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A History of Venice, by John Julius Norwich
A massive tome that is probably the best history of medieval Venice ever written. Makes clear just how unrivaled this city of art and culture was, at a time when most of Europe was still groveling around in mud huts.

The City of Falling Angels, by John Berendt
An intimate and intriguing look at the exasperating character of Venice and Venetians. With his first book, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, on the New York Times Bestseller list Berendt moved to Venice and spent the next ten years finding quirky characters and charming citizen who inhabit the world’s strangest city.

The Venetian Empire, by Jan Morris
With typical wry wit and sparkling prose, Morris mixes the history of the great Venetian trading Empire with descriptions of places in the present day city. One of the best introductions to the city.




The World of Venice, by Jan Morris
An early work by Morris that doesn’t exhibit her usual panache and clear-headed style. While it’s a decent read, and a good comparison to her later works, which are the among the best travel writing in the world, other books do a better job of bringing Venice’s history to life.

Venice Against the Sea, by John Keahey
A modern, concise and well researched look into the many reasons that Venice is sinking, and what attempts are being made to save the city.

Venice Observed, by Mary McCarthy
Years after she spent time wandering through Venice, exploring the art and architecture of the floating city, McCarthy looks back fondly on her time there.


Films

Italian for Beginners
Comic romance is multi-lingual in this Danish film about people learning Italian for just about every reason except wanting to speak Italian. While most of it takes place in a village near Copenhagen, the class trip to Venice is a great finish.

Bread & Tulips
Heading down the freeway towards another humdrum family vacation, middle-aged and unappreciated mom Rosalba is left behind at a rest stop. How long before her family realizes she’s gone? Rosalba is not waiting around to find out and heads off on a little vacation of her own. She hitch hikes to Venice, has a fling, gets a job in flower store, and rediscovers her own sense of joy and purpose in life.

Dangerous Beauty
In the 16th-century, Venice was home to as many as 10,000 courtesans (read: high class prostitutes), who used their powers to gain considerable wealth and status while influencing society and politics. Based on a true story, this visually sumptuous film teeters on the edge of respectability with enough flesh and sex to keep any teenager happy, while delivering an insightful look into 16th century politics and church repression in the age of the Inquisition.




Death in Venice
Based on the Thomas Mann novel and set in Venice at the beginning of the 20th century, an aging composer facing a mental block finds renewal in an image of perfect youth. A tragic and disturbing film.

Summertime
At her arrival in Venice, Hepburn is an emotionally uptight, single American woman. Soon the music, food, art, and architecture of Venice (all beautifully filmed on location) will work their magic, and she’ll be tossing caution and morals to the wind.

The Wings of a Dove
In a plot twisty enough for Hitchcock, Bonham Carter plays a young woman in love with a guy she can’t marry because he’s poor and below her station. She suggests he marry a dying friend of hers, who just happens to be a rich heiress, so he can get her money, but then has second thoughts after it’s too late. Set mostly in Venice, with a few London scenes.

See the images and read the story.