Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
1846
The irst train crosses to the mainland. The feat is bittersweet: churches were demolished for the sta-
tion, trains brought occupying Austrian troops, and Venetians footed the bill.
1848
Daniele Manin leads an anti-Austrian rebellion and declares Venice a republic for 17 months. Austri-
ans retake the city in 1849, and Venice remains under Austrian control for 17 years.
1866
Venice and the Veneto join the new Kingdom of Italy. The uniication of Italy is complete when Rome
is made the capital in 1870.
1918
Austro-Hungarian planes drop almost 300 bombs on Venice in WWI, but their aim is of, resulting in
mercifully little loss of life or damage.
1933
Mussolini opens the Ponte della Libertà (Freedom Bridge) from Mestre to Venice. The 3.85km-long,
two-lane highway remains the only access to Venice by car.
1943
From the Ghetto, 256 Jewish Venetians are rounded up and deported to concentration camps. A me-
morial in Campo del Ghetto commemorates those lost in the camps.
1948
Peggy Guggenheim arrives with major modernists, renewing interest in Italian art, reclaiming Futur-
ism from the Fascists and championing Venetian abstract expressionism.
1955
Venice opens Italy's irst museum of Jewish history, the Museo Ebraico, in the historic Ghetto. The
museum opens the Ghetto's synagogues and Lido cemetery to visitors.
1966
Record loods cause widespread damage and unleash debate on measures to protect Venice. Its ad-
mirers around the world rally to save the city, and rescue its treasures from lagoon muck.
