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Crete's eastern corner is home to the resort of
Aghios Nikolas, a port that leads the way to the island's most significant ancient ruins.
The ancient Minoans lived on Crete as far back as 2500 BC in a society that was by far the
most advanced at the time. The ruins of the Minoan palaces that remain today date from
1700 to 1500 BC and reveal remarkable achievements. The Palace of Knossos was built around
an open courtyard and contain a labyrinth of rooms, drainage and lighting systems and even
a toilet and bathtub. Other significant periods in Crete's history include medieval times
when Turkish artists and writers fled to Crete following the fall of Constantinople and
resulting in a "Cretan Renaissance" era.
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The Phoenicians were the first to settle in Barcelona, and
during the 3rd century BC the Carthaginians named it Barcino after Barca, the ruling
family's name. The city grew rapidly under the early rule of the Romans and during
medieval times had reached significant wealth and political power. In 1640 the people of
the city began a revolution against ruler Philip IV and built a fort for their own
protection on Montjuic hill. By the nineteenth century, Barcelona was one of Europe's
largest and most successful ports, and today is one of the world's leading cities in art
and architecture. The artistic beauty of this unique destination is credited to the
talents of Joan Miro, Pablo Picasso, Antonio Gaudi, Jose Clara and others.
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Inland from France's central Atlantic coast, along the Garonne
River, lies the port of Bordeaux, best known for its superior wines. During the twelfth
century, the King Louis VI's son married Eleanor, the daughter to Duke William of
Aquitaine. The dowry included the southwestern portion of France. But fifteen years later,
the marriage was dissolved, and the dowry was returned. Eleanor quickly married the Duke
of Normandy, who soon was crowned King Henry II of England. The three centuries that
followed were filled with conflict between England and France, but in the final battle of
the Hundred Years War, Bordeaux was won back for France. Later during the French
Revolution, a group known as the Girondins were formed in Bordeaux. They were accused of
conspiracy against the revolution and executed in 1773.
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The citadel-town of Calvi has a population of 3600. It sits
atop a promontory at the western end of a beach-lined, half-moon shaped bay. For much of
the year, seaside sunbathers can either admire the iridescent turquoise waters of the
Golfe de Calvi or, if they turn around, ponder Monte Cinto (2706 metres) and its snowy
neighbours only 20 km or so inland. The coast between Calvi and I'lle Rousse is dotted
with a string of the fine-sand beaches. Calvi is the largest settlement in the Balagne
region.
From the 13th to the 18th centuries, Calvi was a Genoese stronghold.
Its citizens' renowned loyalty to Genoa is immortalized in the motto accorded to the town
by the Republic of Genoa in 1562 and carved over the gate to the Citadel: Civitas Calvi
Semper Fidelis (the city of Calvi, forever faithful). In 1794, a British expeditionary
fleet assisting Pasquale Paoli's Corsican nationalist forces, who had fallen out with the
island's post-1789 Revolutionary government, besieged and bombarded Calvi. In the course
of the battle, a certain Captain Nelson - later known to the world as Admiral Horatio
Nelson - was wounded by rock splinters and lost the use of his right eye.
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When Lord Brougham, Chancellor of Britain was forced to make
an unscheduled stop in Cannes on his journey to Italy, he was captivated by the natural
setting of the village. Each winter he returned to Cannes which began a tourism industry
as England's wealthy flocked to spend their holidays here. Today the rich and famous come
from all over the world to participate in the elite Cannes Film Festival, which honors
filmmakers from the world over.
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In 1100 BC, Cadiz was established as a trading post by the
Phoenicians and was later occupied by the Carthaginians, Romans, Visigoths and Moors.
Following Columbus' fifteenth century discovery of America, many treasures were brought
back to the port, making Cadiz the wealthiest western European port. Due to its vast
treasures, it was constantly attacked, and in 1587 Sir Francis Drake burned all the ships
anchored in the bay. During the 1805 Battle of Trafalgar, Britain's Lord Admiral Nelson
along with Spanish and French troops defeated Napoleon off the coast of Cadiz, but Nelson
was killed during the battle. In 1812 Ferdinand was captured and imprisoned in Cadiz but
was released by the French.
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Despite the boatloads of tourists who pour onto the Marina
Grande each day and restaurants that boast real English butter and Maxwell House coffee,
Capri is a beautiful and relatively unspoiled dot in the Bay of Naples. Its breathtaking
caves, luxuriant vegetation and the charming narrow lanes of its small towns have
attracted visitors for centuries. Capri was first occupied by the Greeks and then the
Romans, when in 29 BC it became the playground of Emperor Augustus and his successor,
Tiberius.
