Popularly called the City of Canals the Venice city is located in the northwest part of Italy. The floating city has been a sole attraction for travelers because of its meandering canals, gondolas, and the tangle of small streets that seems to be a labyrinth to the visitors. Almost 25 million tourists visit the place every year. Other than being a traveling hotspot, couples also go there to tie the nuptial knot and this is why it is also called the city of romance. Here are 10 interesting facts about the queen of Adriatic.
Top 10 Interesting Facts About Venice City
- Venice city is geographically unique
While Venice looks like a magical floating city, it is sitting on millions of logs. These logs were mainly picked from Alder trees that are best known for their unique water resistance properties. The logs were bought here by boat from Croatia and Slovenia and were driven deep into the ground of 118 submerged islands in the Venetian Lagoon. These islands are separated by over 150 canals and many of them are connected by 400 footbridges. But islands like Burano, Murano, and Torcello are located further out into the lagoon and can only be accessed by waterways.
- Venice city is sinking
The city has been combating rising water levels for more than a thousand years. And, it seems that water has won the battle. Because of both natural and man-made causes, the city gets flooded many times in a year. Moreover, offshore piers and the railroad connection to the mainland made Venice more vulnerable to flooding. People also continuously extracted groundwater for many years. This has been stopped by the Government in 1970. Studies conducted also indicate the city is sinking by about 1 to 2 mm every year.
- Venice city houses one of the narrowest streets in the world
Venice streets are quite narrow by all means. These streets are not meant for any traffic. This is why most of the houses has their entrance facing the canals and can be accessed by boats. And, Calletta Varisco bets them all. It is one of the narrowest streets in the world and is only 53cm wide.
- Venice city features the world’s first public casino
While casinos remind us of the Las Vegas Strip these days, but things were different earlier. Sitting on the Grand Canal Casino di Venezia is regarded as the world’s oldest casino. It was opened in 1638 and was initially Theatre Saint Moses with a gambling wing for playing during the intermission. It sparked the craze and there were over 120 casinos in the area by 1744. The renovated building dates back to the 1950s. Even today, one can gamble by blackjack, poker, and roulette.
- The Rialto Market is about 1000 years old
Located near the famous Rialto Bridge over the Grand Canal near St. Mark’s square, the Rialto market was founded in 1097. The fishmongers open their stalls with their catches of the day for five days a week, from Tuesday to Saturday. This has been continuing for around 1000 years. It was one of the largest and most powerful markets in the world during the Venetian Empire.
Read more:
The 10 Biggest Venice Tourism Mistakes You Can Easily Avoid
- Locals are leaving Venice city
The city is a victim of excessive tourism. It is flooded with more tourists than it can handle. While people are renting their apartments, a substantial number of residents are leaving the city for its high cost of living. Around 150,000 people lived in the city around 50 years ago, and now only 53,000 are left. Experts believe that there will be a steady decline of permanent residents if some steps are not taken.
- Venice city sirens mean Acqua Alta
The city uses sirens for warning people about Acqua Alta or rising the level of water and flooding the streets. Sirens are blasted in a series of warning tones to alert the public about the flood. Prolonged single tone means water will reach 110 cm levels. Two tones with a rising note stand for an expected 120 cm and three tones with a rising note mean the water level may reach 130 cm or go beyond that. In the case of sirens with four tones, it means an expected level of 140 cm or more. When the siren blows people protect their belonging by placing iron plates at the entrance.
- Becoming a Gondolier is hard
Gondoliers are there in Venice city for over 1,000 years. But becoming a gondolier is not easy at present. Anyone aspiring to be a licensed gondolier must attend the gondola schools. Besides learning rowing and swimming, he has to study a foreign language, local history, and arts. On completion of the course, he has to pass an examination conducted by the authorities. This is followed by an internship from 6 to 12 months under a professional gondolier. Next, he has to pass the practical exam to get a license. Although a large number of students enroll every year, only a few get the license. While this is a male-dominated profession, there is one female gondolier.
- There are only four ways to cross the Grand Canal
Canals are the most picturesque in Venice city. Passing through the city in S-shape, the Grand Canal is the largest. Surprisingly there are only four bridges to cross over the canal. They are the Ponte della Costituzione popularly known as Ponte di Calatrava a Venezia, Ponte dell’Accademia located near the Gallerie dell’Accademia, Ponte degli Scalzi connection the train station, and Ponte di Rialto or the Rialto bridge.
- Venice city was wealthy and independent earlier
Starting from 697 AD to 1797 AD Venice was an independent republic. A large part of the Balkan coastline including Croatia and Montenegro was under its rule. It was also the center of trade between Europe, Central Asia, and the Middle East.
Parting words
The authorities imposed a Venice entry fee on the day-trippers. Now that you have reached these lines you know the interesting facts about Venice city. So, make it your holiday destination for the next vacation.