Which city is famous for its canals and gondolas?
Quick answer
Venice, in northeastern Italy, is the city famous for its canals and gondolas. It’s built on 118 small islands in a lagoon, linked by about 150 canals and more than 400 bridges.
Key facts
- Country
- Italy
- Islands
- 118
- Canals
- About 150
- UNESCO
- Venice and its Lagoon, listed 1987
Gondolas
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Length | About 11 m (36 ft) |
| Shape | Asymmetrical: one side is longer, so a single oar on one side moves it straight |
| Color | Black, by law since the 1500s, to limit showy displays of wealth |
| Gondoliers | Only a few hundred licensed; they train for years and must pass strict exams |
Centuries ago there were thousands of gondolas. Today, about 400 remain, used mostly by tourists, plus traghetti, cheap gondola ferries across the Grand Canal.
How Venice was built
Early settlers fled to the lagoon from invaders after the fall of the Roman Empire. They drove millions of wooden piles into the mud and built stone foundations on top. Because the wood stays underwater without oxygen, it doesn’t rot easily.
Highlights
| Sight | What it is |
|---|---|
| Grand Canal | The main waterway, about 3.8 km long, lined with palaces |
| St. Mark’s Square and Basilica | The city’s heart |
| Rialto Bridge | The oldest bridge over the Grand Canal, rebuilt in stone in 1591 |
| Doge’s Palace | Home of the Republic’s rulers |
| Bridge of Sighs | Connects the palace to the old prison |
For another famous historic bridge in Italy, see where the Ponte Vecchio is.
Acqua alta and MOSE
Venice often floods during high tides called acqua alta. Since 2020, a system of movable barriers called MOSE has been raised during high tides to protect the lagoon. Tides are explained in what causes tides.
Too many visitors
Venice has fewer than 50,000 residents in its historic center but welcomes millions of tourists a year. Since 2024, the city has charged day-trippers an entry fee on peak days, and large cruise ships are banned from sailing past St. Mark’s.
For the city’s famous festival, see the Carnival of Venice.
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