The Lido has been famous as a beach resort
since the 19th century. Today it is fascinating to see the elegant Art
Nouveau and Moorish-style vilals and hotels, the tree-lined avenues and
the impressive former premises of the Municipal Casino, the Palazzo del
Cinema and the Excelsior Hotel overlooking the beach. At the Hotel Des
Bains, Luchino Visconti filmed his celebrated Death in Venice.
Once
fortified and used for military purposes, and theatre of the War of
Chioggia between the Genoese and the Venetians /14thC/, the Lido was and
still remains the setting for one of the most important of the
traditional feasts of the Serenissima; for it is here that the ceremony
of the Marriage of the Sea takes place, with a large Venetian crowd in
attendance. The Lido was also where the most illustrious guests were
received by the Seigniory. The Church of San Nicolo di Lido is evidence
of this past: founded in the 11th century and rebuilt in the 17the
century, it has Corinthian columns and capitals. Recently has been
opened the Planetarium, one of the most interesting and important of
Italy. The Fort of Sant’Andrea is interesting too: built in the 156th C
on the plan by Michele Sanmicheli it is perhaps best admired from a
vantage point near San Nicolo.
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