Venice
The city on the Gulf.
Founded in 1888, Venice has developed into a lovely beach town with modern amenities without losing its unique charm. Venice is known as the “Shark’s Tooth Capital of the World” thanks to its abundance of fossilized shark teeth that can be found on its 14 miles of sandy, white beaches. The Island of Venice, affectionately referred to by locals as “the Island,” features a walkable downtown with a spacious outdoor area with a gazebo, splash pad and grassy lawn, and dozens of locally-owned restaurants and shops. The city is a less developed area of Florida’s Gulf Coast where you will find fewer high-rises and large tracts of land, including many beaches, which have been preserved as county or city parks. However, recent years have added new housing communities such as the Pelican Pointe Golf & Country Club, Venice Golf & Country Club, and the Venetian Golf & River Club. Arts and culture enthusiasts are sure to love Venice’s active community theatre, symphony, and art center, all of which are within walking distance from downtown. Venice also hosts numerous annual signature events such as the Downtown Art Festival, the Holiday Parade, the Suncoast BBQ Bash, and the Italian Fest.