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Venice, the queen of the Adriatic sea, the capital of the
province is situated on the 118 small islands, joined by
160 channels at the centre of the lagoon of about 50 km
long and 15 km of width, in the Golf of Venice (the
Adriatic Sea). The average depth of the lagoon is not
great, it is not more 1 or 2 metres. The city is connected
with the continent
by the railroad constructed as a bridge and a road of 4 km
long. Separated from the Adriatic sea by a sand stripe,
the city is accessible from the lagoon by the ways : Porto
di Lido, Porto Malamocco and Porto di Chioggia. The most
of the channels are narrow crossed at about 400 points.
The outline of the Grand Canal suggests the reversed
letter S, it is the principle through-passage of the city;
the main bridge is the Rialto Bridge, named after the
island it joins, which now is the historical core of
Venice. The gondoles, the traditional national transport,
have been replaced by small fluvial boats (vaporetti).
There are a great number of side-streets, squares and
several streets. The houses are constructed on the stilts.
Venice is a touristic, commercial and industrial city. The
tourism is motivated by numerous annual festivals devoted
to painting, cinema, theatre, opera and the modern music.
The Biennial of Venice is dedicated the modern Arts. The
industry consists of such
 branches
as jewelry, production of the flour and glass at the
Murano island. The city is the principle shipbuilding
place of the country. The port of Marghera, the modern
port
of Venice (founded in the 20th), is situated on the
continent and performs an important cargo turn-over.
The construction of Venice
The city of Venice is constructed on more than 100 islands
descending to the centre of the lagoon. In order to
overcome the difficulties the venetians have developed the
unique technologies applied specially to the smuddy and
downhill islands. The venetian residencies are based on
the special constructions made of timber (larch) and
stones carried from the Istian Peninsula, water-repellent
and suggesting a solid base. The plinths are based on the
pylons of oak and pine
transported from the forests in the North of the province
of Venice. The pylons are flexible, but sturdy base. The
buildings are constructed with timber, bricks, clay,
trimmed with stones. The advantage of the technique -
lightweight and the lesser degree of constrain of the
buildings. It explains their durability. The wells are the
unique fresh water sources for venetians. The water of the
lagoon is too brackish to drink. The campos with wells and
carefully arranged furrows so that the water could
glutter into the cavity in the centre of the campo are
surrounded by buildings. The water furrows are built under
the pavements ; the water from the wells is filtered and
stored in the specials stockage reservoirs made of clay
and covered with sand (the sand stands for the filter
too). Afterwards the water is served into the wells easily
recognizable by the flowers planted around. The venetians
have deep confidence in their wells as a means of water
supply, dating back to the Law prohibiting the animals use
the clean containers and also ordaining to wash hands
before using the wells. The intentional contamination was
liable to the capital punishment!
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