Venice is known as the City of Canals because of its waterways and gondolas.
Venice is the capital of Italy’s Veneto region and occupies a group of islands in a lagoon along the Adriatic Sea. The historic city is connected by hundreds of bridges and divided by canals, with the Grand Canal serving as its principal waterway. Gondolas are traditional narrow boats, while modern residents and visitors also use water buses called vaporetti.
The settlement grew as communities sought refuge in the lagoon during the turbulent centuries following the decline of the Western Roman Empire. Builders created foundations by driving wooden piles into the soft, waterlogged ground. Over time, Venice became a major maritime power and a commercial link between Europe and the eastern Mediterranean.
Venice is celebrated for landmarks including St. Mark’s Basilica, the Doge’s Palace, and the Rialto Bridge. The city also hosts the Venice Biennale and one of the world’s oldest international film festivals. Flooding, subsidence, rising seas, and heavy tourism create continuing challenges, while the MOSE barrier system was built to help protect the lagoon during exceptional high tides.