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Venice is a tourist, commercial, and industrial center and capital of Venetia and of Venice province. The city is built on 118 islands within a lagoon in the Gulf of Venice. Venice is connected with the mainland, 2.5 mi (4 km) away, by a rail and highway bridge. Between the islands run about 150 canals, mostly very narrow, crossed by some 400 bridges. The Canal Grande, is the main traffic artery. Houses are built on piles.
The Grand Canal: without doubt Venice boasts the most magnificent main street in the whole world.
Along a 4 km stretch and to the left and right of the canal, impressive churches and palaces surpass each other in splendour.
Piazza San Marco: the heart of Venice. Surrounded by arched arcades and unique monumental buildings, this is truly one of the world's most beautiful squares.
The Basilica di San Marco, an enormous five-domed church combines Byzantine and Romanesque styles on a layout in the shape of a Greek cross. Its grandiose design dates from the 13th century.
The Campanile (bell tower) of St Mark's Church collapsed in 1902. Two years later it again stood in all its former glory.