Venice
The city of Venice, in Northeastern Italy, was originated before the Middle Ages by local people trying to find a safe refuge from the invasion of the Huns and consequently sheltering themselves and creating their residence on an increasing number of artificial islands in the middle of the still existing Venetian lagoon. Originated by local communities bound by a common interest of safety, the Venetian Republic, or the 'Serenissima', had a fast development and was one of the most powerful maritime cities in the world from the 13th until the 17th century, founding his power on the commerce of goods such as silk, spices, grains and precious stones.
The Serenissima enlarged his eastern influence until China, where important and lasting cultural and economical relationships were established. Downtown Venice, nowadays, is still one of the most incredible and unique cities in the world, with an priceless legacy in terms of art and culture. His six districts, called 'Sestrieri', namely Cannaregio, Castello, Dorsoduro, San Marco, San Polo and Santa Croce, represent a real anthology of all artistic styles from Byzantine to Baroque. Visited every year by millions of mesmerised tourists, with its 400 bridges on more than 150 canals linking 117 islands, its countless number of churches, museums and palaces, Venice represents a huge attraction for all kinds of people.
Today, the city of Venice, with his incommensurable artistic legacy coming from the past, is deeply involved in a process of change, being the stage for numerous achievements and even more remarkable projects. Examples of these projects are the new cable-stayed bridge in the commercial harbour, the huge building yard for the movable dams (MOSE) at the lagoon inlets, the new motorway bypass, the future underground beneath the lagoon (connecting the historic Venice with Mestre, the stretch of the city resting on the mainland), the Venice Gateway at the airport, the tramway network, the 'people mover', the new hospital and the new football arena.
All the mentioned large-scale projects are linked to a number of small 'environmentally friendly' projects meant to compensate their environmental impact, such as the new city parks and a new urban wood, quite unique in Europe.
Venice with its extremely fragile urban fabric, suspended between sea and land, hovering between reverence to the past and struggle towards the future is the ideal location for a Symposium on large infrastructures and how they can relate to their environment and context. The Venetian experience, in a reduced scale but with extreme connotations, is undoubtedly representative of the Italian condition, namely the one of a country that within an intrinsic and ineluctable development process has to deal on one side with one of the highest concentration of artworks, monuments and historic buildings in the world, and on the other with an extremely valuable and varied natural environment.
Modern Venice, with a population of more than 270 000 including also the newer area of Mestre on the mainland, with the third Italian airport and the third Italian commercial harbor, represents the heart of the 'Italian Northeast', the most important area for the economy of the Country together with the region of Milan.
Transportation
In Venice there are no cars, you have to walk or use a boat. There are water busses or taxi boats. Some hotels have private landings. Only on Venice Lido there are cars, public buses and taxis.
Arrival by Air
In the Airport arrival hall there is a IABSE information desk for assistance (open from 9 am to 6 pm) Cost of Transportation by Water Taxi to Venice or Lido starts from € 90 for up to 8 passengers. Only few hotels have private landings with porters. Be prepared to walk with your luggage to reach the hotel. The taxi driver cannot carry your luggage to the hotel. However, there are many landings available and walking distance should not be more than 100 meters for most hotels.
Transport by Water Bus to Venice or Lido costs about € 13 one way per passenger. Upon arrival you most likely have to walk with your luggage a few hundred meters to your hotel. On Lido, you can take a taxi or bus. To reach the landing for the water bus or the taxi boats, leave the arrival hall and follow the covered walkway. It is about a 300 meters walk. Trolleys are provided for your luggage.Tickets for water bus and water taxi can be bought in the arrival hall. There is an ATM in the arrival hall accepting most credit cards and Plus- and Maestro-Cards.
Alternatively, you may travel by bus or taxi to Piazza del Roma, and from there proceed to your hotel by foot, water bus or taxi boat.
Arrival by Car
You can reach the Lido with a Ferry leaving from Tronchetto Island. Check with your hotel if parking is provided. There is a car park at approximately € 30,00 per day.
Arrival by Train
Depart from Venice Santa Lucia Railway Station and proceed to your hotel by foot, water bus or taxi boat.
Climate
During September, average air temperature is approximately 20°C with some rain showers.
Language
Official spoken and written language is Italian. English is widely spoken and understood. Main European languages are understood and spoken in most hotels, shops and restaurants as well as in major tourist destinations.
Currency
The currency in Italy is Euro (€).
Time
The time in Italy is one hour ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).
Electricity
The electrical supply is 220 volts and 50 Hz. Connection for appliances is a 2 round-pin plug.
