice is a sanctuary of
serenity on a lagoon and is virtually the same as it was hundreds of years ago,
which turns this city into a monument that preservers the glory and charm of the
ages of the past. Not only is it a reminder of the fascinating creative power of the
men, but Venice also bears the prints of darker times in history, since it has never
truly recovered from the blow of being conquered by Napoleon and then disputed
fiercely between Italy and Austria. All these elements have inspired me a desire to
wander towards the west one day and stop by in the northeastern Italy to spend
some time in a city that seems to be living in timelessness. I am captivated by the
cultural and historical spirit throbbing powerfully in the veins of the Veneti people,
as they were called two millennia ago, and I am also looking for a place of refuge
from the daily rush and confusion.
It is not difficult to see what draws me towards Venice, but for me it is,
however, not easy to explain because it is all a pale and blurry image on the cover
of an old book, with a name I cant remember, that I accidentally found in my
parents library years ago. Since then, I keep Venice in my mind, a city floating
above water and triviality, a symbol of all that we may have lost and we are
striving to regain, and somehow, a seemingly perfect symphony of senses, illusions
and reflections of ourselves and our ancestors.