Located in a lagoon of the Mediterranean Sea, Venice, Italy, is one of the world’s oldest cultural centers. Today, the city is recognized as part of the artistic and architectural patrimony of all humanity. In 1987, Venice and its lagoon were collectively designated a World Heritage site. The characteristics peculiar to Venetian architecture are the result of various factors; some due to local traditions, others to its particular environment, and still others deriving from different civilizations with which the Venetians came in contact.