Why does Venice have canals?

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#1 finally here!

Venice was first settled when the inhabitants of the mainland were forced out by (I think) vikings.

They ran to the sand bars in the water, where there was enough room to settle a small village. when they ran out of space, they simply built on stilts etc.

Nowadays, most of venice is supported by large thick wooden pylons. However, some of the older areas, particularly in the main square of venice (which floods in high tides) the pylons are beginning to sink or break, the floor of st michael's church is caving in. Water floods the square from UNDERNEATH the ground, because of how much it has sunk. There are plans to replace the pillars with steel ones, to stop further ruin. However, some buildings are beyond repair. There are towers with a noticeable lean, and some smaller islands which could fit only one building. Most of these isolated places are left to ruin now.

The smaller islands of venice are nice too. I visited Burano. Where they are known for their lace making abilities/history. Murano is the island that is known for their glass crafts. Though there is a Murano Glass workshop on the main island.

It's not a city with canals added. It's a city that was built on nearly non-existant islands, and then expanded to be over the water. The canals are natural waterways.

The sewerage flows directly into the water, so sometimes you get a whif of something unpleasant as you walk around.

The city is absolutely BEAUTIFUL by night. Less crowded, cool breeze. During the day tourists, illegal street sellers, and pickpockets are everywhere. There is barely any shade, so the sun beats down on you. And there's an extra charge for food if you sit down in the restaurant! (As with most of Italy).

Genius Cook

The canals... because it's in a lagoon and the canals are both natural and man made..... they were used to transport goods and people.
Briefly:
Venice as we know it (more or less today) began to populate around 500 as the Roman Empire was falling apart and the "barbarians" began to invade the area. Actually most of north east Italy was referred to as "Venetia" by the Romans.
The lagoon area was a refuge from the pillage & plunder of the invading Germanic tribes. The lagoon was a safe area - it was already used for fishing and salt was "harvested" (a commodity at the time) - because it was easy protect / difficult to enter from terra firma. It was also easy to protect from invasion by sea because of the shifting sands in the lagoon.
Many of those who sought out refuge were well to do land owners, cattle men and business men in general. The first major settlement was Malamoco & Torcello and then some of the lesser islands that today make up Venice.
As the Roman Empire disintegrated and the main land was being held by the invading Germanic populations Venice remained in the part of the Latin world - its new reference being the Eastern Roman Empire. From its very beginnings there were close ties to / with the Byzantine world. By the end of the 7th century Venice was no longer militarily managed by Byzantine military commanders but had become autonomous and by 810 the Venetian government moves from Malamoco to "Riva Alto" (Rialto) and this is when it is generally said that the story of Venice begins.

matokik

i dont know the history of this city but it born on the sea....

shuk-yin

Venice is composed of many, many islands in a lagoon, thart's why. That's how it was started till today.

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