“Founded in the 5th century and spread over 118 small islands, Venice became a major maritime power in the 10th century. The whole city is an extraordinary architectural masterpiece in which even the smallest building contains works by some of the world's greatest artists such as Giorgione, Titian, Tintoretto, Veronese and others.” Thus writes Unesco, which inscribed ‘La Serenissima’ in its list of World Heritage sites in 1987.

Venice was born as a consequence of the local populations fleeing Barbarian raids and finding temporary refuge on the islands of Torcello, Jesolo and Malamocco. These settlements expanded, with every small island having its own village, to become permanent. Eventually the islands were organized in an urban system, with a network of canals and rii, water arteries.