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Ancient Rome was built upon seven hills in the eighth century
BC. As early as the sixth century BC, the Romans developed their city into the most
sophisticated society in all of the Western world. By the fourth century BC, Christianity
was permitted in Rome, and for the past nineteen centuries the Roman Catholic religion has
spread across the world under the leadership of the pope. One the Roman's most powerful
rulers, Julius Caesar was assassinated in 44 BC during the Ides of March. Caesar's nephew,
Augustus, was chosen as the first emperor of Rome in 27 BC. Since its history began, the
Romans have built magnificent structures awarding them with some of the world's most
honored ancient and modern artistic achievements.
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Legendary Corfu is a lush and romantic island, written about
by Homer in his famous Odyssey. The Corinthians were the first to settle on the Ionian
Islands in the eighth century BC. From the fourteenth through eighteenth centuries, the
Venetians ruled Corfu establishing it as a base for their merchant ships. But their
greatest enemies were the Turks, who invaded the island on several occasions. When Venice
fell to the French in 1797, thousands of French were sent to the island only to be forced
out by the Russians and Turks. By 1864, Ionian Islands were granted independence under the
Treaty of France, and in 1862 the islands were joined with the new state of Greece.
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One of ancient Greece's most prosperous cities, Corinth
strategically linked the Ionian and Aegean Seas. An enormous acropolis was built by the
Greeks and later expanded by the Romans. The Corinthians were known for their many talents
including the making of fine clay figurines, bronze statues and glass. They lived a life
of luxury and were known throughout the ancient world for their abundance of courtesans
who practiced sacred prostitution in the Temple of Aphrodite. Under the Romans, St. Paul
preached Christianity to all who lived in Corinth including the Pagans and Jews. In 1858,
a violent earthquake destroyed most of the town, but many of the structures of the
acropolis were saved.
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The Corinth Canal is flanked by the city of Livadostro and the
historic city of Corinth. East of Corinth, the Isthmus is only four miles wide and ten
miles long. It must have been apparent from a very early period that if you could get your
ships across at this point, you would avoid the long and dangerous journey around the
Pelopenese. Such a maneuver would in fact shorten the journey from Athens to the west by
some 200 miles and about ten sailing hours.
The present canal was completed in 1893 after 11 years of work. The
canal as it is today is nearly four miles long, 75 feet wide and 26 feet deep. The walls
towering above are solid rock walls, taller than a 20 story building, thus giving the
illusion that the channel is narrower than it actually looks.
Basking in a setting of unparalleled beauty on the slope of Mount
Parnassus, Delphi is perhaps the most famous classical site in Greece. For the ancient
Greeks it was the "navel" of the earth, the spot where two eagles let loose by
Zeus had flown from opposite ends of the world and met. Apollo, brightest and best of the
gods, slew the dragon Python when he took over the precinct from the earth goddess Gaia
and her daughters. The oracle he is said to have founded here, in a cleft on the rockface,
was the religious and moral capital of the classical world for many centuries.
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According to Greek mythology, Leto, former lover of Zeus, gave
birth to twins under a palm tree on the island of Ortygia. In celebration of the birth of
Apollo and Artemis, the island was renamed Delos, meaning "illustrious", and
quickly became the sanctuary of Apollo. During the Mycenean period, from 1400 to 1200 BC,
the Cycladic Island of Delos was already well-established with palaces and artistic
treasures. Delos was later the capital of a group of nearby islands and reached the peak
of its religious significance during the seventh and sixth centuries BC. During the
mid-sixth century BC, Tyrant Peisistratos from Athens established a law that prohibited
births and deaths on the island. Later all graves were removed from the Delos in honor of
his wishes.
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Cradle of the Renaissance, home of Dante, Machiavelli,
Michelangelo and the Medicis, Florence is at once overwhelming in its wealth of art,
culture and history, and yet one of the most atmospheric and pleasant cities to visit in
Italy.
Situated on the banks of the Arno River and set among low hills clad
in olive groves and vineyards, Florence is immediately captivating. Florence attracts
millions of tourists each year who come to gaze at Michelangelo's David, or stand in awe
at Brunelleschi's immense and magnificent Duomo, and Giotto's accompanying bell tower. The
French writer Stendhal expressed a feeling of culture shock, of giddy faintness that left
him unable to walk after being dazzled by the magnificence of the Church of Santa Croce.
This condition is now known as Stendhalismo, or Stendhal's Disease, described by
Florentine doctors who treat up to 12 cases each year.
