which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto
region. In 2009, there were 270,098 people residing in Venice's comune (the population estimate of 272,000 inhabitants includes the population of the whole Comune
of Venezia; around 60,000 in the historic city of Venice (Centro storico); 176,000 in Terraferma (the Mainland), mostly in the large frazioni
of Mestre
and Marghera
; 31,000 live on other islands in the lagoon).
1309 Pope Clement V excommunicates Venice and all its population.
1328 Antipope Nicholas V, a claimant to the papacy, is consecrated in Rome by the Bishop of Venice.
1508 The League of Cambrai is formed by Pope Julius II, Louis XII of France, Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor and Ferdinand II of Aragon as an alliance against Venice.
1539 Council of Trent: Paul III sends out letters to his bishops, delaying the Council due to war and the difficulty bishops had traveling to Venice.
1609 Galileo Galilei demonstrates his first telescope to Venetian lawmakers.
1797 First Coalition: Napoleon I of France conquers Venice.
1800 With the church leadership driven out of Rome during an armed conflict, Pius VII is crowned Pope in Venice with a temporary papal tiara made of papier-mâché.
1849 The first air raid in history. Austria launches pilotless balloons against the city of Venice.
1849 After a month-long siege, Venice, which had declared itself independent, surrenders to Austria.
1851 The first performance of ''Rigoletto'' by Giuseppe Verdi takes place in Venice.