Venice
/ˈvenɪs/- a city in NE Italy, capital of Venetia region; pop. 270,098 (2008). Italian name VENEZIA.威尼斯（意大利东北部城市, 威尼托区首府, 2008年人口270,098; 意大利语名VENEZIA）。
Situated on a lagoon of the Adriatic, Venice is built on numerous islands that are separated by canals and linked by bridges. It was a powerful republic in the Middle Ages and from the 13th to the 16th centuries a leading sea power, controlling trade to the eastern Mediterranean. After the Napoleonic Wars Venice was placed under Austrian rule and was incorporated into a unified Italy in 1866.