Aerial view of Venice, Italy Jan 2, 2026

Aerial view of Venice, Italy

Seeing Venice from above is mesmerising, but this Italian gem"s true magic lies within its walls and waterways. Founded in the 5th century on a cluster of islands in the Venetian Lagoon, the early settlement rose from marshland to become a maritime powerhouse. By the Middle Ages, it had evolved into a major hub for trade between Europe and the East, fuelling immense wealth and cultural growth. The city"s grandeur shines through its Gothic palaces, Renaissance art and landmarks such as St. Mark"s Basilica, the Doge"s Palace and the Rialto Bridge.

© Clement Leonard/Getty Images

palette

Today in History

Jan 2, 2024Jaswant Thada and Mehrangarh Fort, India
Jan 2, 2025Ardez village, Graubunden, Switzerland

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Sep 2, 2024Red-and-green macaws, Brazil
Nov 23, 2023Teide National Park, Tenerife, Canary Islands
Feb 18, 2026Przewalskis horses
Feb 13, 2025Lake Tyrrell, Victoria, Australia
Oct 13, 2025Waterfall at Wimbachklamm Gorge, Bavaria, Germany
Nov 2, 2024American bison in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, USA
Apr 25, 2025Magellanic penguins, Volunteer Point, Falkland Islands
Oct 24, 2024Bodie State Historic Park, California, United States
Mar 22, 2026Lake Tanganyika, Africa
Feb 7, 2024St. James Tidal Pool, Cape Town, South Africa
Sep 12, 2025Spinner dolphin pod
Jun 10, 2024The city of Osaka at night, Japan
Jan 20, 2026Gentoo penguin, Petermann Island, Antarctica
Dec 22, 2025Alte Brücke Bridge, Frankfurt, Germany
Feb 20, 2025Red deer, Canada
Nov 4, 2024Grasmere, Lake District, Cumbria, England
Dec 1, 2023Jasper National Park, Canada
Oct 20, 2025Hoffmanns two-toed sloth
Dec 24, 2024Half-timbered Houses of Freudenberg, Germany
Jan 23, 2026Þorrablót, Icelandic midwinter festival
Feb 1, 2025Königstein Fortress, Saxon Switzerland, Germany
Jun 29, 2025Blue lagoon of Pulau Ay, Banda Islands, Indonesia
Oct 12, 2025Saranac Lake, New York
May 26, 2025Hozugawa River in Arashiyama, Kyoto, Japan
Jan 10, 2025Abraham Lake, Alberta, Canada
Feb 28, 2024Bamburgh Castle, Northumberland, England
Dec 24, 2025Starling murmuration, Brighton, England
Sep 16, 2023Splügen Pass, Switzerland
May 4, 2024The ruins of an ancient monastery, Skellig Michael, Ireland
Sep 22, 2024Buttermere, Lake District National Park, England, United Kingdom