Venice

About Venice

Venice, known in Italian as Venezia, is a historic city in the Veneto region of northeastern Italy. Its historic centre spans 118 small islands in the Venetian Lagoon, with canals running between neighbourhoods and bridges connecting them. The city’s origins date to the fifth century, when communities sought refuge on the lagoon’s islands. By the tenth century, Venice had become a major maritime power. The Venetian Republic later built a trading network that extended across the Mediterranean, from the Adriatic coast to Egypt and the eastern Mediterranean.

Architectural and cultural heritage

St Mark’s Basilica and the Doge’s Palace are among the best-known landmarks of the Venetian Republic. The city’s churches and palaces preserve works by artists such as Titian, Tintoretto and Veronese. In 1987, UNESCO inscribed Venice and its Lagoon on the World Heritage List, recognising the relationship between the city’s architecture and its lagoon setting. Venice is also home to La Biennale di Venezia, which began with an international art exhibition in 1895 and later established festivals devoted to music, cinema and theatre.

Relations with Bethlehem

The cities’ cultural contacts date back at least to 2004. A participant’s account of a cycling journey from Venice to Bethlehem records that the Municipality of Venice helped organise an exhibition by Palestinian artists on identity and homeland, held outside the Bethlehem Peace Center. Then-Mayor of Bethlehem Hanna Nasser welcomed the cyclists near the Church of the Nativity during the visit.

On 26 September 2025, Venice Mayor Luigi Brugnaro received Bethlehem Mayor Maher Nicola Canawati at Ca’ Corner, the headquarters of the Metropolitan City of Venice. Their discussion covered dialogue between municipalities, international cooperation for peace and the role of local businesses in post-war economic recovery. Mayor Canawati called for renewed cooperation through projects in Bethlehem and invited Mayor Brugnaro to visit the city.