Venice rises on an archipelago of about one hundred islets of different shapes and sizes separated by numerous canals (”rio”). The main one, overlooked by the most beautiful palazzi, is called Canal Grande. This s-shaped canal splits the city into two uneven parts. The tide alone is almost enough to clean up the canals (whose water, otherwise, would stagnate). In autumn and in spring it is often responsible for the phenomenon known as “Acqua alta” (High tide): St. Mark’s square and other areas of the city are completely flooded and pedestrian footways have to be provided. 
The city is divided into areas called SESTIERES (not the usual “quarters”) because they are 6, indeed: San Marco, Castello, Cannaregio, S. Croce, S. Polo e Dorsoduro.
There are about 400 BRIDGES. In the past they used to be made of wood and in such a way that horses could walk on them. It was only in 1486 that masonry bridges started to be built. Most of them were endowed with strong parapets. Only two are without this element: one in Cannaregio, on the fondamenta San Felice and the other, more famous, in Torcello (Ponte del Diavolo)…

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