Every year, more and more people choose to visit Venice. The area’s friendly, welcoming atmosphere makes for a wonderful vacation or lifestyle. Italian-style architecture of downtown Venice features boutique shopping and restaurants. The choices are many – from golf course communities to beachfront villas. In the 1870s, Richard Roberts established a homestead near Roberts Bay. In 1884, he sold a portion of his holdings to Frank Higel. Higel established a citrus operation involving the production of several lines of canned citrus items, and for the next 30 years the Higel family members were boat builders, fishermen, grove caretakers and contractors. Experience true charm on the Sun Coast!