威尼斯(Venice)
义大利语作Venezia
义大利北部主要港口，威尼托区的首府，位於亚得里亚海西北端。地处东北-西南走向，长约51公里新月形泻湖中央。包含118个岛屿及陆上的市区和两个工业城镇。西元568年伦巴底人入侵义大利北部，许多大陆居民被逐往泻湖诸岛并建立社区。7世纪中叶始具有政治独立性，称拜占庭威尼斯群岛。至840年代成为独立於拜占庭的城邦国家的中心。作为威尼斯共和国的中心，势力一度遍及整个地中海地区。16世纪，欧洲大国的经济注意力转向美洲大陆，威尼斯经济逐渐衰落，1866年并入义大利。第二次世界大战期间有一点破坏。市内有多条运河贯穿，1966年遭受洪灾。20世纪後期，全面的努力俾控制市内的洪水和保护市内的建筑。威尼斯建筑具有义大利、拜占庭、哥德、阿拉伯和巴洛克式建筑的风格。有艺术、历史名胜450处。包括着名的教堂、宫殿、博物馆、艺术馆和剧院等。市里约有400座桥梁，其中叹息桥（1600）最着名。主要经济活动为旅游业及其相关的工业，包括生产玻璃器皿、花边和纺织品。人口约293,732（1998）。
English version：
Venice
City (pop., 1999: 66,945), capital of Veneto region, northern Italy. Built on the Lagoon of Venice, it encompasses some 118 islands, the whole 90-mi (145-km) perimeter of the lagoon, and two industrial mainland boroughs. Refugees from northern invasions of the mainland founded settlements in the 5th century AD that were built uniquely on islands as protection against raids. It was a vassal of the Byzantine empire until the 10th century. Beginning with control of a trading route to the Levant, it emerged from the Fourth Crusade (1202-4) as ruler of a colonial empire which included Crete, Euboea, Cyclades, the Ionian Islands, and footholds in Morea and Epirus. In 1381 it defeated Genoa after a century-long struggle for commercial supremacy in the Levant and eastern Mediterranean. In the 15th century, with the acquisition of neighboring regions, the Venetian Republic became an extensive Italian state. It gradually lost its eastern possessions to Ottoman Turks, with whom Venice fought intermittently 15th-18th century; it gave up its last hold in the Aegean in 1715. The republic dissolved and the territory was ceded to Austria in 1797. Incorporated into Napoleon's kingdom of Italy in 1805, it was restored to Austria in 1815. A revolt against Austria (1848-49) eventually resulted in Venice being ceded to Italy in 1866. It suffered little damage during World War II, but flooding along its many miles of canals caused severe damage in 1966. The waters of the lagoon rise and flood the city on a regular basis, complicating efforts to preserve its architecture, which includes representations of Italian, Arabic, Byzantine, and Renaissance styles. There are some 450 palaces and homes of major historic importance. Notable among its 400 bridges is the Bridge of Sighs, built c. 800, and among its churches, St. Mark's Basilica. Most of the city's workers find employment in tourism and its related industries, though the city also plays a key market role within the vibrant economic system of the Veneto region.