Venice is a city in northeastern Italy and the capital of the Veneto region. It is built on a group of 126 islands separated by open water and canals, with portions linked by 472 bridges. The islands lie within the shallow Venetian Lagoon, an enclosed bay between the mouths of the Po and Piave rivers. As the administrative center for this unique geography, it serves as the hub for the Padua-Treviso-Venice Metropolitan Area.

The name derives from the ancient Veneti people who inhabited the region by the 10th century BC. Tradition identifies its founding with the dedication of San Giacomo on Rialto in 421 AD, following refugee migrations from Roman cities fleeing Germanic and Hun invasions. Venice served as the capital of the Republic of Venice for nearly a millennium, from 810 to 1797, before becoming part of the Kingdom of Italy in 1866.

The historic city is divided into six sestieri: Cannaregio, Castello, Dorsoduro, San Polo, Santa Croce, and San Marco. It is known by names including La Serenissima, Queen of the Adriatic, and City of Canals. The lagoon and city were inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987. Nearby islands include Burano, Murano, Lido, and Torcello, each offering distinct cultural and architectural experiences within the metropolitan area.

Venice is a major cultural center and birthplace of Baroque composers Tomaso Albinoni and Antonio Vivaldi. It played a significant role in instrumental and operatic music history, hosting the first public opera house in 1637. The city is also the home of the world's first international film festival, founded in 1932. Its romantic charm and artistic heritage attract visitors from around the globe despite challenges like overtourism.

As of 2025, the city proper has 249,466 inhabitants, with nearly 50,000 living in the historical island city. The metropolitan area has a total population of 2.6 million. Historically a major financial and maritime power, it remains a popular tourist destination. The city faces ongoing challenges including pollution and tide peaks, which keep its UNESCO listing under constant examination by international bodies.