How Venice keeps itself above water

How Venice keeps itself above water. Venice sits on a lagoon and is made up of 118 small islands.

To strengthen the land and build buildings on it, the Venetians used wooden piles that were driven into the soft ground.

These piles served as the foundation for the stone platforms on which the buildings were built.

The wood for the piles came mainly from the mountain forests of the Alps, especially from species such as larch and oak, which are resistant to rot even underwater.

Even though the wooden piles are underwater, they do not rot because the water protects the wood from contact with air, which prevents rotting processes.

The foundations were laid over a thousand years ago. Since the 5th century, the inhabitants of the region have sought protection from barbarian invasions after the fall of the Roman Empire.

They established their settlements on small islands in the lagoon to avoid attacks and ensure safety.

Gradually, these settlements developed into an important trading and maritime center that played a key role in the trade routes between East and West.