Walking on Water

It's hard to believe that this city doesn't stand on firm ground. In fact, you get the feeling that the palaces and churches come out of water itself. But, after taking a closer look at its foundations, you realize that Venice doesn't stand on water but on solid ground.

The fabric of the city's formed by 140 sand banks, all strengthtened with countless wooden trunks driven into the bed of the lagoon. Builders sank numerous tree trunks 1 after another into the muddy sea bed. In this way Venice was able to grow like any other town built on solid ground. So, 150 churches, many palaces and around 500 stone bridges had been built.

The importance that water plays in the life of Venice is that the entire city has adopted the shape of a fish. The lines of communication flow into this fish shape.

Passing the San Marco Basilica the body of the fish narrows, and near the Arsenal expands again into a wide fish tail. This is where the Venetian navy used to lay anchor.

In a nutshell: No place like Venice!