Venice, Florida, is a southwestern Florida city of about 21,000 residents situated in Sarasota County. This coastal city offers its citizens easy access to all of the recreational opportunities offered by the Gulf of Mexico. Bright white sand beaches contrast with lush tropical foliage and sparkling waterways.

History

Venice can trace its origins to a homestead established near Roberts Bay in the 1870s. In the 1880s, a citrus canning operation began here. The owners branched out into boat building, commercial fishing and contracting. Development accelerated with the arrival of the railroad in 1911, although Venice still remained a relatively quiet fishing village into the 1920s. Then, a surgeon bought 2,916 acres of land and laid out a city. Residential construction began in earnest in 1926. The Venice Army Air Base opened in 1942. Combat air units were supported at this air field, and fighter pilots received training here.

Parks and Recreation

Myakka River State Park is one of Florida's largest and oldest state parks. The Myakka River has been designated a Florida Wild and Scenic River. It flows through a diverse mix of pinelands, hammocks, prairies and wetlands. The two lakes in the park expand opportunities for fishing, kayaking and canoeing. The lakes can also be explored via two of the world's largest airboats. The backcountry can be explored seasonally via safari tram tour. Five unique palm log cabins constructed in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps are available for rent.

Attractions and Activities

A great deal of Venice real estate is devoted to golf courses and golf course communities. One popular public layout is the Lake Venice Golf Cub. The 27-hole layout offers some frontage right on the Gulf. From the back tees, the course rating is a healthy 71.1, and the slope is 127.

Events

For over a quarter-of-a-century, the Venice Downtown Art Festival has been a popular event for locals and tourists alike. Over 150 nationally-recognized artists exhibit jewelry, photography, sculpture, ceramics, glass, mixed media and more. Some visitors elect to commission their own private works of art.

A good, knowledgeable Venice real estate agent can help a prospective Venice home buyer to focus on the Venice properties that fit one's goals. At any one time, there will be hundreds of Venice FL homes that a Venice realtor can discuss with you. About one in seven of the homes for sale in Venice are condominium homes. The discriminating home buyer in search of waterfront Venice FL real estate can choose from luxurious Venice homes for sale. Some of this real estate in Venice will be priced at $2 million or more.