Imagine how Venice would have been without its Lagoon: surely it would have lost much of its charm that makes it unique in the world...that makes it simply Venice! Venice and its Lagoon, the Lagoon and Venice: an indissoluble bond!
Lord Byron described Venice, in his masterpiece "Childe Harold's Pilgrimage", using these words

"I stood in Venice, on the Bridge of Sighs; a palace and a prison on each hand: I saw from out the wave her structures rise as from the stroke of the enchanter's wand..."

Each architectural monuments reflects the Serenissima's majesty; it was the last one of the Four Maritime Republics and became the undisputed naval and trade power in the whole Mediterranean area, until October 12, 1797, when Venice became Austrian territory when Napoleon signed the Treaty of Campoformio.
Rich in museums and palaces, Venice is a swirl of artistic styles, from the Venetian-Byzantine style to the Gothic one, from the Neoclassic style of "La Fenice" theater to the Liberty one of some 19th century palaces.