Venice Palaces Editorial Photo

Venice is a city in northern Italy known for tourism. The city stretches across 117 small islands in the marshy Venetian Lagoon along the Adriatic Sea. The city is divided into six areas or sestiere. The buildings of Venice are constructed on closely spaced wood piles, which were imported from the mainland. Venice has a rich and diverse architectural style, the most famous of which is probably the Gothic style. Venetian Gothic architecture is a term given to a Venetian building style combining use of the Gothic lancet arch with Byzantine and Arab influences. The style originated in 14th century Venice where the confluence of Byzantine style from Constantinople met Arab influence from Moorish Spain.