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The scenic Balearic Islands are covered with limestone hills
topped by lush pine forests. Ibiza, often called the "White Island" due to its
abundance of whitewashed houses, is the third largest of the group. The Phoenicians began
trading here as early as the tenth century BC, leaving behind a large necropolis
containing more than 2,000 tombs. By the seventh century BC, the Carthaginians established
a powerful colony on the island and ruled until the Romans took occupation. Both these
groups expanded the necropolis built by the Phoenicians, burying their dead in the same
tradition. All of the Balearic Islands were occupied by the Muslims from the tenth through
thirteenth centuries, developing agriculture and building advanced irrigation systems.
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Istanbul is where "East meets West", connecting
Europe and Asia Minor. The history of this capital dates back sixteen centuries to the
powerful Byzantine Empire, which controlled many cities throughout the world. During this
time, around the fifth century BC, the city was called Byzantium. Following Greek and
Persian occupation, the city fell to the Romans. Istanbul was declared the Eastern Roman
capital under Emperor Constantine, who renamed the city Constantinople. It later served as
a capital to the Ottomans, who renamed the city Istanbul. The Ottomans fell to the Turks
and the Turkish Republic was established.
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The Aeolians from Northern Greece were the first to settle in
Kusadasi, a city that is the gateway to Ephesus, one of the ancient world's largest and
most important archaeological and religious sites.
The Ionians settled in Ephesus during the eleventh century BC,
building monuments dedicated to Artemis, goddess of chastity, the moon, and hunting. Soon
Christian preachers including St. Paul and St. John visited the area, establishing the
Seven Churches of the Apocalypse. St. John addresses this city in his Book of Revelation,
after preaching in the Theater of Ephesus. Some of the site's most significant structures
included the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, the
Basilica of St. John, where the Apostle is buried and the House of the Virgin Mary.
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Greek mythology tells the tale that Ulysses founded the city,
calling it Olisipo. Others claim that the name is Phoenician, but all agree that it is one
of Europe's most fascinating destinations. Throughout its long history, the Celts,
Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Romans, Visigoths, and Moors all ruled for a time, and by the
twelfth century it fell under the rule of the Christian Portuguese. As the Portuguese
established colonies all over the world during the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, many
people from all over the world came to settle in Lisbon. Gradually it grew into a major
European city.
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Livorno is located in the center of Italy's hilly region of Tuscany,
gateway to Florence. This was the birthplace of the Italian language and of the
inspirational Renaissance movement. From the thirteenth through sixteenth centuries, this
era of great creative freedom encouraged artists, scientists, writers, and architects to
create some of the world's most noted masterpieces. Among the many who reached the heights
of success were Dante, Donatello, Michelangelo, Giotto, Boticelli, da Vinci, Machiavelli,
and others. This powerful era of achievement spread across Italy and into other parts of
Europe, making the Middle Ages one of the most prosperous periods in European history.
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Livorno is located in the center of Italy's hilly region of
Tuscany, gateway to Florence. This was the birthplace of the Italian language and of the
inspirational Renaissance movement. From the thirteenth through sixteenth centuries, this
era of great creative freedom encouraged artists, scientists, writers, and architects to
create some of the world's most noted masterpieces. Among the many who reached the heights
of success were Dante, Donatello, Michelangelo, Giotto, Boticelli, da Vinci, Machiavelli,
and others. This powerful era of achievement spread across Italy and into other parts of
Europe, making the Middle Ages one of the most prosperous periods in European history.
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The largest of the Balearic Islands, Mallorca, also known as
Majorca, is a wind-swept island with steep jagged cliffs and olive groves that are more
than a thousand years old. From the late thirteenth through mid fourteenth centuries,
James I of Aragon captured the island after defeating the Muslims in the Battle of Palma
that killed more than 50,000 men. Soon the entire Balearic archipelago was united under
the Kingdom of Majorca, which ended suddenly in 1349. During the fourteenth and fifteenth
centuries, Gothic Mallorcan painting reached great distinction, and two masters emerged
from this era named Nisart and Sedano. Many famous world figures visited the island during
the nineteenth century including composer Chopin, English poet Robert Graves and Austrian
Archduke, Ludwig Salvator. Mallorca is an island of contrasts, to the South is the busy
tourist area, hotels, bars, discos, smart marinas, dozens of restaurants serving delicious
food of every type, marvelous shopping and dazzling night life. On towards the North are
rocky valleys, sleepy villages shrouded in purple bougainvillea, high mountains dropping
dramatically to the sea with hidden coves and breathtaking views. It is no wonder that
artists, writers and thousands of tourists are drawn back to Majorca time and again.
