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July 14th, 2017

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A city built on the islands of a swampy lagoon on the Adriatic coast of north-eastern Italy, Venice certainly has a unique foundation—in more ways than one.

How Old Is The City of Venice in Italy?

Consisting of 118 small islands linked by 150 criss-crossing canals and 417 bridges, Italy’s ‘Floating City’ was first inhabited in the 5th century A.D. by the Veneti—a mainland Italic tribe who sought refuge from the barbarians after the fall of the Western Roman Empire. By the end of the 6th century, these Mediterranean islands were expanded and permanently inhabited by growing numbers of persecuted peoples, including Christians, Jews, and Muslims, with numerous sea defences put in place to protect the city from enemy invasion.

Why Is Venice Called the Floating City

Due to the sandy nature of the ground, however, building on a lagoon was no easy task. The new Venetian population constructed solid foundations for the city by first driving huge wooden stakes through layers of mud, clay, and dense sand. Wooden platforms were constructed upon the stakes, and the buildings were then erected on top of these solid foundations. It was an ingenious method of construction. As a result of being submerged in water, the wood has not been exposed to the eroding effects of oxygen, thus the foundations have petrified into a solid, stone-like material. These stakes and platforms continues to support the incredible buildings of Venice to this day, including St. Mark’s Basilica (Basilica di San Marco)—the signature landmark of the city that is a must-see when exploring Venice. After learning about Venice's foundation, why not explore its evolution through the centuries? The Best of Venice Tour and Venice Highlights Mini Tour takes you through the city's most significant landmarks, helping you understand how this engineering marvel came to be.

Venice History of the Floating City: The Birth of a Maritime Power

In 726, the first leader, or Doge (Duke), of Venice was elected. By 1082, following decades of conflict, the city finally became a republic independent of the Byzantine empire. Venice came to be a great maritime power in the Mediterranean—the principal crossroads between the East and West—and the most prosperous commercial and cultural centre of the civilised world. Its mercantile interests were further strengthened in 1204 when the Venetians participated in the Fourth Crusade, capturing the Byzantine capital of Constantinople. Thereafter, Venice dominated trade throughout the Byzantine empire, eventually ruling the adjoining mainland province of Venetia, as well as Cyprus and a number of Greek islands. 
The city's long history has bred countless fascinating tales. Dive deeper into Venice's mysterious past with the Small Group Venice Legends, Anecdotes and Ghost Stories tour - a perfect way to experience the atmospheric canals after dark.
Want to experience Venice as merchants did centuries ago? A Private Grand Canal Tour follows the same water routes that made Venice the Mediterranean's most prosperous trading center.

Venice Construction History: From Republic to Empire

Venice remained an independent republic for over 1000 years and was the only city in Italy to avoid invasion. Heavily influenced by the Byzantine style, which is particularly evident when visiting the Doge’s Palace, Venice became known as one of the most enlightened artistic centres in the world. It rivalled Rome and Florence during the Renaissance, contributing masterpieces from artists such as Titian, Jacopo and Giovanni Bellini, Tintoretto, and Veronese. However, the power of this cosmopolitan metropolis began to decline after it lost dominion over Cyprus in the 16th century, finally succumbing to Napoleon during the French invasion of 1797. No discussion of Venice's golden age is complete without visiting the seat of its power. The Doge's Palace Tour offers an intimate look at where the city's rulers guided Venice through its thousand years of independence.

The Floating City Italy: Art and Architecture Through the Centuries

Marking the end of the world’s most Serene Republic, the Venetian empire was briefly handed to Austria, eventually joining the independent kingdom of Italy in 1866. Since then, Venice has managed to preserve its extraordinary architectural heritage, but it continues to face significant challenges. Throughout the 20th and 21st centuries, it has been necessary for the city to implement large-scale engineering projects to tackle the subsidence and flooding caused by rising tides, or ‘acqua alta'. The lagoon that protected Venice and its inhabitants for so long has now become the foremost threat to its survival, with the most notable flood taking place in 1966. To truly appreciate the scale of Venice's construction achievement, consider taking a Private Venice in a Day tour. You'll get to experience everything from the ancient wooden foundations to the magnificent architectural results above them.

Is Venice a Floating City in Danger? Modern Challenges and Tourism

Today, engineers and conservationists work tirelessly to preserve Venice's unique floating foundation system. Despite these modern challenges, Venice's original wooden foundation system continues to demonstrate the ingenious engineering solutions of its ancient builders. In spite of these issues, Venice continues to be a tourist magnet and leading cultural centre, attracting more than 20 million visitors each year. Hosting the world’s largest and oldest art festival, the Venice Art Biennale, the city offers myriads of remarkable art, architecture, craft, music, and literature—not the mention the romantic allure of a Gondola ride in Venice through the evocative Grand Canal and winding labyrinth of waterways. While modern Venice faces new challenges, some experiences remain timeless. A Private Gondola Ride in Venice offers the most authentic way to appreciate the city's unique construction and architecture from the very waters that shaped its destiny. The charm and sheer resilience of the city of Venice is simply astounding. As Petrarch once said, it’s “another world”. With so many enchanting antiquities, magnificent Piazzas, and secret gardens of Venice, it’s no surprise that Italy’s Floating City is considered one of the most beautiful destinations in the world.