b'This is a photo of the lobby in my favorite hotel in Venice, The Danieli. Long before it was a hotel, it was the private residence of Il Doge. In the old days, Venice was known as a repubblica marinara (marine republic),and the Doge was at the head of that republic. Over the centuries, the Doges, who were elected to their position, helped transform Venice into an economic powerhouse. At one point, the Venetian traders held the exclusive rights to the most prosperous trading routes to the Orient. These routes, which were opened by explorers like Marco Polo, brought enormous wealth to the Venetian republic. This lobby gives a sense of the incredible power, wealth, and architectural style of the Venetian rulers of the day.64'