Palma, the capital of both islands and the Balearic Archipelago is
steeped in countless centuries of history, from the many civilizations that have passed by
and is reflected in the old town where the great Gothic Cathedral dominates the houses,
streets and alleyways that surround it all miraculously untouched by time.
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The tiny Principality of Monaco is one of the world's smallest
countries, measuring less than one square mile. Evidence of prehistoric settlements have
been discovered here, and later the Greeks and Romans established colonies. In the early
part of the fourteenth century, the Grimaldi family purchased Monaco from the Genoans,
establishing a new government. Due to its vast fortunes, it has become one of the world's
most famous places. Americans became particularly enchanted with the country after Grace
Kelly married Prince Ranier III and today it is a popular destination due to its striking
natural beauty.
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The Cycladic island of Mykonos is today one of Greece's most
adored destinations due to its picture postcard setting. From the thirteenth through
eighteenth centuries the island was ruled by the Venetians, who introduced Catholicism to
the people of Mykonos. Later during Turkish occupation, many pirates sought refuge here to
protect their dhows from the strong winds. During Greece's War of Independence the sailors
of Mykonos honored the heroine Mando Mevrogenous, who supplied them with two large ships
at her own expense. In 1823 she wrote the renowned "Letter to the Women of
Paris" detailing her ordeal in the war.
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Sardinia is the second largest island in the Mediterranean
Sea, situated just eight miles south of French Corsica. The resort of Porto Cervo rests on
the island?s ruggedly beautiful northeast corner, known as the "Emerald Coast".
Sardinia has over 7,000 ancient stone tower houses referred to as "nuraghi".
These prehistoric settlements are believed to date back to the second century BC, and the
nuraghi people are said to have much in common with the ancient brochs of Scotland. Also
on Sardinia are more than five hundred ancient tombs, where rulers and their families were
buried. The Romans were the first to colonize Sardinia, and for a short time, the Pisans,
Genoese, and Austrian Empire reigned.
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Not far from the border of France along Italy's Eastern
Riviera is the Portofino Peninsula and the village of the same name. This region of
Liguria is best known as the birthplace of Christopher Columbus, one of many seafarers to
emerge from this part of Italy. The beautiful olive groves and vineyards of Liguria were
planted during the Roman Empire and today this is one of Italy's most fertile and scenic
regions. For many years Portofino has been a fishing village, but its natural setting
along the rocky coastline attracts wealthy Europeans and international travelers during
the summer months..
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The Cycladic island of Rhodes is most renowned as the site of
the former Colossus of Rhodes, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. The immense
statue once straddled the harbor, but was destroyed by an earthquake many centuries ago.
One of the most fascinating times in Rhodes' history was from the twelfth through
sixteenth centuries when the Knights of St. John established a military base and religious
center here. The Knights, mostly of French origin, spoke in seven tongues and were led by
a Grand Master. During their stay they built streets and houses, churches, an imposing
fortress and the famous Palace of the Grand Masters. The Knights rule in Rhodes ended in
1522 when Suleiman the Magnificent led an army of 100,000 men against them. Those who
survived the siege fled to Malta.
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Ancient Rome was built upon seven hills in the eighth century
BC. As early as the sixth century BC, the Romans developed their city into the most
sophisticated society in all of the Western world. By the fourth century BC, Christianity
was permitted in Rome, and for the past nineteen centuries the Roman Catholic religion has
spread across the world under the leadership of the pope. One of the Romans' most powerful
rulers, Julius Caesar, was assassinated in 44 BC during the Ides of March. Caesar's
nephew, Augustus, was chosen as the first emperor of Rome in 27 BC. Since its history
began, the Romans have built magnificent structures awarding them with some of the world's
most honored ancient and modern artistic achievements.
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Santorini is one of the world's most magnificent volcanic
islands. During the twenty-first through sixteenth centuries BC, the Minoans lived on the
island and built the city of Akrotiri, which was later flooded and preserved under a
blanket of volcanic ash. A theory developed by Greek archaeologist and professor Marinatos
was that Crete and Santorini were at one time a singular land mass divided by a violent
volcanic eruption in 1500 BC.
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The Sorrento Peninsula lies along the Bay of Naples within
Italy's Southern region of Campania. The early history of Campania has been traced as far
back as the eleventh century BC, hundreds of years prior to the establishment of Rome. For
many centuries, the Greeks settled along the coastline until the advent of the Roman
empire. In the years that followed, the wealthy Romans built large country homes
throughout the region. As with the rest of Italy, there was a long period of decline under
Roman rule until Spanish occupation in the sixteenth century. Today the resort of Sorrento
attracts people from all over the world including elite British and Americans who come to
enjoy the scenery, climate, and shopping.
