The 12 Greatest Fun Facts About Venice

Venice is built on over 100 small islands and has no roads, only canals. It is known for its historic architecture and was a major maritime power in the Middle Ages.

Today, Venice is a top destination for teen travel programs. You can explore historic sites or experience how daily life is influenced by the sea. Its canals create a warm atmosphere, and the food—oh boy, don’t get me started on the food.

I can’t get enough of Venice, which is why I continue to lead programs here.

Learn more with some fun facts about Venice!

1. 400 gondolas float through Venice’s canals today, down from 10,000 gondolas at the peak

Taking a gondola is a great way to see the city.

In the past, wealthy Venetians used gondolas like people in Rome or Paris used horse-drawn carriages. Gondolas were also used to transport goods and for public transportation, but motorboats now handle those tasks.

Today, nearly all of Venice’s 400 gondolas are for tourists. A gondola ride is one of the best ways to see the city.

Gondolas are usually 36.09 feet (11 meters) long and weigh about 1,322.77 pounds (600 kilos). In 2010, Giorgia Boscolo became the first and only female gondolier.

2. Calletta Varisco in Venice is one of the narrowest streets in the world, measuring only 20.87 inches in width

Calletta Varisco in Venice is one of the narrowest streets in the world, measuring only 20.87 inches (53 cm) wide. The word “calletta” means “small street.” Located near Campo San Canciano, this street reflects Venice’s historical layout, where canals were the primary access routes. This lead to the development of narrow paths between houses.

In Venice, houses are numbered by districts rather than by streets, making addresses harder to locate. The best way to find an address is by identifying a nearby monument, shop, or landmark.

Venice is not the only place with narrow streets. Many cities around the world have streets famous for their unusual widths.

3. Marco Polo was Venetian

Marco Polo was born in Venice in 1254. The famous explorer spent 24 years traveling and interacting with the Mongol Empire.

He wrote “The Travels of Marco Polo,” while imprisoned in Genoa. His home in Venice can still be viewed, but it is not open to the public.

A number of the words we commonly use today came from Venice.

4. The way you say hello in Italian is actually Venetian

Ciao is the most recognized Italian greeting, and it comes from Venice. The word started from the typical Venetian greeting, “s-ciavo vostro,” meaning “your slave.”

Over time, it changed to “s-ciavo” and then became “ciao.” It was first used between social classes but eventually spread to everyone and became popular in northern Italy.

There are a number of surprising words that originated in Venice, including:

• pants
• ghetto
• gazette
• lagoon
• ballot
• quarantine
• arsenal

5. Venetian masks were for having a good time

Venetian masks have a surprisingly long history.

Venetian masks have a long history. They were used to conceal identities during parties that were frowned upon by the Church.

In 1608, the Council of Ten restricted mask-wearing to carnival time, imposing severe punishments for violations.

Today, these masks are mainly associated with the Venetian Carnival, but their tradition spans over 1,000 years.

6. Piazza San Marco is the beating heart of Venice

St. Mark’s Square is a must-visit location for travelers to Venice.

The San Marco bell tower was built in the 12th century but collapsed in 1902. It was rebuilt to be exactly the same and stands 323.58 feet (98.6 meters) tall, making it the fifth tallest bell tower in Italy.

One fun fact about Piazza San Marco is that it’s the lowest point in Venice. It is the first place to flood during Acqua Alta, the city’s frequent high tide events. When the square floods, it can sometimes resemble a shallow lake, and tourists can even see people walking through it or witness tables set up to be used as walking paths.

But when it’s a normal day, it’s worth visiting for St. Mark’s Basilica alone, one of the famous buildings in Italy you need to visit.

7. Venice ruled itself as an independent empire up until 1797 when Napoleon took control of the city.

Napoleon took Venice in 1797, ending the Venetian Republic, which had lasted over 1,000 years. His forces invaded under the Treaty of Campo Formio, handing Venice to Austria.

Napoleon’s occupation ended Venice’s independence, and many treasures, like the famous horses of St. Mark’s Basilica, were taken to France. Venice’s political power was dismantled, and it came under different foreign rule before joining Italy in the 19th century.

Venice is a city of art.

8. Venice is an arts haven

Venice is known for its artisans, specifically those making Murano glass and demonstrating Burano lace making. The island of Murano is famous for its glassmaking, while Burano is renowned for its handmade lace. These artisanal products have been sought after by monarchs and popes throughout history.

9. Venice is a city of bridges

Venice is made up of 118 islands, separated by 150 canals. These islands are connected by a series of footbridges, though some like Murano and Burano are only accessible by boat.

Today, only four bridges cross the Grand Canal: the Ponte dell’Accademia, the Ponte degli Scalzi, the Ponte di Calatrava a Venezia, and the oldest and most famous one, the Rialto Bridge.

There are plenty of bridges to see in Venice.

10. Venice brought coffee to the West

In 1570, Venetian Prospero Alpini discovered coffee for Europe while traveling in Egypt. Despite the relatively early discovery of coffee, the first coffee shop in Venice did not appear until the 17th century. Caffè Florian, which opened in 1720, is the oldest cafe in the city.

Extra fun fact: Not only were Italians responsible for introducing coffee to the West, they also invented the espresso machine.

11. Venice is depopulating rapidly

Venice’s population has dropped from 120,000 to 60,000 in the last 50 years. Experts predict that by 2030, Venice could turn into a ghost town, with only tourists visiting during the day.

This would be a sad state of affairs for all the separate islands of the city, so I suppose it’s one of the not so fun facts about Venice.

12. Venice is sinking at a rate of 0.039 to 0.079 inches (1-2 millimeters) per year.

Acqua Alta refers to rising water levels in Venice that flood the streets. Sirens on bell towers from WWII, once used for air raids, now warn people about these rising waters.

The MOSE barrier system is a modern engineering project created to protect Venice from rising water levels and to preserve the city’s cultural heritage.

>> LEARN MORE: Fun Facts About Italy.