Venice or Venice?

Venice in Los Angeles, USA or Venice, Italy? Different centuries... with the same soul.

Which Venice is your dream vacation: Venice, Italy or Venice, USA?

Two names, one soul. Venice Italy and Venice Usa are worlds apart in terms of distance, but they actually have some suprising things in common. Which would you choose to visit first?

Venice in Los Angeles was built in the beginning of the 20th century as a beach resort town, ambitiously modeled after Venice in Italy. Canals were dug to drain the marshes. There were buildings in Venetian style on the main 'canale' and the visitors coming with trolleys from L.A were offered real Gondola tours around the community. It was a success that attracted 50,000 to 100,000 visitors every weekend.

The founder of this Amercian dream town was tobacco millionaire, Abbot Kinney, and when he died in 1920, Venice became more difficult to manage demanding extensive restorations. Furthermore, the prohibition in the 1920's reduced the tax revenue. Venice suffered from the depression, and after it was taken over by the city of Los Angeles, it was decided in 1929 to pave over most of the canals, despite protests from the citizens.

Neglected by the city of Los Angeles, Venice became known as the Slum by the Sea, which was not necessarily a bad thing for town. It had low rents and run-down bungalows offered young artists, poets, and writers somewhere to sleep. This was the place for the Beat Generation and it paved way for another revolution, the big hippie movement which became very predominant in the Venice community. For example, the band, The Doors, was founded in Venice Beach. Since then, prices have gone up and now Venice Beach, L.A is a posh and popular neighborhood, though still with an artistic profile of it´s citizens.

Venice in Italy was the center of the world starting from around the middle ages, thanks to its trading power - mostly comparible to what New York is today. Venezia (in Italian) is where you found money, power and the most glorious, groundbreaking architecture. No wonder Shakespeare set his plays in there, even though he allegedly never set foot in Italy.

It has been an obvious meeting point for history´s most important artists: Bellini, Vivaldi, Albinoni, Wagner, Lord Byron, Henry James, Mahler, Thomas Mann.. not to mention the artist of Love, Mr. Casanova himself. And it´s hard to find anyone who hasn't already visited, or plans to visit the watery city. The entire lagoon is a UNESCO world heritage site, and considerable efforts are being made in order to save the city from sinking.

Venice in Los Angeles is now considered one of the most interesting centers for Moden Art in the world, plus a well-known trend setter for pop culture phenomenan like rollerblades, milkshakes, soy Lattes, Yoga and healthy diets like microbiotic cooking..

So in a funny way you can say that little sister Venice in Los Angeles bares the heritage of the name Venice rather successfully, albeit for totally different reasons...

If History and European Culture still are your preferences: Book your accomodation in Venice, Italy.