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The island of Capri, one of the most beautiful and most
visited islands in the Tyrrhenian Sea, is in fact an extension of the peninsula of
Sorrento, and lies at the southern end of the Gulf of Naples. In Roman times, when it was
known as Caprae, it was a favorite resort of the emperors Augustus and Tiberius.
The island, about 4 miles long and 3/4 mile wide, has rugged
limestone crags rising to a hight of 1944 feet above the sea. The only places of any size
are the picturesque little towns of Capri and Anacapri. The island has a rich flora,
including the acanthus, whose leaves form the characteristic ornament of Corinthian
capitals.
The regular boats and hydrofoils land their passengers in the
picturesqe port of Marina Grande, on the north coast of the island. From here a funicular
(5 minutes), a stepped footpath (1/2 hour) and a road (2 miles) leads up to the town of
Capri, the island's capital. The town of Capri is situated on a saddle between the hill of
Il Capo to the east, Monte Solaro to the west, San Michele to the northeast and
Castiglione to the southwest. The central feature of the town is the little Piazza Umberto
I, at the top of the funicular from Marina Grande. From here it is a short walk past the
steps leading up to the church of Santo Stefano (1683) and along the main shopping street
(where you will find beautiful shops) to the Certosa de San Giacomo (founded 1371,
restored 1933), a former Carthusian house, which houses the Museo Diefenbach, with late
Romanesque picures by Diefenbach (1851 - 1915). The adjoining church of San Giacomo has a
Gothic doorway, 17th c. frescoes and two cloisters.
From Capri a very attractive footpath, the "Via Tiberio"
(45 minutes), runs northeast to the promontory of Il Capo. Immediately beyond a gateway is
the rock known as the Salto de Tiberio (980 ft) from which legend has it that the
tyrannical Emperor Tiberius had his victims thrown into the sea.
About 2 miles north-west of Anacapri is one of Capri's great tourist
attractions, the Blue Grotto, which can be reached either by boat from Marina Grande or by
the Via Pagliaro (2 miles) from Anacapri. This, the most famous of Capri's caves, was
carved out of the rock in prehistoric times by the constant battering of the sea. As a
result of the sinking of the land it is now half-filled with water. The entrance, only
about 3 1/2 feet high, can be negotiated only by small boats when the sea is calm. The
cave is 178 feet long, 99 feet wide and 50 feet high, with 46 to 66 feet depth of water.
When the sun is shining it is filled with an extraordinary blue light.
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The fashionable French Riviera resort of St. Tropez enchants
visitors from the world over. Its beauty was noted by writer Guy de Maupassant at the end
of the nineteenth century and by painter Paul Signac, who shared his knowledge of its
inspiring landscapes to his other artist friends, including Matisse. Its real claim to
fame came after Brigitte Bardot stared in the film "And God Created Woman" in
1956. The port is named after a Roman soldier from Pisa who was killed after declaring his
Christian faith. His well-preserved body floated ashore and many pilgrims came to pay
homage to his burial site, which was given the name of St. Tropez.
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Situated along the Northeast coast of Sicily, Taormina rests
820 feet above the sea overlooking Mount Etna. Its strategic position has attracted many
occupants, including the Greeks, Romans and Phoenicians. During the sixth century BC, the
Greeks were the first to settle here, building a grand theater. The theater was later
remodeled by the Romans, who controlled all of Sicily by the middle of the third century
BC. During the Middle Ages, Taormina prospered in trade, and in addition to two
magnificent palaces, many mansions and elaborate public buildings were erected in the
heart of the city. During the early part of the twentieth century, Taormina began to
attract visitors from the world over, due to its historic sites, mild climate and
spectacular scenery.
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The history of Venice began during the early ninth century
when the Venetian Empire quickly grew in power under the rule of a "Doge". With
the development of maritime trade, Venice grew to be one of the wealthiest cities in the
world. During the fourteenth century, Marco Polo brought many treasures to Venice from his
travels to China, as written about in his Book of Marvels. The peak of Venetian power was
reached during the fifteenth century when Gallipoli, Cyprus, and Crete were conquered as
well as many cities on Italy's mainland. It was during this time that the Italian
Renaissance emerged, and many of the country's most talented artists came from Venice. The
decline of the Venetian Empire began in 1453 when the Turks captured Constantinople. By
1797 the Venetian Empire was officially dissolved by Napoleon Bonaparte, who conquered
Venice and abolished its 1,000 year old constitution.
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