Venice is the City of Canals on Italy’s Venetian Lagoon.
Venice was built across a group of small islands in a shallow lagoon at the northern end of the Adriatic Sea. Instead of ordinary streets, much of its historic center is connected by canals, bridges, and pedestrian lanes. The Grand Canal is the city’s principal waterway and follows a broad reverse-S curve through the old center.
Traditional buildings stand on timber piles driven into layers of mud and clay. Over time, the wood became preserved in the oxygen-poor ground, allowing it to support stone and brick structures. Venice developed into a powerful maritime republic whose merchants connected Europe with markets in the eastern Mediterranean.
The city’s landmarks include Saint Mark’s Basilica, the Doge’s Palace, and the Rialto Bridge. Venice faces challenges from flooding, rising sea levels, tourism pressure, and population decline in the historic center.