La Serenissima

A stunningly illustrated history of Venice, from its beginnings as ''La Serenissima'' – ''the Most Serene Republic'' – to the Italian city that continues to enchant visitors today.

''Everything about Venice,'' observed Lord Byron, ''is, or was, extraordinary – her aspect is like a dream, and her history is like a romance.'' Dream and romance have conditioned myriad encounters with Venice across th...