Did You Know?

Did you know that Venice has over 400 footbridges? These bridges play a crucial role in connecting different parts of the city, spanning the canals and allowing pedestrians to move around. The most famous and iconic bridge in Venice is the Rialto Bridge, which dates back to the late 16th century.

Did you know that Venice experiences an annual phenomenon called "Acqua Alta"? During certain times of the year, particularly in winter, high tides cause flooding in some parts of the city. Wooden walkways, known as "pontoon" bridges, are temporarily set up to allow pedestrians to navigate through the flooded areas.

Did you know that Venice is known as the "Floating City" or "City of Water"? This nickname is due to the absence of roads and cars within the historic center of Venice. Instead, transportation is primarily conducted by boats and water taxis, making it a truly distinctive and charming city to explore.

Venice, Italy is built on more than 100 small islands and has over 400 bridges connecting them all together. The city has no roads, only canals and footpaths.

Did you know that Venice is home to the world's oldest operating casino? The Casino di Venezia, located in the Palazzo Vendramin-Calergi, opened in 1638 and continues to welcome visitors to try their luck at various games of chance in a historic setting.

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The Beauty Of San Rocco: An Historical And Cultural Delight

The Church of Saint Roch, more commonly known as San Rocco, was built between 1489 and 1508, a tribute to Saint Roch who is said to have healed victims of the plague that rocked Venice, killing 80,000 people. By Italian Roman Catholic church standards, it is modest, but that may be the result of lesser income for the churches as the plague wiped out congregations — and therefore donations — in mass numbers. It is still a stunning building, its facade designed by Bernardino Maccarucci in 1765. The relics of St. Roch are protected within the church, and the sculpture above the main entrance depicts him healing a plague victim; he became a patron saint of Venice in 1576, and thereafter, the Doge attended his feast day every year on August 16th. Situated very centrally in the main part of Venice, San Rocco mains an active place of worship, and is very close to the Scuola Grande di San Rocco, founded in the 1400s as a confraternity to help those suffering from the plague. It houses many valuable works of art, especially Tintoretto paintings. Unless you are planning to attend a mass, San Rocco is not open to the public on Sundays.