To experience the cascade of impressions

The first time I got acquainted with Venice at the age of seven, when I saw views of this magical city on postcards. Houses, «growing out of water», conquered me, and since that time I wanted to visit Venice. I dreamed to see this beauty in reality. Unfortunately, in the «wild 90s», when my family had difficulties in economics, we could not travel. The whole Italy seemed distant and inaccessible to me, like located on another planet.

I started to learn Venetian culture and architecture with the help of books, songs. But if to look around, Venetian spirit lives in my native city – Saint-Petersburg. Many wonderful buildings of the Northern Venice were built by Italian architects. Works of Italian painters and sculptors are stored in museums. Here are even several yards with Italian mosaic panels. And it’s very important, that the Emperor Peter the Great decided to build a «city on water» after visiting Venice and Amsterdam. By the way, there are also some «houses on water» in Saint-Petersburg – in the area of «New Holland».

Looking at this beauty and getting to know the art of Petersburg museums, I fell in love with Venice. I dreamed to get lost in medieval streets, to ride on vaporetto, to taste pizza and tiramisu in a real Italian cafe.

A year and a half ago my wish came true – I visited Venice, the city of my childhood dreams. Probably, this is my only journey, where the reality was better than imagination. This city conquered me, when I went out of the railway-station and saw a medieval Cathedral. I rode on boats along the Venetian canals, visited museums, researched local shops, made photos. It was happiness to stay in Venice, because I experienced the cascade of impressions. And I really hope to return there, to visit other cities of Italy. As in childhood dreams long time ago.