The Italian city of Venice.

義大利的威尼斯

Once the world’s greatest port,

曾經是世界上最大的港口

here, protected from the swells of the Adriatic,

躲過來自亞得里亞海的巨浪

Venetian merchants created an impossible city of incredible wealth.

威尼斯商人為城市帶來大量的財富

Long hailed as the most breathtaking city on earth,

一個在地球上最迷人的城市

there is no denying that sometimes,

不可否定的是

Venice can be overwhelmed with admirers.

朝聖者要去威尼斯旅行時會頓時手足無措

But if you take your time, and treat her gently,

但如果你花些時間 ，慢慢地欣賞她

she will reward you with moments of profound beauty and bliss.

她則會展現出深邃之美的一面

Most visits begin in the central district of San Marco,

大多數的觀光客都會先到市中心聖馬可逛逛

where you’ll find one of the world’s great squares, St Marks.

在那裡，你們可以看到聖馬可廣場，是世界上最雄偉的廣場之一

Arrive with the dawn, and the piazza will be yours to enjoy,

在黎明時，你可以好好品味這個廣場的氛圍

without the crowds.

沒有擾人的觀光客

St Mark’s Square is surrounded by some of the city’s finest architectural jewels.

在聖馬可廣場周圍有幾座優美的建築物

But there are none greater than St Mark’s Basilica,

但是沒有一棟建築物可以比聖馬可大教堂來得雄偉

a treasure house of holy relics, from the body of St Mark,

它存放了許多重要聖徒的遺骨，像是聖馬可的遺體安息在裡面

to a lock of The Virgin Mary’s hair.

和存放著聖母瑪利亞的一撮頭髮

St Mark was known as Mark the Lionhearted,

驕傲不遜的獅子是聖馬可的象徵

and everywhere you turn in Venice you’ll see this proud symbol.

在威尼斯的任何一個地方，你都可以看到這個自傲不遜的石雕

Across from the Basilica, stands the city’s beloved bell tower,

在聖馬可大教堂對面，有棟深受人喜愛的鐘樓：

St Mark’s Campanile.

聖馬可鐘樓

Climb the tower to see Venice stretch out in all her marble and red-tiled splendor,

可以爬上鐘塔上，欣賞整個威尼斯的大理石建築物和紅瓦屋頂

Below the tower, is one of the city’s great landmarks,

而在鐘塔底下，有著最主要的地標之一：

Doge’s Palace. For centuries this Venetian Gothic masterpiece

總督宮。這棟威尼斯的哥德式建築歷經了許多世紀

was the seat of the republic’s power and prestige. Today,

曾經為威尼斯共和國的權力和榮耀中樞。現今

its courtyards, apartments and chambers are a museum,

它成了博物館，供人參觀總督居住過的庭院、公寓、和房間

which celebrates centuries of Venetian achievement and glory.

這間博物館讚揚著威尼斯幾世紀以來的成就與榮耀

Just outside, stand the Columns of San Marco and San Teodoro,

就在廣場上有兩根大石柱，一根上面是聖馬可的石獅子，另一根則是聖泰奧多羅像

the traditional gateway to the city.

到城市的傳統途徑

Here, under the Winged of Lion of Venice,

在威尼斯有翼獅子之下

begin your journey along one of the world’s great aquatic thoroughfares,

你可以先享受在世界排名之一的宏偉水道上旅程：

The Grand Canal.

威尼斯大運河

For almost two and a half miles,

運河大約 2.5 英哩長

the canal winds through Venice,…it is her main artery, her lifeblood.

大運河綿延於威尼斯城市．．．它是大運河主幹道，河流流脈

Ride the Vaporetto dell’ Arte and explore the canal’s treasures at your leisure.

搭乘大運河水上巴士觀光線，你可以慢活地欣賞沿途美不勝收的景色

Or ride in true Venetian style, by gondola, which Mark Twain once called,

或者是選擇搭乘威尼斯式的船貢多拉來欣賞，作家馬克吐溫曾經這樣的描述：

the gentlest form of locomotion ever devised.

貢多拉是有史以來最優雅的運輸工具

Near the canal’s southern mouth,

靠近運河的南方出海口

rises the graceful dome of Santa Maria della Salute.

可以看到一個圓頂教堂：安康聖母教堂

Beset by plague in the 17th century,

在１７世紀時慘遭鼠疫的侵襲

Venice turned to the Spirit of Mother Mary for deliverance.

威尼斯人尋求聖母瑪利亞的幫助

The plague lifted, and grateful Venetians raised this new church in her honor.

在鼠疫結束後，威尼斯人為感謝聖母瑪利亞而建立此教堂

All along the canal, elegant palazzos,

沿著大運河，沿途中會看到許多優雅的宮殿

once the homes of wealthy merchants,

它們曾經是富商們的住處

slip by as if in a dream.

不知不覺地像是夢一樣的掠過

The timeless wake of river traffic laps at their doorsteps, just as it has for centuries.

水上交通揚起的波浪，幾個世紀以來綿綿不斷地打著他們的堤旁

Today, many of the Palazzos, are home to museums and galleries.

現在，許多的宮殿都成了博物館和畫廊

Ca Rezzonico allows visitors to experience the opulence of 18th century Venice.

雷佐尼科宫開放讓觀光客們欣賞到１８世紀時富麗堂皇的威尼斯

While Palazzo Grassi’s bold restoration and artworks

而格拉西宫有著現代化的整修和藝術品的展示

are the perfect reflection of a city that cherishes its past,

能讓人見證城市的往日風華

and embraces the new.

