Aerial view of Venice, Italy Jan 2, 2026

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

Fit for a fairytale
Jan 2, 2024Prayer flags in Phobjikha Valley, Bhutan
Jan 2, 2025Ardez village, Graubunden, Switzerland

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Something to ‘bee’ thankful for..
A labyrinth of luxury
Oct 19, 2023Durga Puja
Warm light through an ancient forest
Trusty water-shifters
Jul 31, 2025Kalalau Beach on the Nā Pali Coast, Hawaii, United States
Jan 5, 2024International Ice and Snow Festival, Harbin, China
An old bridge in a new light
Hiding in the woods
Regal Radiance
When ice imitates art
Feb 27, 2025Polar bear cub, Churchill, Manitoba, Canada
Feb 16, 2024Female pyrrhuloxia in Texas, USA
Jan 8, 2025Great Wall of China
The lungs of Earth
Feb 22, 2026Mam Tor, Derbyshire, England
Oct 2, 2024Gandhi Jayanti
Mar 28, 2026African buffalo, Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania
Jan 4, 2024Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, California
Fit for a fairytale
Kings of the north
May 29, 2024World Otter Day
Dec 28, 2023Humpback whale
Blood moon
Dec 3, 2025Sandhill cranes, Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, New Mexico
Oct 1, 2023Lake Bled, Slovenia
Nov 3, 2025Jellyfish swimming in the Pacific, Guerrero, Mexico
Feb 26, 2024Ranthambhore National Park, Rajasthan, India
Ive got a lot of problems with you penguins!
A glimpse of the grandest of canyons