Although Venice is a city in Italy, it is unlike any other city in the country. Venice is known for its location, being a romantic city, and its artwork. However, Venice’s architecture is what truly makes the city unique. The city’s buildings on water and different modes of transportation make this city distinctive. They use waterbuses, gondolas, and walking instead of using cars or bikes. There are over 400 bridges in Venice as well. Four to five bridges span over the Grand Canal. They look outwards rather than inwards for artistic inspiration. Venetians enjoy the fact that they are much different than other cities in Italy. Venice’s original settlers were people who left the mainland of Italy and moved to the secluded islands of an Adriatic lagoon. They were trying to evade barbarian invaders known as Goths, Huns, and Lombards during the fifth and six centuries. This lagoon is the largest wetland in the Mediterranean, and it provided protection and the creation of an independent republic. During the 9th century, the people living on the island started to create passages for large sailing vessels. This was the start of Venice’s economy and their military’s dominance as a military trading capital. They also became a main supplier of spices. The city mostly traded with Byzantine Constantinople and Islamic Cairo. This trading eventually inspired the Venetian aesthetic.
The architecture in Venice is actually a mixture of Byzantine, Islam, and Latin Christian styles. The architecture style is usually called Venetian Gothic. Gothic architecture is seen all over the city. Many may not notice the Eastern influences, but if you look closely, you will begin to realize what inspired Venice’s remarkable architecture. The St. Mark’s Basilica is a very famous piece of architecture that shows the Eastern influences. The Church of the Holy Apostles, which was built by Emperor Justinian in the 6th century, inspired the Basilica. This Byzantine church was destroyed in 1453. The Venice version is now the only version of this church. Byzantine influences in Venetian architecture are usually seen in tall, skinny structures that have rounded arches on the top. Many of the buildings and structures in Venice have similar designs and styles.
Another famous example of Venetian architecture is the Doge’s Palace. It contains Gothic, Renaissance, and Morrish architectural styles. Fires ruined it twice during the 14th century. It was rebuilt and has stayed the same since. Islamic culture is also present in architectural pieces in Venice. The Islamic influence is shown as dome lanterns in certain pieces of Venetian architecture.
The smaller islands of Venice, such as Murano and Burano, also have beautiful architecture. The architecture of these islands is similar to San Marco, but the buildings are slightly more colorful and less detailed.
Certain architectural styles were also necessary and intelligently designed in Venice because of its location. Homes and buildings had to be built above the canals and water. Venice is made up of 118 islands that are connected by bridges and canals, so the construction of this city took many years until it was complete. The entire construction of Venetian architecture was a very interesting process. Wooden stakes made from the trunks of alder trees were spaced out and used as bases for the buildings. These wooden stakes were mostly driven into the sand. A 17th century book explains the construction process of Venice and the amount of wood that was needed. According to this book, 1,106,657 wooden stakes were placed underwater when the Santa Maria Della Salute church was built. This process took two years and two months.
People wonder why wood is used instead of materials that are more durable, such as metal or stone. This is because wood can actually last a long time under water. Fungi and bacteria can cause the wood to decay, but the wood is not exposed to oxygen. Therefore, these microorganisms cannot grow on the wood. In addition, the salt water eventually petrifies the wood and causes it to harden. It eventually becomes a stone-like structure.
Even though the lagoon has always protected Venice from invadors, it is actually a threat to the city’s survival. Locals in Venice are used to the flooding that occurs often. The water level rises multiple times a year. The floods are called “aqua alta”, which means high water. They are caused by high tides, strong winds, and storm surges. Climate change has caused the sea level to rise even more and this is why it has become a bigger concern lately. There are some solutions being proposed recently. One solution is called M.O.S.E project, which stands for Modula Sperimentale Elettromeccanico. This translates to Experimental Electromechanical Module in English. Seventy-nine mobile floodgates will be created to separate the lagoon from the Adriatic when the tide becomes excessive. Some people do worry that the city will eventually sink one day.
Most of the locals in Venice greatly enjoy the different architectural styles in their city. They take pride in their unique city and embrace the differences. A local named Andrea said, “Every piece of architecture in Venice is special and beautiful. The way that everything was built on water makes it a city like no other”. A tourist named Maria said, “Venice has architectural pieces that are very beautiful. I have rarely seen a city with architecture like this city”. Both locals and tourists say great things about the architecture in Venice.
Due to Venice’s multiple styles of architecture, it has become a very diverse city. The architecture has also made the city a major tourist spot. If you want to see beautiful architecture that is unlike anything else, Venice is the place to go. There is so much beauty and history in this city’s architecture and it is definitely a must-see place. I recommend visiting Doge’s Palace, Basilica di San Marco, Scuola Grande di San Rocco, and Campanile di San Marco. These are some of the most famous architectural pieces in Venice. Make sure to visit some of the smaller islands as well to see even more architectural pieces.
