Venice is a place.
The Venetian Lagoon ( Laguna di Venezia Łaguna de Venesia ) is an enclosed bay of the Adriatic Sea , in northern Italy , in which the city of Venice is situated . Venice ( [ langˈvɛnɪs ] ; Venezia [ veˈnɛtsja ] ; Venesia [ - vecveˈnɛsja ] ) is a city in northeastern Italy and the capital of the Veneto region . The city was historically the capital of the Republic of Venice . Venice has been known as the `` La Dominante , '' `` Serenissima , '' `` Queen of the Adriatic , '' `` City of Water , '' `` City of Masks , '' `` City of Bridges , '' `` The Floating City , '' and `` City of Canals . '' This made Venice a wealthy city throughout most of its history .