Where did the trees come from to build Venice?

As is mentioned in the Atlante storico della Serenissima, the oak came from the areas around Treviso, Friuli and later also from Istria, while mountain fir and larch came from Valsugana, Bassano and Cadore. The wood was transported via the rivers: the Adige, the Brenta, and the Piave.

Was Venice built on trees?

Venice Island was built on a foundation of 10,000,000 underwater wooden logs or 8 to 10 tree logs per sq meter. Wood is much less durable than metal and its use as a supporting structure may seem strange. The secret to the longevity of Venice’s wooden foundation is the fact that they are submerged underwater.

What wood is used in Venice foundations?

The oak and pine piles on which Venice’s foundation is built are embedded in airless, muddy soil, which naturally preserves the wood. While piles under Venice are safe from the frequent flooding, the wood above the water level faces wetting and drying and shrinking and swelling issues.

What trees were used to build Venice?

Venice was built by driving long pointed poles of wood; oak, larch, or pine, straight down into the seafloor. Two layers of horizontal planking were laid out. Over that, they put layers of stone that made up for the foundation of the city.

How did Venice get fresh water?

The solution Venetians found to have drinkable water was to filter rainwater. Once the rain fell on the “campi” of Venice, the water naturally flowed towards the guts, was then filtrated by the sand and finally stopped by the layer of clay.

When was Venice built?

The construction of Venice started in the 5th century AD after the fall of the Roman Empire when refugees from the mainland fled to the islands in the lagoon. Soon, there were so many of them that they needed more space, so they drove wooden poles deep into the clay beneath the ground.

How did Venetians drive pilings?

They did this by digging down into the marshy soil and driving in the wooden pilings. Now, they could lay wooden boards on top of the pylons to provide a foundation strong enough to start supporting stone. Thousands of supports rapidly expanded the area of Venice, and many may still be standing today.

Where does sewage go in Venice?

canals
Most of Venice’s sewage goes directly into the city’s canals. Flush a toilet, and someone crossing a bridge or cruising up a side canal by gondola may notice a small swoosh of water emerging from an opening in a brick wall.

Does Venice freeze over?

Venice’s lagoon and canals have frozen over during an early February cold snap which has claimed hundreds of lives and caused travel chaos across Europe.

What did Venice look like before the water?

The canals of Venice are among the world’s most romantic places, but before the atmospheric waterways we know and love today came into existence – before the grandeur of the city’s opulent palazzos and piazzas – there was only a marshy, muddy lagoon with little going for it beyond a smattering of 124 small islands.

Where did the Venetians get their poles?

The answer is simple : millions of poles! And where did the Venetians get these poles? It was necessary to deforest many areas of Cadore and Istria. Venetians chose trunks of firs, oaks and larches that arrived through the rivers in Venice.

Why was Venice built on wooden foundations?

The city of Venice was built on wooden foundations. The use of wood as a supporting structure may seem as a surprise, since wood is relatively less durable than stone or metal. The secret to the longevity of Venice’s wooden foundation is the fact that they are submerged underwater.

What kind of wood is Venice built of?

The oak and pine piles on which Venice’s foundation is built are embedded in airless, muddy soil, which naturally preserves the wood. 7 While piles under Venice are safe from the frequent flooding, the wood above the water level faces wetting and drying and shrinking and swelling issues.

How long did it take to build Venice?

This process took two years and two months to be completed. On top of that, the wood had to be obtained from the forests of Slovenia, Croatia and Montenegro, and transported to Venice via water. Thus, one can imagine the scale of this undertaking. The city of Venice was built on wooden foundations.