和面對嶄新的創新

Venice has a way of capturing hearts.

威尼斯有自己迷人的地方來俘獲你的心

In the 1940s, American heiress, Peggy Guggenheim,

大約在１９４０年時，美國女繼承人：佩姬古根漢

made her home on the Grand Canal.

就居住在威尼斯大運河旁

Today her passion for Venice lives on, through her incredible collection of modern art,

她收藏了許多代表性的現代藝術作品，持續傳承著她對威尼斯的熱情

which brings joy to the hundreds of art lovers who visit each day.

而讓更多的藝術熱愛者可以每天欣賞到這些好作品

Venice is known as The City Of Bridges,

威尼斯也稱為橋之城

many of which are works of art too.

大多數的橋都被視為藝術品

The Accademia Bridge links the San Marco district to the Accademia Gallery,

學院橋連結著聖馬可區到學院美術館

and offers some of the Grand Canal’s finest views.

從橋上可以看到威尼斯大運河上的壯麗景色

The oldest of the Grand Canal’s four crossings, is The Rialto Bridge.

里奧多橋是橫跨威尼斯大運河四座橋樑中最古老的

For over three hundred years this was the only way to cross the canal on foot,

這座橋超過三百年，曾經是唯一橫過威尼斯大運河的人行橋廊

and today still stands as the grand gateway to the Rialto Markets.

現今，仍然是通往里奧托市場的重要途徑

Away from the Grand Canal there are hundreds more bridges to explore,

離開威尼斯大運河，還有幾百座的橋可以任你造訪

from the purely functional, to the breathtaking.

有最簡單又實用的橋、另外也有著綺麗迷人的橋

The most famous of all,

其中最著名的一座橋

connects Doge’s Palace to the historic prison. From the enclosed walkway,

連接著總督府與威尼斯監獄。封閉式的拱橋建設

the condemned would capture one last look at their beloved city,

當犯人要通過橋進入監獄時，他們可以在橋上的窗外看最後一眼他們所敬愛的城市

and sigh,…hence the name, the Bridge of Sighs.

並發出嘆息，因此有了這個稱號：嘆息橋

Venice is a city to get lost in,

威尼斯是個值得迷路的城市

so put away your map and let her surprise you.

所以收起你的地圖，好好等著她（威尼斯）驚艷你

Follow winding alleyways that suddenly emerge into quiet piazzas

沿著蜿蜒街道上走，可以感到威尼斯廣場上的寧靜

and onto the steps of ancient churches.

之後，踏上古老教堂的階梯

In the central area of San Marco,

在聖馬可的市中心

discover cultural treasures like the Teatro La Fenice,

可以看到重要的文化遺產，像是：鳳凰劇院

which despite being destroyed three times by fire,

儘管曾經歷經過三次燒毀

arose from the ashes each time, just like its namesake.

每一次都能再次的重生，就像它的名字一樣（鳳凰：浴火重生）

The further you roam, the fewer travellers you’ll see and the more locals you’ll meet.

在威尼斯，你漫步得越遠，你會發現觀光客變少，而能見到更多的當地人

These are the places, where the city surrenders its most intimate pleasures…

此外，在這些人煙稀少的地方中，你們可以享受到更美麗的事物

When the city’s embrace becomes too tight,

如果城市變得更擁擠

there are places to catch your breath,

這裡有幾個地方你可以好好的放鬆

…like the waterfront promenades

像是：在海岸邊漫步

…or the sleepy canals and spacious piazzas of Castello.

在寧靜的威尼斯大運河上、或是待在寬廣的卡斯特羅廣場

Venice was long the epicenter of European glassmaking.

威尼斯一直以來都是歐洲重要的玻璃製造中心

Fearing an inferno,

因為時常發生火災

in the 13th century Venice relocated all her glassmakers to the island of Murano.

在１３世紀時，威尼斯玻璃工廠紛紛搬離到慕拉諾島（玻璃島）

700 years later,

７００年之後

the decedents of these artisans still create works of incredible delicacy and color.

這項藝術工藝依舊傳承下來，有著極好的色澤和精緻

Further across the lagoon,

在威尼斯瀉湖的北邊

is another island famed for its color, the tiny island of Burano.

是另一座特色島嶼：布拉諾小島

Legend has it,

有一個傳說：

that fishermen painted their houses in distinctive colors

漁夫把他們的家漆成各式鮮艷的顏色

so they could find their way home through the lagoon’s fogs.

所以他們才能在濃霧中找到自己的家

While here, shop for some of the island’s exquisite lace,

另外，在這小島上可以買到精緻的蕾絲作品

just as Leonardo da Vinci did when he visited in 1481.

就像在１４８１年畫家李奧納多．文西，來訪當地時也是買了蕾絲作品

From the adventures of Marco Polo and Casanova,

從冒險家馬可波羅和卡薩諾瓦

to the artistry of Vivaldi and Bellini,

到藝術創作者韋瓦第和貝里尼

Venice has shone her light into the far corners of the world for over one and a half thousand years.

超過了一千五百年的歷史，威尼斯的名聲傳遞到世界各地的角落

And now, the world comes to her.

而現在，世界各地的人紛紛來到此地朝聖

Just remember,

只要記得

Venice smiles upon those who linger. So stay for a few nights,

流連忘返的旅客可以看到威尼斯的令人難忘的一面。所以就在多待一晚

or stay for a month,

或是多待上一個月

and savor every sweet moment she has to offer.

慢慢品味出她所給予我們的浪漫的氛圍