http://news.yahoo.com/venice-votes-cut- ... 02668.html
http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2014/03 ... breakaway/
The famous lagoon city of Venice has voted to break away from the rest of Italy.
Eighty nine per cent of Venetians backed the move to create their own sovereign state in a referendum on independence.
They want to create the "Repubblica Veneta", which would not only include the city of Venice but surrounding areas.
The northeastern Italian city consists of a group of 118 small islands separated by canals and linked by bridges
Venice, which attracts tens of thousands of US tourists each year, has been part of Italy for 150 years but before that was a powerful city state, naval and commercial power.
The city lost its independence after being captured by Napoleon in the late eighteenth century.
Activists pushing for the split have been inspired by similar separatist ambitions seen in Scotland.
The week-long vote, which the authorities claim is unofficial and is not legally-binding, comes at a time of economic crisis in Italy, reports the BBC.
Venice, in Italy's more prosperous north, is said to resent funds heading to what they see as waste and corruption in the country's south, said the BBC.
Finally, the Venetian Republic rises again! She shall conquer all her lost lands again! Croatia, Greece, Cyprus, they shall all become her in a matter of time! Viva San Marco! Viva la Repubblica di Venezia!
