Venice
The city of Venice was founded in the 6th century at the heart of a lagoon in the Adriatic Sea. The City of the Doges, with its 177 canals and its rich and unique heritage, has fascinated a wide variety of artists. In the 18th century, Canaletto and Guardi left a veritable documentary record of their city and of Venetian society. In the 19th century, painters and photographers were inspired by the light, mysterious mists, famous monuments and the romantic image of Venice's glorious past.. The fall of the Republic in 1797 brought 800 years of magnificence to an end and the city became a picturesque stage-set. In 1908, Monet travelled to Venice and on discovering the city, declared: "It is too beautiful to be painted! It is impossible to capture!"
