Canals in the Veneto

Murano

Twilight in Venice

Padova

Grand Canal in Venice

Canal cities are not uncommon, but Venice is THE canal city. In most other places, canals are dug to drain the land or form transportation routes. In Venice the land was built up on the marsh and this formed the canals. There are no cars in Venice. Every form of transportation you would find on streets is found on the water. Buses become vaporetto, taxis become water taxis or gondole, bikes become rowboats, cars become private boats. Foot traffic still needs to be done on land. If any swimmers were to survive being run over by the many boats on the canals, the water itself would probably kill you. Beautiful as the canals are, they are basically open sewers.

Elizabeth Conte