The city of Venice, spread across an archipelago in the crescent-shaped Laguna Veneta (Venice Lagoon), rests on a vast number of densely packed upright wooden piles submerged in the lagoon’s waters and driven deep into the soft mud and clay below. This remarkable feat of engineering has provided the city a stable foundation for well over a thousand years.

The lack of oxygen in the brackish water has slowed down the decay of these timber piles—primarily alder and other hardwoods—by inhibiting fungal growth and kept them largely intact over the centuries. Moreover, the wood has been hardened by minerals over time, making it more rigid and durable. On top of these piles, platforms of wooden planks were laid, and buildings were constructed using materials such as brick and stone.

The city expanded by linking the 118 islands of the archipelago with bridges and canals, creating a dense urban network. The Grand Canal became the central artery of Venice, lined with palaces and public buildings. The city’s layout is also suited to pedestrians, with narrow streets and about 400 bridges linking the many islands.

The foundation of Venice was shaped by its unique geographical setting. The Venice Lagoon, formed by the interaction of tidal currents and the waters of several Alpine rivers, is characterized by mud banks, shallows, and channels that provided a protective barrier against military attacks and a source of income from marine life and salt pans.

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica