<strong>Out on a limb: </strong>Locals claim that Marco Polo was born on the island of Korčula, now part of Croatia, rather than Venice itself.
Out on a limb: Locals claim that Marco Polo was born on the island of Korčula, now part of Croatia, rather than Venice itself.
Croatian National Tourist Board
<strong>Wheels up: </strong>Rovinj, in Croatia, bears traces of its Venetian past.
Wheels up: Rovinj, in Croatia, bears traces of its Venetian past.
Croatia National Tourist Board
<strong>Motor city:</strong> At the southern end of the Venetian lagoon, Chioggia is a mini Venice -- but with cars allowed.
Motor city: At the southern end of the Venetian lagoon, Chioggia is a mini Venice -- but with cars allowed.
Raquel Maria Carbonell Pagola/LightRocket via Getty Images
<strong>Well similar:</strong> With its central well and pretty church, this square could be Venice; but it's Svetvincenat, Croatia.
Well similar: With its central well and pretty church, this square could be Venice; but it's Svetvincenat, Croatia.
Istria Tourist Board
<strong>Deep blue sea:</strong> The Venetians crossed the Adriatic to rule Piran, now part of Slovenia.
Deep blue sea: The Venetians crossed the Adriatic to rule Piran, now part of Slovenia.
www.slovenia.info
<strong>Border town: </strong>Today, Muggia sits on the Italian-Slovenian border, but back in the day it was part of the Venetian Republic.
Border town: Today, Muggia sits on the Italian-Slovenian border, but back in the day it was part of the Venetian Republic.
TURISMO FVG
<strong>Blue lagoon:</strong> Grado, like Venice, is built on a series of sandy islands in a tranquil lagoon.
Blue lagoon: Grado, like Venice, is built on a series of sandy islands in a tranquil lagoon.
De Agostini/Getty Images
<strong>Keep out: </strong>Venetians built walls and bastions around the cities they ruled to deter invaders.
Keep out: Venetians built walls and bastions around the cities they ruled to deter invaders.
Libor Sojka/CTK/AP
<strong>Classically elegant: </strong>The buildings of Corfu Town are a later, Neoclassical Venetian style.
Classically elegant: The buildings of Corfu Town are a later, Neoclassical Venetian style.
Paul Panayiotou/Corbis Documentary RF/Getty Images
<strong>Star city: </strong>The star-shaped Venetian walls have survived around Nicosia, Europe's last divided city.
Star city: The star-shaped Venetian walls have survived around Nicosia, Europe's last divided city.
Savvas Njovu Christides/iStockphoto/Getty Images