Venezia (Venice), Italy
ASTER VNIR Level 1B: 2002/6/19

Venice is a harbor city located in the northern east of Italy. The city faces the Adriatic Sea and consists of a number of islets within a lagoon in the Gulf of Venice. Approximately 150 canals run between the islets that are connected by more than 400 bridges.

The Grand Canal, shaped like a reversed letter S, runs 3 km through the city. There are three bridges across the canal, one of which is the famous Rialto located at the center. San Marco Basilica (St. Mark Cathedral), typical Byzantine architecture, stands in the middle of the south side.

Venice is famous for tourism as 'Queen of the seas' and is also famous as the locale for the movie "Summertime" (1955) starring Katherine Hepburn. The scenery in the picture, though filmed half a century ago, has not changed since. This picturesque city is now at risk of submergence under the influence of global warming.